CONCORD, N.C. - Now that Roger Penske owns all of Penske Racing South, crew chief Matt Borland has been signed to a contract extension and driver Ryan Newman is in negotiations for a similar extension, the focus shifts to finding a replacement for Rusty Wallace.
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Penske bought the 48-percent share of the team owned by Wallace, Don Miller and John Erickson this week, giving the racing magnate complete control of the three-car team.
Wallace has announced he'll retire at the end of this season, and many believe Jamie McMurray, whose contract with Chip Ganassi Racing ends this season, will climb into the No. 2 Dodge.
McMurray, who is dating Wallace's daughter, is trying to avoid all the speculation.
"Last year I got to talking about my contract," McMurray said. "I'm not going to talk about that at all."
Newman has talked with Roush Racing and Evernham Motorsports about a future, but he's leaning toward staying with Borland and Penske.
TV GUIDE: While officials at Richmond International Raceway were pleased the Chevy American Revolution 400 was the highest-rated sports show on cable this past weekend, a 4.4 rating made it the least-watched race of the year.
According to Nielsen Media Research, 4.8 million fans watched the race Saturday night. That's lower than the 4.7 rating of a week earlier in the night race at Darlington Raceway. In all, the three night races this year have had the three lowest ratings. The Richmond numbers, however, are good considering it was the first race away from network television.
AND THREE MAKE A TEAM: Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Robert Yates Racing are looking to expand to three full-time teams in 2006.
DEI hopes to promote Martin Truex Jr. and sponsor Bass Pro Shops to the senior circuit, while Yates apparently is courting Brendan Gaughan for a third team.
Richie Gilmore, president at DEI, said Michael Waltrip's future with the race team is likely contingent on sponsor NAPA exercising its option for 2006.
LEFFLER SAFE: Car owner Joe Gibbs, who was at Richmond International Raceway this past Saturday, said Jason Leffler's job with the team is safe - for now.
"We are certainly going to go after it with Jason and try to get everything done that we can," Gibbs said.
Leffler is 36th in the point standings with only one top-20 finish all year.
Reach Don Coble at don.coble@bellsouth.net.
