Newman, DEI and Gibbs discuss their futures

Ryan Newman says he's looking at all offers (and has received an offer of ownership). DEI President Max Siegel says he's confident Martin Truex Jr. will be back. Joe Gibbs Racing is looking at its options.

 

That's what they're saying. Here's what they mean:

 

Newman said Saturday that he's seen progress in his Penske team (about a month ago he said he needed to see improvement if he was going to stay). Newman also says he's looking at other options. Asked if he's a candidate to be Tony Stewart's teammate next year at Stewart Haas Racing, Newman said he would have to be considered a candidate for any opening.

 

Asked about his relationship with Tony, Neman said: "Tony is a very great competitor in a great many ways because he's tough but he's also respectful. He's been a good friend on and off the race track, specificially off. He's done a lot to help me and guide me. He's an Indiana boy, so I have different respect for him becuase of that. In general, he's just a hard-nosed racer and I've always appreciated it.''

 

The odds seem to be Newman to Stewart's team. The talk was that Bass Pro Shops would sponsor that car but now there's talk of UPS possibly joining that team. What you're likely seeing is sponsors playing teams off one another -- there are more teams than sponsors so sponsors will dictate who goes where. Sponsors have had a role who drives their car but they'll be picking guys and rejecting others and there's little teams will be able to do. As long as the sponsor wants Newman, he'll be headed to Stewart's team.

 

Joe Gibbs and J.D. Gibbs say they're looking at their options and working with Home Depot (which has a contract with Gibbs that goes through next season) on what to do. Yet, the more you hear them talk about Joey Logano, the more it seems like Logano will be the choice even though he'll only be 18 at next year's Daytona 500. Both say Logano is a candidate. They like what he can do on the track and off. Logano is scheduled to drive in the remaining Nationwide races starting next week at Gateway. He'll likely drive in some Cup races later this season (starting at Watkins Glen next month, the Nationwide series races at the same track as Cup the rest of the season but one weekend).

 

As for Stewart, J.D. Gibbs wouldn't confirm that there's a clause in Stewart's release that prohibits him from taking any JGR employees to his new team -- that's become a standard policy now. No, Stewart will not take the 20 with him, J.D. said. He would not say if Ryan Newman was a candidate for the open ride saying that they needed to figure things out now and then move forward.

 

Max Siegel at DEI said Saturday again that DEI is not for sale and he's not going to buy it. He said he remains confident that Truex will remain with the team despite Truex saying this weekend to NASCAR Scene that while he's had talks with DEI, he's focusing on his team after the 150-point penalty.

 

As for that penalty, DEI's appeal will be July 21.

 

Cup crew chiefs have been given a draft of the new testing procedure from NASCAR. It will feature about 20-plus test dates per organization and likley a cap of no more than two cars per organization at a test. Thus, a Hendrick or Roush can't have all four cars at a test but only two -- although it could have all its drivers hopping in and out of those cars.

 

A competition caution is scheduled for lap 35. No teams can refuel before then.

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