NASCAR Daily News Headlines * December 16, 2008

Labonte Still Looking

The 44-year-old Labonte, who parted ways with Petty Enterprises last week, wouldn’t list the teams he has talked to but did say Tuesday that he has not had any discussions with Joe Gibbs Racing about driving a Cup car for that organization. He did confirm interest in the No. 41 Target-sponsored ride that remains unfilled after Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Chip Ganassi Racing announced a merger last month.

“The DEI-Ganassi deal, I think there’s a lot of things that still have to develop over there to make it happen,” Labonte said during a conference call with reporters. “It’s a deal where, I’m not sure, but I think everybody had me leaving the Pettys to go to the 41.

“Well, I left the Pettys not really having anything because I needed to make myself available. … I feel like that a lot of people don’t know what Bobby is doing. I don’t have a signed [contract or anything]. There [are] talks happening, but that [contract] has not happened yet. A phone call might happen in the next five minutes, but it might not. I need to make sure that people do know that that’s not happened yet.” (scenedaily.com)

Robby Gordon Switches To Toyota

“We are excited to be partnering with Toyota in NASCAR in 2009. After watching their progress last season, we decided that a switch to Toyota was the right package for our team,” commented Robby Gordon, owner of Robby Gordon Motorsports. “We are confident that fielding a Toyota Camry will add to the success of our organization and the competitiveness of our performance on the race track.”

“I’ve known Robby as a driver, team owner and fierce competitor since 1990,” said Lee White, President of TRD, U.S.A. “We’ve raced together in Off-Road, IMSA, SCCA and Indy Car and have shared many memorable challenges and victories. It will be exciting to see how the association between Robby, his team, Toyota and TRD will develop in 2009. I promise you that it will not be boring to watch.”

Toyota's first involvement with Robby Gordon dates back to 1989 when he became the youngest grand national sport truck driver to win a driver's championship in a TRD-powered Toyota truck. Gordon and TRD hope to continue this successful pattern in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Berrier Expects To Test

Berrier expects his team will look at options such as the Virginia International Raceway and Heartland Park Topeka (Kan.) road courses, along with Rockingham Speedway in North Carolina and the half-mile Sandusky Speedway in Ohio. None of the facilities is covered by the ban.

“The places you can test, you’re going to test,” Berrier said in a phone interview Monday.

Berrier expects the No. 29 team to test several times throughout the season at non-NASCAR venues and possibly before the season begins, weather permitting.(scenedaily.com)

No. 83 Picks Up Sponsor

Red Bull Racing Team will utilize Mighty's technical expertise to engineer professional performance-grade air and oil filters designed to endure the grueling demands of the racetrack.

"I see a natural fit between the philosophies of Red Bull Racing Team and Mighty Auto Parts,” said Ken Voelker, President of Mighty Auto Parts. “The opportunity to partner with a company such as Red Bull Racing that brings passion, an inventive style of thinking and marketing acuity to everything they do, mirrors Mighty's own modus operandi. We look forward to developing a long-term relationship with RBRT, continuing our long-standing relationship with Jay Frye, and seeing the results of such a synergistic partnership."

Mighty has been involved with NASCAR and Red Bull Racing Team General Manager and Vice President Jay Frye for ten years, most recently as an associate sponsor of Mark Martin at MB2.

“It is a privilege to continue my relationship with Mighty,” said Frye. “As a team we have high expectations for next season; the quality products Mighty provides will help improve our on-track performance and take us to that next level.”

ARCA To Test Daytona

• Joe Gibbs Racing and heralded NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rookie driver Joey Logano
• Five-time ARCA 200 champion Bobby Gerhart
• Will Kimmel, son of nine-time ARCA RE/MAX Series champion Frank Kimmel
• Local Daytona Beach racer Alli Owens