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SPORTS

Roush's odd man out McMurray loses ride

Wednesday, July 29, 2009
(Updated 9:46 am)

Roush Fenway Racing has set its lineup for next season, and it won't include Jamie McMurray's team.

The organization must cut from five teams to four after this season to meet NASCAR's four-team limit. The organization announced Tuesday that Crown Royal, which has been McMurray's sponsor, will move over to Matt Kenseth's team and sponsor him for 18 races next season.

The Roush lineup for next year will feature Kenseth, Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle and David Ragan.

The organization will try to move McMurray's team to Yates Racing, a satellite organization. Roush has told McMurray he can look for other rides.

If McMurray does not race for Yates, it would end a four-year run that was full of promise but never materialized. McMurray has one win, 10 top-fives and 30 top-10 finishes in 128 starts as a Roush driver.

SEEING PROGRESS: Car owner Rick Hendrick says he likes what he sees between interim crew chief Lance McGrew and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

They were paired before the Dover race. Earnhardt has not had a top-10 finish since they've been together.

"He and Lance are really working well together," Hendrick said. "I feel like those guys have turned the corner and really the chemistry is good. We're not happy with the way the car has run, but I am very happy with the chemistry and what's happening now. I think we're just getting very, very close."

NATIONWIDE CAR: NASCAR met with team owners Tuesday to discuss the schedule for the Nationwide Car of Tomorrow. NASCAR didn't announce its plans for next year but the car is expected to be used only in road course and some restrictor-plate events with teams using the car in every race in 2011.

Ford announced Tuesday that it will use the Mustang as its car in the series. This will be the first time that Mustang has competed in NASCAR.

FAN VOTES: Fan voting has opened for the Hall of Fame and continues in the search for the sport's most popular driver.

Fifty individuals involved in NASCAR will vote on who will be inducted into the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame class. A fan vote will represent the 51st vote. Fans can vote for their Hall of Fame nominees at NASCAR.com.

Also, voting continues for the Most Popular Driver Award. Voting recently topped 1 million. Those in the top 10 in votes are: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Michael Waltrip, Bobby Labonte, Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards and Jimmie Johnson.

The five just outside the top 10 are: Kyle Busch, Elliott Sadler, Marcos Ambrose, Robby Gordon and Mark Martin.

Votes can be cast online at chexmostpopulardriver.com.

MAYFIELD CASE: Judge Graham Mullen has set the calendar for Jeremy Mayfield's case against NASCAR in U.S. District Court in Charlotte.

The discovery phase ends April 7, with motions due by May 7. The trial is set to begin Sept. 13, 2010.

PIT STOPS: Allstate will not renew its title sponsorship of the race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway after having it for five years. ... Red Bull's General Manager Jay Frye is in Austria this week at company headquarters to discuss the team's driver lineup and future plans, including which manufacturer it will use after this season. ... The car Jimmie Johnson drove to win Sunday's race at Indianapolis was a new car, and the team doesn't plan to run it again until the title Chase.

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

Accompanying Photos

Tim Stewart (Associated Press)

Photo Caption: NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Jamie McMurray

NASCAR WEEKEND

SPRINT CUP
What: Pennsylvania 500
Where: Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, Pa.
Time/TV: 2 p.m. Sunday/ESPN
Qualifying/TV: 3:30 p.m. Friday/ESPN2

NATIONWIDE SERIES
What: U.S. Cellular 250
Where: Iowa Speedway, Newton, Iowa
Time/TV: 4:30 p.m. Saturday/ESPN
Qualifying/TV: 1 p.m. Saturday/ESPN2

TRUCK SERIES
What: Toyota Tundra 200
Where: Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway
Time/TV: 8 p.m. Saturday/Speed
Qualifying/TV: 3:15 p.m. Saturday/No TV

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