One of the worst kept secrets of the year (perhaps behind Stewart to Haas) finally became official this week with Dale Earnhardt Inc. merging with Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. Few details have been released on the merger; what we do know is that the team plans to run four cars with Juan Montoya, Martin Truex Jr., Aric Almirola and yet to be named fourth driver. In other news, NASCAR announced on Friday that testing at all Sprint Cup, Nationwide, Truck and Camping World East and West Series sanctioned tracks would be banned for the 2009 season. The move is designed to save teams millions in testing costs. And finally Johnny Benson won his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship Friday. A pit call in the final laps of the race helped Benson secure the title. This is the NASCAR week that was November 9 to 15, 2008.

Commissioner Waltrip would get NASCAR back on the right track

Reactions in the garage vary on DEI, Ganassi merger

NASCAR bans 2009 testing to save teams cash

The Day After The “Big Switch”

Questionable reporting? Thats when the ask exceeds any real grasp

Benson edges Hornaday for Truck series title

Vintage Insiders

Could They Make It In Today’s NASCAR?

The Silly Season You Don’t See

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Related posts:

• The NASCAR Week That Was: Oct. 12-18
• The NASCAR Week That Was: Nov. 2-8
• The NASCAR Week That Was: Oct. 26- Nov. 1
• The NASCAR Week That Was: Nov. 16-22
• The NASCAR Week That Was: Sept. 28-Oct. 4