[jks812]

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- The prevailing thought among Chevrolet teams is that Joe Gibbs Racing is too close in talks with Toyota to be included in Thursday's key partners' meeting in Detroit.


"No, I wouldn't feel comfortable with them there," Richard Childress Racing owner Richard Childress said before Sunday's Nextel Cup race at Watkins Glen International.



"If the [other Chevrolet] teams have a feeling they're going to be there, we're not going to discuss openly with them in a room things we normally would discuss openly. … You're sitting there working on stuff for next year and you don't want them to take that and help out the competition," Childress said.



Gibbs, RCR, Hendrick Motorsports and Dale Earnhardt Inc. comprise the key partners' group that meets once a month to discuss everything from engines to research and development, with a large focus on engines.



They then feed information to the other Chevrolet teams.



Childress said from his perspective there are enough signs to believe that JGR will leave General Motors for Toyota, which he says will take the Japan-based manufacturer to another level.



"It's pretty well written in stone," he said.



J.D. Gibbs, the president of JGR, said his organization plans to attend Thursday's meeting even though he wasn't aware there was one.



He would not comment on talks with Toyota, saying only that none of the GM teams have re-signed for 2008.

"We're not different than anyone else," he said. "And we haven't made any decisions. … We have had great conversations with GM over the past month. We think that will continue moving forward here."



Lee White, the senior vice president and general manager of Toyota Racing Development, said he's had contact from every organization in the Cup garage except Roush Fenway Racing.



While he didn't rule out getting one of the top-tier Chevrolet teams if negotiations break down with GM, he said it would be a "stretch" to think that would happen.



JGR has won three championships since 2000 and has a stable of Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch for 2008. As long as there's a chance the organization might bolt, Chevrolet teams are skeptical about including it in key planning meetings.



"It's one of those deals where our key partners with Chevrolet has been very successful over the years, especially on the engine side," said Richie Gilmore, the director of motorsports at DEI. "We share everything.



"I would think if they're as far down the road as we're hearing, they would come up with an excuse [not to attend Thursday's meeting]. … They're a very classy group. If they're that far down the road I wouldn't expect them to show up."

Gilmore said this is a bad year to lose a team such as JGR, which has been integral in the development of the new R07 engine.



"We just developed a new engine and all that technology is gone to another competitor," he said.

David Newton covers motorsports for ESPN.com.

[jks812]

So, they gonna stop Gibbs from attending the Chevy meetings? Well that seems like a good way to help him make his mind up.

[Bob Tanner]

Oh, for the "Good Ol' Dayz," when Silly Season began around October and concerned the drivers only.

I'm waiting for the day when ESPN.com and That'sracin.com break the news that Ricky Joe Newsome, main floor sweeper for DEI, has signed a personal services agreement with the Fuller Brush Co., and has also been seen talking to Ray Everham. Could these talks mean his moving his broom and dustpan to the Everham shops?

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Oh, for the "Good Ol' Dayz," when Silly Season began around October and concerned the drivers only.

I'm waiting for the day when ESPN.com and That'sracin.com break the news that Ricky Joe Newsome, main floor sweeper for DEI, has signed a personal services agreement with the Fuller Brush Co., and has also been seen talking to Ray Everham. Could these talks mean his moving his broom and dustpan to the Everham shops?

Wouldn't the broom and dustpan be the property of DEI ???

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Wouldn't the broom and dustpan be the property of DEI ???

I have it on good authority that Ricky Joe owns them. They were a prize awarded by Segal himself for sabotaging Jr's engines during the months of July and August in 2007.

[jks812]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Oh, for the "Good Ol' Dayz," when Silly Season began around October and concerned the drivers only.

I'm waiting for the day when ESPN.com and That'sracin.com break the news that Ricky Joe Newsome, main floor sweeper for DEI, has signed a personal services agreement with the Fuller Brush Co., and has also been seen talking to Ray Everham. Could these talks mean his moving his broom and dustpan to the Everham shops?

