T HE
SPIN
PASTRANA ON HOLD A broken ankle suffered in an X Games stunt thwarted Travis Pastrana’s planned Nationwide Series debut at Indy – and could put the kibosh on his IndyCar Las Vegas dream.
Lesley Ann Miller/LAT
“cat in the Hat” Jack roush has managed to keep his ace in the fold for the foreseeable future, despite apparently strong interest elsewhere in carl edwards’ talents.
STAYING IN THE FAMILY
NASCAR’s most prominent free agent, Carl Edwards
decides the grass isn’t greener outside of Roush-Fenway
The future plans of Carl Edwards were the biggest
source of silly season conjecture in NASCAR this
summer, but stock car racing’s back-flip specialist put
an end to all that in early August by announcing that he had
agreed terms to remain with Roush Fenway Racing, for whom
he has emerged as a clear leader in recent seasons.
Edwards said he was glad to focus back on this year’s title
campaign as he continues to lead the driver standings with just
six weeks left before the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
“I’m just excited to move forward,” said Edwards. “This
team is in a position that we’ve never been in before. We feel
that we’re fast for the right reasons and we have the
opportunity to win this championship, so I’m glad it’s behind
us. I’m glad to be here racing and going for the title.”
The former Nationwide Series
champion didn’t reveal how close he came
to racing for another team, amid
speculation linking him with the Toyota
team of Joe Gibbs Racing. He denied talk
that a big-money offer from Ford had been
instrumental in keeping him in the fold.
GIBBS TOES THE
COMPANY LINE
Team opts to merge
engine programs with TRD
Tyler Barrick/LAT
Joe Gibbs Racing may be Toyota’s
leading Sprint Cup team, but the title
hopes of its drivers Kyle Busch and
Denny Hamlin have both been dented
by engine-related reliability issues and,
after an internal review, JGR has
decided to join development forces with
Toyota’s own Toyota Racing
Development-built engines. JGR has
had its own engine program since
becoming a Toyota team – led by builder
Mark Cronquist – ahead of the 2008
season, while Michael Waltrip Racing
and Red Bull Racing have been getting
their units from TRD, which has enjoyed
a superior durability record this year.
TRD president and general manager
Lee White said the new structure will
give security to the company’s
personnel in Costa Mesa, Calif., given
the uncertainty surrounding the future
of the Red Bull team beyond this year.
White also expects its sole engine
program will reap benefits from TRD’s
experience with fuel injection systems,
as the Sprint Cup series shifts away
from carburetors next year.
early season engine woes for Hamlin
helped encourage Gibbs’ decision.
Brian Czobat/LAT
earnhardt and his friends will have less laps from now on to figure out the “tricky triangle,” and that’s just fine with them.
Earnhardt Jr. gets his wish: fewer laps at Pocono
Dan Streck/LAT
