FanHouse Hall Of Fame Racing

Ousted Joe Gibbs Racing driver J.J. Yeley has signed a three-year deal with Hall of Fame Racing to replace Tony Raines in the # 96 Cup car sponsored by DLP beginning in 2008:

"I've never had to make a decision this difficult in my life, but I'm confident that Hall of Fame Racing will be competitive week-in and week out and build the future team around me as their driver. The affiliation with the Arizona Diamondbacks and the great people in Phoenix was just an added bonus that makes it the perfect fit for me."

Good deal for him. He gets to race in Gibbs equipment and have enormous resources at his disposal from a team focused solely on him. Of course, no one's sure exactly how good that Toyota equipment will be, but that's a subject for another post.

As a NASCAR fan who's never seen him compete in any other series, I've always had difficulty comprehending that Yeley once broke a record held by A.J. Foyt. I was reminded again yesterday by the team's press release.

Dave Moody is reporting that in the next two to three weeks, Joe Gibbs Racing will announce a deal with driver Kyle Busch for 2008 and beyond.

Rather than expand to a four-team operation to make room for the new foliage, J.J. Yeley is expected to be kicked to the curb and picked up by Wood Brothers/JTG Racing to drive the #21 Ford.

Busch would pilot the #18 Interstate Batteries Cheverolet Toyota.

Tony Stewart and Busch on the same team? This should be HIGHlarious. Will they be competing for the Most Outspoken Driver Award®? Calling All Sponsors: New award sponsorship opportunity available. This is an amazing opportunity for any pharmaceutical company to promote their drugs that relieve symptoms of the Foot in Mouth and It Wasn't My Fault diseases.

Jamie McMurray starts on the pole today. That's only happened twice before in his five-year Nextel Cup career, the last time at the 2005 Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway on July 24, 2005. He finished 11th. His first Bud Pole Award came at Homestead in 2004 where he finished 9th.

Robby Gordon will start 2nd in the Toyota/SaveMart 350. Last time he started that high in the field was here in 2003. He won. He owes TGOM a thank you. Because he was excluded from the power rankings, he has a shot at repeating.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. starts 3rd. Previously, his best start at Infineon Raceway came in 2005, which didn't work out too well for him. He started 10th, finished 42nd.

We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming to bring you the latest chapter from the As the World of Dale Earnhardt Jr. Turns.

The NASCAR media has again been called to attention. (Had we stopped paying attention?)

Junior will hold a press conference tomorrow at 11:00AM at his JR Motorsports shop to announce ... well, he didn't tell us.

But we have an idea.

So what's it going to be?

Gibbs? Ginn? Officials from both teams say they're not involved in the news conference.

Hendrick? They have no comment.

RCR? Couldn't be reached for comment.

Things that make you go hmmmmm.

Haas/CNC?

Hall of Fame Racing?

JR Motorsports?

Or something we haven't thought of yet?

Got any last minute predictions?

Speed TV will interrupt their regularly scheduled programming to carry the conference live at 11:00AM. Geoffrey Miller will interrupt his regularly schedule life to live blog the conference in the Fanhouse beginning at 10:30AM.

Update: ESPN's Marty Smith is reporting that his sources are saying that Kyle Busch will be out of the #5, as the Fanhouse previously predicted.

I know nothing is for certain 'til we hear it tomorrow, but this is Marty Smith talking, not Jerry Bonkowsi. And Busch's attorney had some very interesting comments:

"A lot of things may or may not occur. Out of respect for Hendrick Motorsports, we're not really sure what's going on yet. But we're trying. I don't think anything's changed yet. I cannot tell you that Kyle is out of the No. 5 for 2008."

They're inside the Top 35, but barely ... which means they're guaranteed a starting spot for Martinsville, but could find themselves qualifying for Texas if they don't perform well.

Robert Yates: Driver turnover hasn't done much to improved their situation. Both teams in--the #38 in 24th and the #88 in 33rd.

Gene Haas: The #70 is hanging on for dear life tied for 34th. I think he thought he was doing a good thing moving popular--and talented--crew chief Bootie Barker over, but it doesn't seem to have improved much. Fortunately, the move hasn't hurt the #66 team either, they finished last season in 29th and are currently placed 28th.

Hall of Famers: #96 in 30th. I'd like to say this team isn't in bad shape for its age, but considering they finished last season in 26th I can't really support that argument. But, when you take into account that they no longer have a former champion behind the wheel, it's somewhat respectable.

Also on the bubble: the aforementioned RFR #6 (22nd), Penske #12 (23rd), DEI #1 (25th), Ginn #13 (26th), HMS #25 (27th), CGRFS #41 (29th), Ginn #14 (31st), Petty #45 (32nd) and EMS #9 (34th).

Next: From an Owner's Standpoint: Outside Looking In

With a guaranteed starting spot for the first five races (thanks, Terry Labonte), Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach's Hall of Fame Racing team has a fighting chance this season.

Driver Tony Raines was disappointed with his 32nd place finish after starting in the 20th position in Sunday's Daytona 500:

"It's a long couple of weeks to be down here for it to end up like that."

It might have been worse had he not been the beneficiary of a few extra spots after some more unfortunate drivers tangled in the late-race crash.

Aikman thinks the team is headed in the right direction:

"Last year we hoped the top 25 would be successful, and we were 26th. This year we want to be top 20 and win a race. The best thing we did last year was finish races."

The immediate goal, of course, is to keep finishing races and maintain their position in the top 35 in owners' points standings so they don't have to start racing their way in after the first five races.

32nd won't get 'em in the Hall of Fame, but they're off to an ok start.