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Today’s Top News
by Kurt Smith

In a news conference on Friday, Hendrick Motorsports is expected to announce Mark Martin as driver of the No. 5 car next season, following the departure of current driver Casey Mears. Martin has been in talks with Hendrick for some time.  It was already announced earlier in the week that Aric Almirola will be driving the No. 8 for DEI full time next year.

It is not known whether Martin will run a full- or part-time schedule with Hendrick next season, but unconfirmed sources say that he will make one last run at a Sprint Cup championship. Martin has finished second in the Cup standings four times. He is currently 49 years old.

Driving for DEI on a part-time basis this season, Martin has 12 starts, with two Top 5 finishes and five Top 10s. He nearly won the Phoenix race but fell short and finished fifth when his team decided not to gamble on fuel mileage.

NASCAR Establishes Scholarship Fund In Honor Of Fallen Cup Official

Following the death of NASCAR Sprint Cup official Brienne Davis, NASCAR has established a scholarship with the Universal Technical Institute (UTI) for women who seek automotive careers.

The Brienne Davis Scholarship Fund will award a $10,000 scholarship each year to a qualified student who is applying for the NASCAR Technical Automotive program at UTI. The first scholarship was made available through proceeds from the auction sale of the NASCAR Performance Show Car at NASCAR Day 2008.

“NASCAR is proud to be able to honor the memory of Brienne as one of its shining stars who dedicated her time and energy to serving the sport in various roles,” said Odis Lloyd, managing director of the automotive aftermarket at NASCAR. “In doing so we also open additional opportunities for women to follow in Brienne’s path and learn valuable skills through the NASCAR Technical Institute and pursue their career goals.”

Future funding for scholarships will come from charitable gifts to the UTI Foundation and the NASCAR Foundation.

Johnny Sauter, former driver of the No. 70 Chevrolet for Haas Motorsports, will attempt to qualify the No. 08 Dodge Charger for EM Motorsports in the upcoming races at Chicagoland Speedway and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. EM Motorsports has not yet qualified for a Sprint Cup race this season.

The No. 08 car will be sponsored by FUBAR, a performance beverage. The crew chief will be Charles Swing.

Sauter has made two starts at Chicagoland with a high finish of 22nd, and one start at Indianapolis with a finish of 37th. He made four starts in the No. 70 for Haas this season, with his best finish a 33rd at Richmond.

Kerry Earnhardt to attempt to qualify for Daytona Nationwide Series race

Kerry Earnhardt, son of the late NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt, will attempt to race in the Nationwide Series this Friday night for DEI, the company started by his father and owned by his widow Teresa. Earnhardt will drive the No. 8 Chevrolet.

“It’s the best feeling of my racing career when I sit behind the wheel of a DEI car,” said Earnhardt. “It’s also exciting to return to the Nationwide Series and visit with old friends I haven’t seen in awhile. Thanks to Teresa and all the guys at DEI for supporting me, I’m really looking forward to it.”

Earnhardt has 69 starts in the Nationwide Series, but only four in the last four seasons and one race in the last two. He finished 25th at Daytona last year.

Petty, Dallenbach To Make Appearance Promoting “Portraits of NASCAR” Book

NASCAR drivers and TNT Commentators Kyle Petty and Wally Dallenbach will be participating in a book signing event this Saturday at Daytona. The event is to promote the book “Portraits of NASCAR”, a new collaboration from author Robin Dallenbach and photographer Anita Rich in which both Petty and Dallenbach and their families are among those featured. Robin Dallenbach has been married to Wally for 23 years.

The book profiles several drivers in their lives away from the track with black and white photos. Personalities profiled include Tony Stewart, Michael Waltrip, Rusty Wallace and Jimmie Johnson.

TNT’s ‘Wide Open Coverage’ returns with Daytona race

The TNT network will bring back its “Wide Open Coverage” for this week’s Coke Zero 400, with its list of sponsors including Coke Zero, Coors Light, HP, Papa John’s, Sprint, Subway, Toyota, US Army, Viagra and Warner Bros.

TNT’s Wide Open Coverage is a new format that provides continuous race coverage without commercial breaks. The broadcast instead has animated messages, unique branded content and on-screen graphics. TNT first debuted Wide Open Coverage in last year’s Pepsi 400.

“Wide Open Coverage is a truly unique television concept that provides sponsors with the opportunity to reach the audience in a new and different way while giving fans more racing action,” said Trish Frohman, executive vice president of Turner Sports sales. “We’re thrilled to bring back this exciting race presentation and continue to offer our advertising partners innovative concepts that showcase their brand and tell their story with dynamic flair.”

Frontstretch Folio: Coke Zero 400
By Kim DeHaven