Hendricks Re-Ups With Chevy NASCAR Program

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By David Newton
ESPN.com
(Archive)

Updated: August 12, 2007, 7:55 PM ET

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- Hendrick Motorsports has verbally agreed to a five-year contract with General Motors, keeping NASCAR's most powerful organization in Chevrolets through 2012.

"We're done," team owner Rick Hendrick said after Sunday's Nextel Cup race at Watkins Glen International. "We haven't signed it, but we've verbally agreed."

GM is in the last year of all of its contracts with teams in the Nextel Cup series. Re-signing HMS was key, particularly with speculation that Joe Gibbs Racing may be leaving for Toyota.

Richard Childress Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc., GM's other top teams, remain in negotiations but are expected to re-sign.

HMS has won 10 of 22 races this season and Jeff Gordon has a 344-point lead in the points

(more at link) http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/news/s...d=2&id=2971616

[mot76]

Tony Stewart racing a Toyota? Pontiac, please help us!

[TahoeMikeZ71]

Originally Posted by mot76

Tony Stewart racing a Toyota? Pontiac, please help us!

What's Pontiac going to do?

[chakis24]

Originally Posted by mot76

Tony Stewart racing a Toyota? Pontiac, please help us!

Tony Stewart and the G8- the return of Pontiac. how sweet that would be.

[johnct2005]

GM and Ford should leave the spec series they call NASCAR. Auto racing should improve you product line. When GM start selling billboards and needs to learn how to paint them then NASCAR will benefit them. I wish the manufacturers would thrown 1/3 of the marketing dollars they spend in NASCAR on a production based series like the Speedvision Cup that would actually improve street cars and introduce new technologies.

[dindak]

No top team in their right mind would go Chev to Toyota. Chevy is the dominant power plant.

[94Sierra]

Just another reason to hate Tony Stewart:**

[mikesright]

Originally Posted by dindak

No top team in their right mind would go Chev to Toyota. Chevy is the dominant power plant.

It only matters how much money the manufacturer is willing to throw at the teams anymore. The engines are/will be all spec between the manufacturers, as well as the chassis and aero with the COT. Toyota's obviously willing to spend lots-o-money to get competitive, so if JGR can go where the money is without having to lose competitiveness, they will.

[CharlotteFirebird]

I am becoming less of a Joe Gibbs fan. I grew up a Redskins fan and therefore a Gibbs fan. Despite being in Charlotte, I'm not much of a NASCAR fan; however I am more into it now that I feel the need to pull against Toyota. So when Little E was thinking of going with Gibbs, apparently the fact that he was sponsored by AB was a problem...oh holier than thou. So, Gibbs is anti-AB, but he's fine with Toyota. Thanks for selling out. If they go with Toyota, I'll be pulling against them and the Redskins. I'm sure his coaching the last few years has driven plenty of people to drink Budweiser as a matter of fact.

[marinerbc]

Originally Posted by johnct2005

GM and Ford should leave the spec series they call NASCAR. Auto racing should improve you product line. When GM start selling billboards and needs to learn how to paint them then NASCAR will benefit them. I wish the manufacturers would thrown 1/3 of the marketing dollars they spend in NASCAR on a production based series like the Speedvision Cup that would actually improve street cars and introduce new technologies.

The Official "NASCAR 2005-07" thread

[Shotgun]

Originally Posted by mikesright

It only matters how much money the manufacturer is willing to throw at the teams anymore. The engines are/will be all spec between the manufacturers, as well as the chassis and aero with the COT. Toyota's obviously willing to spend lots-o-money to get competitive, so if JGR can go where the money is without having to lose competitiveness, they will.

It could be a case of Gibbs wanting to be the "top-dog" for a manufacturer instead of a second-fiddle as they may feel they are to the other Chevy teams, namely Hendrick.

[CharlotteFirebird]

Originally Posted by Shotgun

It could be a case of Gibbs wanting to be the "top-dog" for a manufacturer instead of a second-fiddle as they may feel they are to the other Chevy teams, namely Hendrick.

Whatever it is, it's lame and it will probably result in worse results.

[Ty_99]

It would be a shame to see JGR go to Toyota, but is possible that was another issue with Jr going to them was he wanted to remain chevy, and they couldn't promise that. But that said I am happy Hendricks is sticking with Chev, clearly the best team with the best manufacture hands down.
As far as GM not being in nascar, that is just funny, since there is heritage and most hardcore nascar fans are loyal to their driver and the car they drive. GM would lose more then they would gain by not being there...

[poncho1982]

Originally Posted by Shotgun

It could be a case of Gibbs wanting to be the "top-dog" for a manufacturer instead of a second-fiddle as they may feel they are to the other Chevy teams, namely Hendrick.

I mould most definately not call Gibbs second fiddle. DEI maybe, but not Gibbs.

[sprchev1]

Originally Posted by mikesright

It only matters how much money the manufacturer is willing to throw at the teams anymore. The engines are/will be all spec between the manufacturers, as well as the chassis and aero with the COT. Toyota's obviously willing to spend lots-o-money to get competitive, so if JGR can go where the money is without having to lose competitiveness, they will.

If Toyota is so competive in NASCAR then name their teams in the top 10. Oh, that's right, they aren't even in the top 30. Toyota has a long way to go and all the money in the world is not going to get them there. NASCAR fans are not going to automatically switch brands even if Toyota starts winning. Probably will hate them more.