Pit Passes

Gibbs and Toyota

Joe Gibbs Racing will switch manufacturers from Chevrolet to Toyota next season, Kyle Busch confirmed today. Busch, who will drive for Gibbs next season, told scenedaily.com he's looking forward to the change.

I'm up in the air on this one. There are Toyotas out there this season and they're all struggling. But, then again, there are no top-level drivers in any of the cars either: Michael Waltrip, Dale Jarrett, Dave Blaney, Brian Vickers, etc.

So with a full year under the belt, maybe Toyotas will become more successful with drivers like Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch behind the wheel.

Can't see Junior in the 38

Speed TV reported this week that Hendrick Motorsports was talking to Robert Yates Racing about the No. 38 so Dale Earnhardt Jr. could use it next year with his new team.

It'd be the 3 for Dale Sr. and the 8 for Dale Jr. (Brian Vickers has No. 83)

But ESPN reported that the deal is unlikely. I just can't see RYR giving up the No. 38, now used by David Gilliland. The number has been in the organization for quite a few years now. I know there aren't a ton of Gilliland fans out there, but it would affect his merchandise.

I still see Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 81 next year

Another MBS penalty

On Tuesday, Myrtle Beach Speedway GM announced that Michael Jordan's win Saturday was thrown out because his car had an illegal crankshaft.

But Kevin Barnhill's crankshaft was found legal in post-race inspection and he was awarded the victory. He leads the LLM points standings by 16 with four races to go.

Racing vs. football

There's another Saturday night Nextel Cup race this weekend, this time in California. And now NASCAR has another opponent in drawing television ratings: football.

This Saturday is the first full day of college football. And there will be plenty of big games on the tube. Then the NFL starts the following Sunday, so NASCAR must fight viewers for that.

This, in a long, long season, seems like a great time to end the season ... or at least have the Chase finishing up about now.

Racing at MBS Saturday

There will be racing on Saturday night at Myrtle Beach Speedway. Most regional tracks around the country are closed because of the Nextel Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway, one of the best races of the season.

MBS General Manager Bill Hennecy is expecting at least 20 Late Models on Saturday.

It'll be interesting to see how many people will tape the race at Bristol and watch the action live at MBS.

Racing on Tuesday?

NASCAR's ratings have been bad enough. I don't see them jumping with Tuesday's 10 a.m. race at Michigan. My guess is that it will be the lowest rated race in years ... and that's if the rain stops long enough.

But it's better than the alternative. If NASCAR can't get the race in by Wednesday, they'll be forced to move it to the final week of the season. It'd be something to watch Jeff Gordon make a snowman after winning the Nextel Cup ... IN DECEMBER ... IN MICHIGAN. Maybe they can shower snowballs on Gordon instead of beer.

The other injustice would be having the final race before the Chase in New Hampshire, instead of Richmond. Yuk!

Let's just hope for a lot of sunshine today!

Watkins Glen workings

A few ins and outs about Sunday's race at Watkins Glen:

*Watching Juan Pablo Montoya and Kevin Harvick 'scuffle' on the track made me laugh. Reminded me of when Danica Patrick stomped down pit road last year after another poor finish. All looked like children out there.

*Tony Stewart is good. He keeps getting lucky, watch out on the Chase. I think the race will be between him and Jeff Gordon.

*Dale Earnhardt Jr. has no chance of making the Chase. Kurt Busch is too good of a driver to screw this up. He'll be conservative and work his way in. Junior needs to go for broke, but has just been breaking engines.

*I was disappointed to here Earnhardt Jr.'s crew chief say "if we make the Chase we do. If we don't, we don't.' Sounds like he's given up and a year of turmoil is getting to him.

Punishment fit crime?

Robby Gordon was, well, Robby Gordon on Saturday. His childish bump of Marcos Ambrose at the end of Saturday's Busch race cost the Aussie his first win. It also made Gordon look like a complete jerk.

So NASCAR parked Gordon from Sunday's Nextel Cup race. Big deal. P.J. Jones still drove his car and finished 37th, probably right around where Robby would have ended up. His car was still out there, his sponsors still got air time. Doesn't seem like a punishment to me ... unless he actually watched the race at the most boring track in NASCAR.

If they wanted to punish him, they should have sat him for this weekend's race in Watkins Glen, a race he could win. That would sting. Maybe the message would get across.

Plus, they should keep his Busch team from racing for an indefinite amount of time, say eight weeks. That would keep the Cup guys from going to Busch races to simply have a good time.

Kyle Busch headed for Gibbs

Joe Gibbs Racing couldn't get Dale Earnhardt Jr. so they settled for Kyle Busch. ESPN is reporting he'll drive the No. 18 care next year, now driven by J.J. Yeley.

Great move for Gibbs. Busch is top-notch. Though he doesn't have the fan appeal Dale Jr. has, he's just as good if not a better driver.

I'll be interested to see how he works out with Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin, two guys tough to get along with in the own right.