One big, happy renewal

            HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Hendrick Motorsports, being notably adept at tying loose ends, announced the retention of Lowe’s as sponsor and Jimmie Johnson as driver of the team’s No. 48 Chevrolet.

            Johnson and Lowe’s will remain paired through 2013, which is rather significant since Johnson is likely to win his record fourth consecutive Sprint Cup championship in Sunday’s Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

            Johnson’s career winning percentage, .162, is exceeded by only three drivers (with 40 or more victories) in NASCAR history. That designation is incomplete and premature since those three drivers – in order, Herb Thomas, David Pearson and Richard Petty – completed their careers long ago, and almost all drivers’ rate of success decreases as they get older.

            Still, the combination of Johnson, Hendrick and Lowe’s is one of immense historical significance.

            Just like old times – Much has changed, but the move of Jamie McMurray to Earnhardt Ganassi Racing represents a reunion of sorts.

            Before the team of Ganassi and Felix Sabates merged with Teresa Earnhardt’s DEI, McMurray spent four years driving for Ganassi. He is one of three drivers – Casey Mears and Reed Sorenson are the others -- to have had career-best finishes in the standings while competing for Ganassi.

            McMurray finished 11^th in points in 2004 and hasn’t finished better than 16^th since moving to Roush Fenway Racing. Mears was 14^th in 2006 and hasn’t done as well at either Hendrick Motorsports or Richard Childress Racing. Sorenson was a career-best 22^nd with Ganassi in 2007.

            Entering the season’s final race, McMurray is 22^nd in the Cup standings. Mears is 20^th, and Sorenson is 28^th. Sorenson is looking for a ride as he closes out at Richard Petty Motorsports.

            Perplexing – The only notably successful driver for the Petty-branded, George Gillett-owned team (RPM), Kasey Kahne, remains concerned about changes at the team.

            The team is switching from Dodge to Ford. Its engine department has been closed in anticipation of a merger with Yates Racing. But, according to Kahne, the deal hasn’t been consummated.

            “It’s tough because things aren’t done,” said Kahne. “Because we don’t have a ‘for sure’ yet (contractual arrangement between RPM and Yates). I think the season needs to get over with for the management side of things so that we can just figure what we’re doing: get us pointed in the right direction so that the teams can start working and preparing for 2010.

            “I think the company needs to be done. It needs to be able to focus on getting things straightened out and pointed in the right direction. There are too many unknowns.”

            Simple and to the point – Asked for a master plan to derail the Johnson juggernaut, Ryan Newman needed only one word: “Dynamite.”

            But seriously, folks.

            “They deserve it,” he said. “They’ve earned it. I don’t know what it was like in the 1970s with Cale (Yarborough, who won three consecutive titles in 1976-78), but I suspect it was the same way.

You may contact Monte Dutton at mdutton@gastongazette.com.