Rusty Wallace Racing switching to Toyota in '10

Rusty Wallace Racing announced Thursday that beginning with the 2010 season the team will field Toyotas in its quest for a Nationwide Series championship.

Steve Wallace and Brendan Gaughan will remain the team's drivers.
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Additionally, a separate agreement with Rusty Wallace, the 1989 Cup Series champion, will enable him to represent the Toyota brand on a national basis.

"I'm very proud to have the opportunity for the team and I to represent the Toyota brand," Wallace said. "Our team's decision on manufacturers involved input from a lot of people within the organization.

"We decided that at the end of the day, our goal as a race team is simple: to win races and championships. Thus, we all had to take a long look at which manufacturer partner could best help us reach that goal."

Toyota will enter the 2010 season looking for its new RWR partnership to aid in securing the brand's third consecutive Nationwide Series manufacturer championship.

RWR's move to Toyota follows a two-year campaign in which the team enjoyed manufacturer support from Chevrolet.

"Chevrolet has been a great partner for our team and on behalf of RWR, I'd like to thank Pat Suhy, Shane Martin and everyone at GM Racing for their dedication and support," Wallace said. "They were a key in our team's growth the past two seasons."

Wallace said he toured Toyota's racing facility in North Carolina and became convinced that the manufacturer has the best products for the Nationwide Series.

The three American manufacturers in NASCAR -- Chevrolet, Dodge and Ford -- have reduced their support for NASCAR teams during their financial restructuring.

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EGR wrangles McMurray to drive No. 1 car in 2010

Jamie McMurray has been tabbed by Earnhardt Ganassi Racing to drive the No. 1 Chevrolet in 2010, the team announced on Wednesday.

The EGR opening came about when Martin Truex Jr. signed with Michael Waltrip Racing on July 7.

McMurray, who will team with Juan Montoya under the EGR banner, said he is looking forward to reuniting with some familiar faces.

"I am really excited about this opportunity with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, as I think Juan Pablo and Martin have shown this season [that] their equipment is as good as anyone's in the garage. I am really looking forward to getting behind the wheel of their cars and once again competing for a NASCAR championship.

"It will also be fun to work with some of the people that I worked with when I was there a few years ago."

McMurray -- reunited with team owner Chip Ganassi for whom he drove from 2003-05 -- has driven the past four seasons for Roush Fenway Racing. However, because of the impending four-car limit imposed by NASCAR for the 2010 season McMurray was free to negotiate with other teams.

Roush Fenway Racing will have Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and David Ragan in its stable next season.

"To be able to sign a veteran driver with the talent and experience of Jamie was important to us," Ganassi said. "We know Jamie and understand what makes him tick as a driver. We had a lot of success with Jamie in the early part of his career and are looking for more of the same.

"We also think he will be a tremendous compliment to Juan Pablo Montoya as well. The duo of McMurray and Montoya creates a very formidable team as we look to continue the momentum that has been established this year in our chase for the championship."

Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats will return as sponsor of the No. 1 Chevy.

McMurray drove the 2002 season's final six races following neck injury to Sterling Marlin that ended the veteran's challenge for the championship after Kansas race in September.

McMurray, who has three wins in 257 starts in the Cup Series, made his series debut on Oct. 6, 2002, at Talladega, then won his second start a week later at Charlotte by holding off Bobby Labonte on the final lap.

McMurray's most recent victory came Nov. 1 at Talladega. He has 30 top-five finishes and 80 top-10s in the Cup Series. His best finish in the point standings is 11th in 2004.

McMurray's victory in the Nationwide Series on Oct. 26, 2002, gave him the distinction of becoming the 100th driver to win a series race.

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ARGHHHHH!

Jimmie Johnson won, ESPN sucks, Jr caused a huge wreck, and Tony Stewart is an ass. Tony lost my respect.

Tony Stewart called Junior a no talent SOB. You know if Sr. were still alive I think Tony would think twice about saying what he did on his radio.

I'm sick of the Cup Series and think it is a has been. Don't be surprised if I talk more about the Truck Series, Nationwide Series and NHRA more often than not.

::sighs:: I miss Dale Sr. and the way racing used to be.

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Brad vs. Denny...AGAIN

Brad Keselowski dumps Denny Hamlin; Kyle Busch and others talk about incident at PIR. View the video here.

"On the last restart there, Denny got into the back of me and pushed me up the track," Keselowski said. "I was going to return the favor. When he did it to me, I saved it. When I did it to him, he didn't save it. We just got into a pushing match. I don't really don't hold any grudges. I don't know why he wanted to do that. But whatever, that's just how racing is, I guess.

"To me, I was over it. I'm focused on running the No. 88 Junior Motorsports car and trying to run up front, chase down Carl [in the standings] and finish second in points. I haven't put a lot of thought into [the rivalry], but apparently he has."

Hamlin implied he'd have a shot at revenge in next Saturday's race.

"I can sit here and bash him for the next 20 seconds or so and give you all a bunch of sound bites," Hamlin said, "but I'm just happy that I signed up for next week's Nationwide race, and you know in turn, there's a lot of guys that owe him. There's a lot of guys that have a lot of chips that they're going to cash in, I'm just going to be the first to the pay window.''

Later on, after Hamlin spoke to NASCAR president Mike Helton, the two drivers had what USA Today reporter Nate Ryan described as an animated but civil discussion.

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. crew involved in accident, no injuries reported

AVONDALE, Ariz. – The van carrying the Dale Earnhardt Jr. race-day crew for today’s Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 was involved in an accident outside Phoenix International Raceway this morning, a Hendrick Motorsports spokesman confirmed.

Some of the team members were evaluated and released at the infield medical center. All of the HMS crewmen are expected to fulfill their duties during the race today, the spokesman said.

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Hornaday gets fourth title; Harvick wins the race

Kevin Harvick wins as Ron Hornaday finishes fourth at Phoenix to clinch the Truck title. Watch the final laps here.

"We're not done yet," Hornaday said as soon as he climbed from his truck. "We've got to get that owners' championship for Kevin and DeLana."

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