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Earnhardt Ganassi Racing might field only two full-time Sprint Cup teams this season if enough sponsorship isn't found.

The merger between Dale Earnhardt Inc., and Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates was meant to make the operation a four-car team but Martin Truex Jr. said Friday that the team likely will field only three cars. That third, to be driven by Aric Almirola, is not guaranteed to run after the Daytona 500 because of sponsorship issues.

When the teams merged, Ganassi had two full-time teams with Juan Pablo Montoya and Reed Sorenson. Montoya will again run but the No. 41 car that had Sorenson, who moved to another team, does not have sponsorship yet.

Dale Earnhardt Inc. had four cars last season, but Paul Menard left with his sponsor to Yates Racing and Regan Smith's ride disappeared because of lack of sponsorship. Truex joined the merger as did Almirola but without a sponsor Almirola's status is uncertain.

A TAMER TOYOTA? Lee White, who oversees Toyota's NASCAR programs, was asked about Toyota benefiting from the struggles of the other manufacturers. He said that wasn't the case.

"Toyota isn't spending more money than others," White said. "And if they had more money, they would not spend more money than others. That is absolutely the culture of our company to not take advantage and be predatory of other people's difficulties. We are under very strict orders and instructions from our company to watch every penny. The idea that we're going to come in and suddenly take advantage of all the other things that are going on in the world are absolutely false."

BUD SHOOTOUT FIELD EXPANDED: NASCAR changed the rules for the Bud Shootout, allowing Tony Stewart, a three-time winner of the event, to make the race. The change increases the starting field from 24 to 28 cars.

NASCAR announced last year that the top six cars for each manufacturer would make the Feb. 7 exhibition race at Daytona and that past event winners were not guaranteed a spot. That kept Stewart out since his team was not among the top six Chevrolets in car owner points last year.

NASCAR announced this week that it is giving each manufacturer an additional entry. It will go to any past champion who attempted to qualify for every event the previous year. If a manufacturer cannot fulfill that requirement, then it's the next highest eligible owner outside that top six. Thus, Stewart will compete in the event.

FAST TIMES: With teams not allowed to test at tracks that host NASCAR events, many are going to other places. Greg Biffle tested at Texas World Speedway this week and said he reached speeds as high as 218 mph during a lap.

DOUBLE DUTY: Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch both plan to run full time in Cup and Nationwide again this year. Busch said he also plans to run 10-12 truck races and 10-12 late model races this season.

PIT STOPS: Brad Keselowski will attempt to run seven Cup races this season for Hendrick Motorsports. &ellipses; Pierre Kuettel, crew chief for Carl Edwards when he won the 2007 title in what is now the Nationwide Series, will serve as car chief on Edwards' team this year. &ellipses; Fans buying tickets for the May 24 Coca-Cola 600 will have the opportunity to ride-along in a stock car courtesy of the Jeff Gordon Racing School on Wednesday at Lowe's Motor Speedway. &ellipses; Kyle Busch says he spent $1.3 million on his late model program last year.

Contact Dustin Long at 373-7062 or dustin.long@news-record.com