NASCAR Cup Series

The Hot Pass: Childress shakes things up ... again

Published Aug. 26, 2009 6:24 p.m. ET

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It's the time of the year when organizations put their best effort over the pit wall.

Most wanted

So who makes up this super team that is now part of Clint Bowyer's crew? Here's a look

So is it any surprise that Kevin Harvick's former crew — which was considered the sportiest squad at Richard Childress Racing before it moved along with crew chief Todd Berrier over to Casey Mears' No. 07 team — started supporting Clint Bowyer on race day back at Michigan?

Bowyer, who is currently 112 points out of the Chase after he was punted by Harvick on Saturday night at Bristol, is a longshot for the postseason — but the only shot remaining at RCR, an organization that qualified all three of their teams for the playoffs last year (they expanded to four operations this season).

Bowyer was as high as second in the point standings earlier this season, but wrecks at Talladega and Darlington took a toll on team's momentum and following a 36th-place finish in the Coca-Cola 600 Bowyer fell out of the Chase Zone.

Despite scoring four top 10s in the five races leading up to Bristol, finishing 21st on Saturday certainly dampened the campaign. However, Bowyer is remarkably stout at Atlanta and Richmond. He's finished sixth in four of the last five Atlanta races and has one win and an average finish of 10.6 at Richmond, where he has completed every lap.

From the Major Leagues ...

Team owner Tad Geschickter has signed up another sponsor for the No. 47 team and Marcos Ambrose in 2010 — Lance Crackers.

Keeping track

This is the second former Nationwide Series team sponsor bargaining for more bang for the buck in the Sprint Cup Series with JTG Daugherty Racing. The company announced Saturday that Kleenex would support their Cup efforts in five races next year.

Given the current economy, most sponsors are adopting a conservative approach in NASCAR, opting for established Cup drivers over newcomers. With the promise Ambrose has shown this season — complimented by a vibrant personality — any sponsor willing to take a risk in the early stages of his development will likely reap the rewards down the road.

... To the Minors

Roush Fenway Racing added Fastenal to its sponsorship lineup in 2010.

The fastener distributor will rejoin driver Carl Edwards — this time on the No. 99 Nationwide Series Ford for 15 races next year.

"I'm really excited about the partnership with Fastenal," Edwards said in a release. "It's special to me because in 1999 the local Fastenal store in Columbia, Mo. was nice enough to let me bring in one of my first sponsorship proposals that I had ever given to anyone. They met with me and treated me like a professional and I worked out a sponsorship deal with them. I used their storage bins, fasteners, drill bits and rivets for years on all my dirt cars.

"We won two track championships. I was really proud of that first sponsorship and I am proud to be back with them in the Nationwide Series. That's going to be neat."

Edwards, who has 22 NNS victories and won the 2007 series title, is currently second in that series' point standings, 248 points behind Kyle Busch. Edwards' likely NNS teammates next year are Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Colin Braun. Roush is not expected to field trucks in 2010.

He's baaack ...

Some guys just can't stay away — add former Roush Racing crew chief James Ince to that list.

Ince "retired" after the 2006 season, but now is making a comeback as the GM/Director of Race Operations for a new truck team. It's also Ince's intention to run 18 additional Cup races.

Sound ambitious? Then you don't know Ince.

Ince worked with Mark Martin, Jeff Burton and Johnny Benson at Roush, followed by stints at MBV Motorsports with Benson and eventually PPI Motorsports with Travis Kvapil.

Although no driver has been selected, Ince said he's interested in a veteran.

Things that make you go 'Hmm...'

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