LOL...Thats funny. But it really is getting crazy this year. I don't remember it ever being like this. Maybe it has and I didn't pay attention to all of it before. But this year is turning out to be crazy.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by jks812

Lee White, the senior vice president and general manager of Toyota Racing Development, said he's had contact from every organization in the Cup garage except Roush Fenway Racing.

now that's funny! I don't care who you are...

why in the world would Jack want to talk to TRD .. he's been a very, very vocal opponent of them since the idea first saw the light of day!!!

[Bob Tanner]

How's this for a "Black helicopter" theory:

JGR is going to change car makes, but it WILL NOT be Toyota!

Q: Who is Tony's "best friend" in big business:
A: Bob Nardelli

Q: Who is a good friend of the Gibbs family and a associate sponsor of the Washington Redskins?
A: Bob Nardelli

Q: Who is a successful businessman, a gazillionair, and a BIG fan of stock car racing?
A: Bob Nardelli

Q: Who did Cerberus name as CEO of Chrysler?
A: Bob Nardelli

Is a pattern starting to form here?

<Tanner trying to start a rumor? Naw! never happen>

[LSC9901]

Dunno about Toyota but I heard that JGR is looking into Dodge or even a Chrysler !!! Just a rumor at this point.

[3fanforever]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

I have it on good authority that Ricky Joe owns them. They were a prize awarded by Segal himself for sabotaging Jr's engines during the months of July and August in 2007.

Indeed, but only after the dead beat owners approval of this secret plan took place,
because as we all know, she's the smartest woman in NASCAR.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by 3fanforever

Indeed, but only after the dead beat owners approval of this secret plan took place,
because as we all know, she's the smartest woman in NASCAR.

I thought that was Delana Harvick?

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Dunno about Toyota but I heard that JGR is looking into Dodge or even a Chrysler !!! Just a rumor at this point.

strange, I heard something about the Chrysler 300 being resurrected...the one with the jet turbine in it!!! I wonder...

[thunderfoot]

Absolute traitors to the cause of our sport. Even though they are here and will stay. I still think real race cars dont have the need for green cards. Alas, I must say that without Toyota Tuesday my shop would not be standing so well. But that is different from being on the race track with the greatest race cars of all time. Now Chrysler is no longer on the bottom of the pile.

I havent been here for a while since a rather nasty car wreck, but I am here now and will be coming back just as often as before. So look out, my views have become just as controversial as before. If not worse. It seems that my finger used for the hunt and peck method was the only thing not hurt or broken.

By the way, LSC ther is a good movie coming out about a Spad driver. Called Rescue Dawn. Looks pretty good.

Airdales rule
Snipes drool

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by thunderfoot

Absolute traitors to the cause of our sport. Even though they are here and will stay. I still think real race cars dont have the need for green cards. Alas, I must say that without Toyota Tuesday my shop would not be standing so well. But that is different from being on the race track with the greatest race cars of all time. Now Chrysler is no longer on the bottom of the pile.

I havent been here for a while since a rather nasty car wreck, but I am here now and will be coming back just as often as before. So look out, my views have become just as controversial as before. If not worse. It seems that my finger used for the hunt and peck method was the only thing not hurt or broken.

By the way, LSC ther is a good movie coming out about a Spad driver. Called Rescue Dawn. Looks pretty good.

Airdales rule
Snipes drool

hey thunder, wondered if ya got mad and left or what. glad ya didn't. now get that finger to work kicking mature donkeys (some folks think ASS is a bad word, so I substituted )!
don't remember your sig being that laugh provoking... did ya change it?
Airdales Rule! (Yes! me AQ)
Snipes Drool (all over everything .. never did like being anywhere near them.)

[SpaceCadet]

Quite a few months ago, Tony Stewart said on one of the SPEED shows that he would not drive a Toyota. I haven't been able to find that quote in writing anywhere yet, but I know I heard it. How much clout does he have with his boss? Could he make a difference in the decision if he feels that strongly about it?