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David Newton

  (4:02 PM)

Welcome from partly sunny Miami. Let's get straight to the Jimmie Johnson coronation.

mike westminster ca

Will Dale Jr win more than one race next year???

David Newton

  (4:04 PM)

What a way to start. Dale Jr. Let's put it this way, if he doesn't win more than one next year then there are no excuses.

Spencer Indy

Now that DEI and Ganassi have merged, will AJ be in the 41?

David Newton

  (4:05 PM)

Not sure at this point. Still working on that.

JR (Denver)

Will Kenseth ever rise to the top of Roush Racing again?

David Newton

  (4:06 PM)

No resason he shouldn't. He wasn't that bad this year. He just never got as comfortable with the car as Edwards and Biffle.

Rick (VA)

Will Regan Smith be the 4th driver at DEI with Ganassi with Sabates... whatever they are called now?? Or will they go for AJ?

David Newton

  (4:07 PM)

News just broke, so no word on that at this point. Ganassi still has to get permission from Dodge to leave.

Rick (VA)

Is Sr. turning over in his grave today?

David Newton

  (4:07 PM)

He did that last year when Junior left. Now he's just glad they're doing something to keep the company alive.

Rick (VA)

If Gillette wants to move to Toyotas, does he need permission from nascar? Or can he just switch?

David Newton

  (4:08 PM)

He has to get out of his deal with Dodge first. Then he can do what he wants.

Jeff (Rochester NY)

The commentators mentioned something on Sunday about Hamlin wanting to shake things up, but things were too political at Gibbs. Can you elaborate more on what Hamlin is wanting done?

David Newton

  (4:09 PM)

I can't elaborate. I haven't talked to Hamlin since then. I am guessing make changes with crews, crew chiefs.

Johnny (NYC, NY)

Since you started with a Jr. question, I figured I'd follow with a Riggs question: do you think he'll do anything worthy of people asking questions about him next year???

David Newton

  (4:10 PM)

Hmmm. Has he done anything this year worthy?

Rick (VA)

Will Gibbs racing add a fourth car anytime soon?

David Newton

  (4:11 PM)

As soon as they can find a sponsor.

Rick (VA)

Will JPM crash out at Homestead? What odds would you put on it?

David Newton

  (4:11 PM)

At least 40-60 in favor of it happening.

lee san antonio tx

With the DEI-GNASSI merger does this mean that Petty Ent. will not merge with anyone this year.

David Newton

  (4:12 PM)

I'm not sure who besides GEM is out there that would help out to be honest. Hall of Fame Racing and Bill Davis Racing are in such dire straits they are in danger of folding completely.

jess(nc)

Hi David great to have you in chat as always. Have you heard anything more on all the mergers also if DEI and Ganassi to combine teams do you think there will be 3 or 4 cars there next year?

David Newton

  (4:13 PM)

There will be four cars at DEI-Ganassi. Not sure who the fourth driver will be yet. Will dig into that as soon as I get through here. Speaking of that. I may have to cut this chat short today to dig. Thanks for your patience.

Bill, Dover, DE

My home track built the monster this year, added a skybox last year and is improving the track. any news to report on them for 2009?

David Newton

  (4:14 PM)

Not a word.

Daisy (Newport News, VA)

What happened to my cutie Tank??? Has he been banished??? If so, because of his spelling??? I don't think that's fair...even you slip-up sometimes....

David Newton

  (4:14 PM)

Using Tank and cutie in the same breath should be red flagged. No, he has not been banished. Maybe he is busy at the new time caused by my flight delay.

Rick (VA)

With the 6 and 26 running so well, could we see all 5 Roush Fenway cars in the chase next year? Maybe with all four Hendrick cars?

David Newton

  (4:15 PM)

It will be tough to get all five in the Chase, although it happened in 2005. My guess is the 6 and 26 still will hover around the bubble.

Rick (VA)

Who do you think has done the most with the least? I'd say Kvapil in the Ford camp, Reutiman in the Toyota camp, and Truex in the Chevy. No idea about Dodge.

David Newton

  (4:16 PM)

I'll agree with all of those. As for Dodge, how about .... really, nobody stands out.

Tony Stewart

I am gonna start my winterlong food induced hibernation...wake me when its 2009 (clearly I forgot to wake for this year's schedule).

David Newton

  (4:17 PM)

At least you've stored enough body fat to keep you well until the hibernation is over.

Stan

Where would you put Jimmie in the top drivers list of all time at this point in his career?

David Newton

  (4:17 PM)

I'd put him somewhere around five or six with a bullet. We really should appreciate more how good he is.

Rick (VA)

Who is going to run in the back of the field now that Kyle Petty is done? The bright side of him not racing is he can now do even more charity work. This is not a putdown, but his racing career (even if he won 5 titles) could never compare to his charity work.

David Newton

  (4:18 PM)

There's always Waltrip. And you are right, his charity work has been amazing.

