Entries.

4 days in and 22 to go, 28 entries have been turned in for the 2008 Cobo Cup Season.

Now for the news.

McDonald’s USA and Gillett Evernham Motorsports [GEM] announced that McDonald’s will sponsor Elliott Sadler’s #19 Dodge in six [not 8] Sprint Cup races in 2008.

Three longtime Ford Motor Company icons are teaming up again in 2008: The Motorcraft brand, Bill Elliott and the Wood Brothers. Motorcraft, a Ford Motor Company brand of automotive parts ranging from filters and spark plugs to engines and transmissions, will be the primary sponsor on the famed Wood Brothers #21 Sprint Cup Ford Fusion for eight races, beginning in April at Texas and culminating with the season-ending Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The Motorcraft brand will also be an associate sponsor for all other 2008 NASCAR events. Bill Elliott is scheduled to be the driver for all of Motorcraft’s races. Elliott, Motorcraft and the Wood Brothers first joined forces last season. Motorcraft first sponsored Wood Brothers Racing in 2001. The Wood Brothers are acknowledged pioneers in the sport of stock-car racing, and have earned 96 wins in over 50 years of NASCAR competition – second most in Ford Racing history. The 2008 Motorcraft Primary Sponsor Sprint Cup Schedule: Texas on April 6, Phoenix on April 12, Michigan on June 15, Indy on July 27, Bristol on Aug 23, New Hampshire on Sept 14, Talladega on Oct and Homestead-Miami on Nov 16.

#20-Tony Stewart, who has spent his entire NASCAR Cup Series career at Joe Gibbs Racing, says he is in no rush to begin talks regarding a contract extension with the successful racing operation. “Right now I just want to get started with this year,” Stewart said Tuesday. “I’m really not concerned about the end of ‘09 right now because we’ve still got to get through ‘08. Obviously, it’s a topic with the team here, and they want to get it taken care of, but right now I want to see how the beginning of this year goes. Get halfway through the season before we even worry about talking about it again.” Stewart’s contract ends after the 2009 season. A change in manufacturer – the team will field Toyotas in 2008 after a long, successful stint with General Motors products – is of a more pressing concern to the 36-year-old Stewart. “There’s nothing that has to be done right now anyway,” he said of contract talks. “I’m here. It’s about now to me; it’s not about what’s going to happen. Right now … we’ve got a big change with a new manufacturer coming in, let’s worry about running good and winning races and worry about the rest of it [later].” Stewart and crew chief Greg Zipadelli have been paired together since Stewart departed the open-wheel ranks to make the move to NASCAR.

Michael McDowell was tabbed Wednesday to drive a Sprint Cup car for Michael Waltrip Racing after Dale Jarrett’s retirement. The 23-year-old McDowell will get his Cup car when Jarrett steps out of his ride following the fifth race of this season. David Reutimann will actually replace Jarrett in the #44 Camry, while McDowell will get Reutimann’s #00 Camry. McDowell won four races, nine poles and rookie of the year honors in ARCA last season, but had to undergo significant testing for Waltrip to earn his ride. Waltrip, in his second season as a car owner, also relied on the recommendation of driver Boris Said, who vouched for McDowell and praised his skill on tricky road courses. “Boris said, `That kid gets it. He can go. No matter what he gets in, he’s fast,” Waltrip said. “Once I talked to Boris, and went to a couple of tests with Michael, to me it was a no-brainer. And there’s never been that many of them.” Waltrip has been looking for a third driver since last October, when Jarrett said he was ready to get out of the car. The 1999 Cup champion will move into the broadcasting booth for ESPN following his retirement. But the candidates were slim, and Waltrip focused mostly on McDowell and Josh Wise, the two drivers in his development system. Both tested, and Waltrip said McDowell got the nod because he’s more experienced right now than Wise. McDowell will make his Cup debut in March at Martinsville Speedway. He’ll team with Guy Cosmo and Marc Camirand to run the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway this weekend, and he’s scheduled to race the #00 Camry in the Nationwide Series opener at Daytona next month.

BAM Racing has not solidified its driver lineup beyond the Daytona 500. Ken Schrader will attempt to qualify the #49 for the team with sponsorship from healthlife.com, BAM Racing marketing coordinator Rhett Vandiver said Tuesday. A sponsor for the Budweiser Shootout is still to be named and a driver beyond Speedweeks is still to be determined, Vandiver said. Vandiver also confirmed that John Andretti, who drove for the team at the end of last season, likely would not return to the seat.

Jimbo (the Pitbull)