Category #5.

Well, well, well!!!

I can’t keep up with the changes.

First lets look at some news from jayski.com.

Yates and HOF partner up, new sponsor:: Hall of Fame Racing [#96] and Yates Racing [#28, #38, #98], are forging a relationship that is expected to include sponsorship from Ask.com, one of the few companies with new money to spend in the sport, no other details mentioned. So it looks like the #96 maybe full time after all.

Tommy Baldwin Announces New Sprint Cup Team UPDATE 2 Blaney? #36?: hearing that Dave Blaney will be the driver for Baldwin’s team.

UPDATE 2: hearing the car number will be #36, no word on a driver past the Blaney rumor. Another full time team??????

Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Chip Ganassi Racing agreed to merge. Bobby Labonte in the #8, Juan Pablo Montoya in the #41, Martin Truex Jr. in the #1 and Aric Almirola in a part-time role. That is the scenario officials at Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing are discussing, sources close to the situation told ESPN.com. Almirola was slated to drive the #8 vacated by Mark Martin this season, but the company was having trouble finding sponsorship for the untested driver. Labonte … according to sources, has drawn interest from several sponsors. Montoya drove the #42 during his first two years with Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. But with that car only half sponsored by Wrigley’s and the #41 fully funded by Target, officials are looking to make the switch for what had become the top driver at Ganassi. Almirola would drive the fourth car in next month’s opener at Daytona and a select number of other races unless officials find a way to fully sponsor that car for the season.

So, if this news turns out to be correct then where do I put Bobby Labonte?

So for now…

(1) Bobby Labonte goes where? #8 car? #41 car? For now I am going to put him in the 5th category. Almirola is taken out of the Cobo Cup 2009 pool until it is confirmed whether he will be full or part time in 2009 which drops the 4th category down to 5 driver/team picks. He could move over to the #41 and Labonte or another driver could end up in the #8 ride. Petty and GEM merged, Bobby Labonte and the team parted ways before the merger and he could end up in the #41 ride. Bobby Labonte could move to this ride with Target or Target to the #43. The ride is locked in the top-35, so it is a coveted ride.

(2) David Stremme named to drive the #12 car in 2009. Alltel styas for at least 2009. Brad Keselowski supposedly turned down this ride. No word if Kodak will be back in 2009.

(3) Brian Vickers in the #83 sponsored by Red Bull Energy Drink with Kevin Hamlin replaced by Pemberton for 2009. Supposedly Hamlin will move into management.

(4) Reed Sorenson named to drive the #43 GEM-Petty Enterprises Dodge. Supposedly the Air Force moves over from the #10 with Sorenson. Gillett says the team has sponsors for most of the full slate of 2009 races. Boston Ventures bought into PE and becomes a partner in June 2008.

(5) J.P. Montoya will drive the #42 or perhaps the #41. All depends on sponsorship in 2009. For now I will put him in the #42. Chevy. Either Almirola, Labonte or Montoya could get the Target sponsorship. Texaco/Havoline left at the end of 2008. Wrigley will return for 19-20 races as they were in 2008. So the team needs a sponsor for half the season.

There you have it for now – category #5. So many changes, so fast. I will try to keep up and hope that everyone is looking forward to this coming Monday for the official release of the 2009 Cobo Cup pick sheets.

Jimbo