Shell Replacing Longtime Primary Sponsor Goodyear At RCR

Richard Childress (l) Inks Shell As Primary Sponsor For Harvick (r)

Shell Oil will replace GM Goodwrench as primary sponsor of Richard Childress Racing’s No. 29 Chevrolet driven by Kevin Harvick after the current NASCAR Nextel Cup season. GM Goodwrench sponsored the car for 14 seasons when it was driven by the late Dale Earnhardt and carried the No. 3, and remained the primary sponsor when Harvick took over the ride after Earnhardt’s death in ’01. GM Goodwrench will remain as an associate sponsor (THE DAILY).

MARTIN: Nextel Cup driver Mark Martin will share driving duties in MB2 Motorsports’ U.S. Army-sponsored No. 01 Chevrolet with rookie Regan Smith next season. Martin, who will leave Roush Racing after 20 years, is expected to drive in 22 Cup races next year, while Smith will compete in 16. Joe Nemechek drives the car this season (THE DAILY). In Miami, Sarah Rothschild reported Roush “couldn’t offer the deal Martin sought.” MB2 CEO & GM Jay Frye said that Martin’s multi-year contract with MB2 gives him “flexibility to choose which races he runs and an opt-out clause following each season” (MIAMI HERALD, 10/7). In St. Petersburg, Brant James notes “one issue” with Martin’s departure from Roush is his part-ownership of Matt Kenseth’s No. 17 Ford. But Roush Racing President Geoff Smith said that, “though NASCAR still lists Martin as owner, he has not had a stake in the car since this spring.” Also, team Owner Jack Roush said that he “will no longer provide support for Martin’s son, Matt, a Ford developmental driver” (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 10/10).

TOYOTA: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver David Reutimann is “expected to be announced very soon as the driver of Michael Waltrip Racing’s No. 00 Toyota beginning in 2007, barring unexpected problems with sponsors Burger King or Domino’s Pizza” (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 10/10).