Childress wants Bowyer to stay put

Clint Bowyer remains the best free agent in NASCAR.

So where is he going? Sticking with Richard Childress Racing, or jumping over to Michael Waltrip's team?

Stay tuned. Childress is hanging onto hope that Bowyer stays put.

"Honestly, we're still trying," Childress said in Chicago over the weekend. "We both agreed if an opportunity comes for him, he needs to take it. But yes, we're still trying to put something together this week and last week."

Bowyer would be one of four or five drivers set to drive the No. 33 Chevy next season. That would include Mark Martin, Brian Vickers, and possibly David Ragan if he gets bounced from Roush Fenway Racing because of sponsorship issues.

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There is also the possibility that Austin Dillon, Childress' grandson, would take over the seat for a number of those races.

But Dillon will likely race full-time in the Nationwide Series car next season, with Childress' other grandson — Ty Dillon — replacing him in the Truck Series.

Hope for Hornaday: Ron Hornaday Jr. will be shooting for his 50th career Truck Series victory Saturday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Hornaday, a four-time champion, would love to give his team a dramatic sendoff this season, since co-owners Kevin and DeLana Harvick recently announced they are shutting down Kevin Harvick Inc. at the conclusion of the 2011 season.

"A lot of people don't know Kevin was nice enough to call me first (regarding KHI shutting down) and then he talked to all the guys," Hornaday said. "I finally caught up to him a few days ago and he was in the office. I kind of grabbed him around the neck and said, 'Come on kid, we need to go talk.'

"We talked for quite a while and one of the first things I did was thank him for my career and the championships. Kevin has given me the opportunity to put food on the table for my family. He can be a butthead as an owner but the truth is he's a pretty good friend. I'm pretty excited for him and I know he has bigger and better things going on."

Kenseth waits for sponsor: Chase qualifier Matt Kenseth is still awaiting word on finding a primary sponsor for the following season after Crown Royal announced it would be dropping the team after this season.

"I am sure they are working on it as hard as possible back in the sales and marketing department at Roush Fenway Racing," Kenseth told News/Talk WSB. "That's really the only thing I know. I don't know of anything that right now they have and I don't know of anything they are close to getting signed up.

"I wish I did. I am going to worry about racing these next 10 weeks, doing the best job I can to win a championship for Crown Royal and I'll let them worry about it."

— George Diaz

Childress wants Bowyer to stay put

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