news-record.com

A NASCAR official confirms that the sanctioning body is looking at the idea of replacing the rear wing on Sprint Cup cars with a spoiler to improve racing.

Nothing has been set, although a report on Foxsports.com states that such a change could take place by mid-March, when the series races at Bristol or Martinsville.

"We are currently meeting with drivers and owners to discuss a number of options," NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said. "Going back to the spoiler is one of them under serious consideration. We'll make an announcement in the coming weeks."

Questions from fans about competition dogged NASCAR last year as Jimmie Johnson won a record fourth consecutive Cup championship. Driver complaints about how the car drove were a constant last season. The current car, which was first raced in 2007, replaced the spoiler with a rear wing.

NASCAR AND TV: Speed Channel's "NASCAR Race Hub" returns to the airwaves at 7:30 p.m. today. The network also will air a four-episode program called "Countdown to the Daytona 500." That program will detail how Joe Gibbs Racing prepares for the season-opening event. The hour-long show debuts at 6 p.m. Jan. 24.

HBO's behind-the-scenes show with Jimmie Johnson — "24/7 Jimmie Johnson Race to Daytona" — debuts Jan. 26.

Also, while ESPN announced plans to show some sporting events in 3D this year, beginning in June with World Cup soccer, a spokeswoman says the network has no plans to air any NASCAR races in 3D this year.

NEW/OLD NAME: Call it Charlotte Motor Speedway again. The Concord track most recently known as Lowe's Motor Speedway has changed back to its old name after its naming rights contract with Lowe's ended last year.

LINEUP CHANGE: Ken Schrader will drive in place of Scott Speed at Red Bull Racing in the Budweiser Shootout on Feb. 6 at Daytona International Speedway. Schrader is eligible for the event as a past winner and Speed is not. Speed will resume his driving duties in that car after the event.

BABY NEWS: Three Cup drivers -- Carl Edwards, Elliott Sadler and Jimmie Johnson -- are expectant, first-time fathers this season. Edwards' wife is due in mid-February, Sadler's wife is due in March, and Johnson's wife is due in July.

WORKING TOGETHER: BAM Racing, which is returning this season, announced it has formed an alliance with Robby Gordon Motorsports.

BAM will receive technical support, race cars and personnel from Robby Gordon Motorsports. A driver has not been announced.

PIT STOPS: Keyed-Up Motorsports recently announced Doug Richert will be the team's crew chief. No driver has been announced for that team. ... Kevin Harvick and Elliott Sadler will combine to drive 15 races in a Kevin Harvick Inc. truck in the Camping World Truck Series this season. &ellipses; Front Row Motorsports has announced that Travis Kvapil and Kevin Conway will drive for its two-car Cup operation. As of now, Conway is the only Cup driver eligible for the Raybestos Rookie of the Year program. Brad Keselowski, in his first full season in Cup, ran too many Cup races last year to be eligible for the program. ... Goodyear has a tire test Tuesday and Wednesday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Scheduled to take part are Mark Martin, Martin Truex Jr., Sam Hornish Jr. and Carl Edwards.

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