Need for Speed

A NASCAR BLOG BY Jared Turner

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Silly season is in full swing at Daytona

Jul 4

Silly season is in full swing this weekend at Daytona International Speedway, adding to the allure of an already much-anticipated event.

As if the usual hype surrounding the annual summer bash at “The World Center of Racing” wasn’t enough, this weekend there’s the extra intrigue of the announcement on Friday afternoon that Hendrick Motorsports has named Mark Martin its new driver of the team’s No. 5 car for 2009.

There’s also plenty of chatter about Aric Almirola, Martin’s newly named successor in the No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Inc. car, if that’s what you want to call him. It was announced on Tuesday that Almirola will drive the iconic No. 8 full time next season as opposed to his part-time schedule in 2008.

This weekend also marks Casey Mears’ first full weekend as a free agent since it was announced at New Hampshire on June 27 that he would vacate Hendrick's No. 5 car at the conclusion of the year.

There’s also the new question this weekend of where former open-wheel superstar Dario Franchitti might land a ride now that Chip Ganassi Racing has done away with Franchitti’s No. 40 Ganassi team in Sprint Cup.

And, of course, there’s still the lingering question of when Tony Stewart will make his racing plans known for 2009, what exactly those plans are and what kind of domino effect those plans may have on Mears, Franchitti and others seeking employment for next season.

Oh, in case you’ve forgotten already: there’s a little race at Daytona on Saturday night as well. And here’s betting it’s going to feature its own fair share of twists and excitement.