Hendrick Drops Mears; Mark Martin Rumored As Replacement

Mears (r) To Leave Hendrick's Sprint Cup Team At End Of '08 Season

20 QUESTIONS: Driver Tony Stewart Friday said that the opening at HMS "could affect his decision about where he drives next season." Stewart said of HMS' No. 5 car, "There's no one in the garage area that's not going to look in that direction. You've got to look at it. Absolutely." Stewart, whose contract with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) does not expire until the end of the '09 season, has said that he is "exploring an ownership option to become the co-owner and a driver" for Haas CNC Racing. Stewart, when asked when he will decide his future, said, "At this morning's announcement (on the No. 5 car), I don't know. It may be pushed back even more. We'll wait and see. It's however long it takes to make the right decision" (ESPN.com, 6/27). In Winston-Salem, Mike Mulhern wrote Stewart, by driving the No. 5 car next season, would join HMS' team of Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Earnhardt. Mulhern wrote that would be a "powerhouse lineup that might just be not that good for the sport" (WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL, 6/29). ESPN.com's Terry Blount wrote while JGR contractually can hold Stewart through '09, it is "time to say goodbye." Blount: "Playing hardball isn't worth it. Get what you can in a buyout of Stewart's contract. For the good of the organization, Stewart has to move on. His heart's not in it" (ESPN.com, 6/27). Meanwhile, ESPN's Marty Smith said sources "close to the Tony Stewart situation tell me that there is definitely merit to the speculation that Ryan Newman would leave Penske and join Tony Stewart over at Haas” should he join that team ("NASCAR Now," ESPN, 6/27).

NOTES: Driver Greg Biffle has signed a three-year extension with Roush Fenway Racing. Biffle joined the team in '98. 3M will remain in place as the primary sponsor of the No. 16 Sprint Cup Ford (RFR)....Driver Clint Bowyer announced that he has signed a three-year extension with Richard Childress Racing to continue driving the No. 07 Sprint Cup Chevy (JAYSKI.com, 6/27)....Driver Reed Sorenson is "mulling a contract extension offer" from Chip Ganassi Racing, one which Sorenson "believes will result in his continuing his NASCAR partnership" with the team. Sorenson: "I expect everything will be worked out in the next week or two" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 6/29).

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