Sven (Seattle, WA)

Is Rick an insider or just a slob like one of us?

David Newton

  (4:18 PM)

I do not know Rick, so I cannot comment.

Jeff (Rochester NY)

what is the biggest thing teams need to do next year to compete with the 48 team in the chase?

David Newton

  (4:19 PM)

Hope that the 48 team forgets how to win, cause right now they are head and tail above everybody except maybe Edwards and Busch when he' s on.

Harry - Mexico, NY

Will Martinsville next year show the true field for 2009, meaning that the first five races are in the books and the top-35 rule won't be held over from the year before.

David Newton

  (4:20 PM)

I haven't honestly looked at the schedule. If Martinsville is the sixth race then it will be the first with the top 35 from the first five races of 2009.

Danny (Alabama)

Just read where DEI and Ganassi where teaming up but that it wasn't technically a merger but a Competitive and economic partnership can you tell me what the difference is and why it isn't a merger.

David Newton

  (4:20 PM)

It is a merger. Anything else is semantics.

riggs (bahama)

yea keep a none competative care in top 35 and guarentee stewart haas racing a spot for 09

David Newton

  (4:21 PM)

Well, I'll give you that.

Rick (VA)

Aside from Logano, Speed, and Keselowski, who are the big up and coming rookies?

David Newton

  (4:21 PM)

Those are the main ones. I guess Clauson from Ganassi, but not sure what his fate is with the merger.

Duke (Winnipeg)

4 questions from Rick...do you owe him money or something???

David Newton

  (4:22 PM)

After today he'll owe me.

Hoss (NC)

Give me your 12 chase contenders for next year.

David Newton

  (4:24 PM)

Wow. Johnson, Gordon, Edwards, Biffle, Kenseth, Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch, Earnhardt Jr., Ragan, Burton, Harvick.

Rick (VA)

If you were JD Gibbs, who would you put in a fourth car (if you got a sponsorship)?

David Newton

  (4:25 PM)

I'd have to try to get Truex Jr. after his contract expires at DEI.

Rick (VA)

What is team Penske going to look like next year?

David Newton

  (4:27 PM)

Kurt Busch, Sam Hornish Jr. and and David Stremme.

Tony( nc)

Do you think the DEI/Ganassi Merger is 50/50 or does one owner hold more power?

David Newton

  (4:27 PM)

Details are forthcoming. Sorry, haven't had time between flying here and chatting to look into it.

Harold, Philadelphia

YES or NO: Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins a Cup championship in his career.

David Newton

  (4:28 PM)

If I have to choose, no.

Daisy (Newport News, VA)

We Want Tank!!! We Want Tank!!! We Want Tank!!! We Want Tank!!! We Want Tank!!! We Want Tank!!! We Want Tank!!! We Want Tank!!! We Want Tank!!! We Want Tank!!! We Want Tank!!! We Want Tank!!! We Want Tank!!!

David Newton

  (4:29 PM)

I am starting to wonder about you Daisy.

Gary

Look into your crystal ball. Top 5 teams in nascar next year will be.....

David Newton

  (4:30 PM)

Johnson, Gordon, Edwards, Kyle Busch and ... drum roll, please, Kenseth.

Rick (VA)

If things don't change for DEICGR, will JPM head to Formula 1 in 2010?

David Newton

  (4:30 PM)

Don't see that happening. He is happy in NASCAR.

dave(raleugh)

riggs in 09...dei-gannasi or anohter.

David Newton

  (4:30 PM)

Right. DEI-Ganassi or another.

Danny

What will happen with ECR?

David Newton

  (4:31 PM)

From what I understand it will stay the same.

Gary

Is that Robbie Gordon or Jeff who you say will be top 5?

David Newton

  (4:31 PM)

If you have to ask, then . . .

Rick (VA)

If getting 43 cars in the field is going to be a problem, would guaranteeing at least 40 spots take care of that issue?

David Newton

  (4:34 PM)

I believe there will enough field fillers to keep it at 43.

Marcus Columbus,Ohio

Hey David Do you think Turex Jr will leave DEI NEXT YEAR I HEARD BASS PRO WAS THINKING ABOUT LEAVING IF SO IS THERE EVEN ANY OTHER GOOD TEAMS OPEN THATS BETTER THEN DEI

David Newton

  (4:35 PM)

It all depends on how well DEI-Ganassi do next year.

Tank

After runing the NYC marathjon last week, i has grater respect for thes guys runing 500 laps!!! i was tired last week after the run...so I mised the chat. sorry. Who is Daisy??? Is it just me, or is she just wild??? Newt -- Would you shoot her my email when you get chance?

David Newton

  (4:37 PM)

I can't help you with emails Tank. But if you ran in the marathon I wouldlike documentation and pictures. On that note, since we have heard fromTank, I need to bug out and start digging into this merger. Hope you guys understand. Have a good week.