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Sprint Cup Preview: New Hampshire

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The Tampa Tribune

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 27, 2008

What do Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch have in common? They're all drivers who are winless in 2008 but have won previously at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, site of Sunday's Lenox Industrial Tools 301. Gordon owns three victories at the "Magic Mile," and although the most recent one came 10 years ago, he finished second in both of the track's races last year. Stewart and Busch have won twice at NHMS and Harvick once. Below, Tribune motor sports writer Tony Fabrizio takes a look at what's topical this weekend:

If Mark Martin leaves Dale Earnhardt Inc. to drive for Hendrick Motorsports next year, will he go back to racing full time?
ESPN, citing unnamed sources, is reporting that Martin will replace struggling Casey Mears in Hendrick's No. 5 Chevy next year and make one last run at a championship. Speculation by other news outlets has Martin sharing the No. 5 car with Brad Keselowski, the JR Motorsports Nationwide Series driver who won recently at Nashville, or 19-year-old Landon Cassill. One thing certain is that 49-year-old Martin can still drive. In 12 starts this year, he is averaging 119.75 points. That average over all 16 races would have him 11th in the standings with 1,916 points. Hendrick Motorsports is not commenting on the stories, and Mears has not been told he won't be back next year.

How would Martin's departure from DEI affect Tampa's Aric Almirola?
Almirola is getting the races in DEI's No. 8 Chevy that Martin doesn't want to run, and he would be the leading candidate to take over the car full time if Martin leaves. In fact, DEI vice president John Story told reporters at Infineon Raceway last weekend the team needs to "find a way to get him into a full-time ride" and "there's no question he's ready for it." However, DEI would need to secure sponsorship for Almirola. Several reports say the U.S. Army, which currently sponsors the No. 8 car, is looking at other options for next year, including the Toyota teams of Bill Davis Red Racing and Red Bull Racing.

When will Tony Stewart make a decision on his future?
Stewart reportedly is close to a deal that would make him part owner of Haas CNC Racing and is negotiating with sponsors, including Office Depot, Old Spice, UPS and Bass Pro Shops. Media speculation has him signing either Ryan Newman or Martin Truex Jr. to drive the team's second car, but here's another possibility: Zephyrhills' David Reutimann. Daytona 500 winner Newman is in the final year of his contract with Penske Racing and has said he wants to see performance improve before he signs a new contract. Stewart is still under contract with Joe Gibbs Racing through 2009.

Keeping Up With The Locals

Zephyrhills' David Reutimann comes off 35th- and 40th-place finishes in the last two Sprint Cup races and sorely needs a good run in the No. 44 Toyota. New Hampshire, where he once finished fifth in a Craftsman Truck Series event, should be a better track for him.

Reutimann's Nationwide Series team tested at Lakeland's USA International Speedway to prepare for Saturday's race at New Hampshire.

Tampa's Aric Almirola will drive DEI's No. 8 Chevy for a second consecutive week after finishing 28th at Infineon Raceway. He says New Hampshire "is the kind of track I grew up racing on" and expects a strong run.

Almirola's high points in four races this year are an eighth-place finish at Bristol and a third-best qualifying effort at Martinsville.

Tampa's Michael Cherry, competing in NASCAR's Drive for Diversity program, finished sixth and fourth in twin features last weekend at Motor Mile Speedway in Virginia. He continues to lead the Rookie of the Year standings.

Tony Fabrizio

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