NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Notebook

Burton agrees to extension with Childress

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Jeff Burton has reached an agreement on a multiyear contract extension to remain as driver of the No. 31 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing.
The 43-year-old South Boston, Va., native joined RCR late in the 2004 season. Four of his 21 career victories have come with RCR and he is 22nd in the current Cup standings.
RCR officials also announced Tuesday that Caterpillar, the primary sponsor for Burton and the No. 31 team, has agreed to continue their partnership.
"I'm excited to continue my relationship with both Richard Childress and Caterpillar," Burton said in a news release. "Over the past few years, I've had the opportunity to meet and work with a lot of great people at Caterpillar and I look forward to providing their employees, dealers and customers continued success both on and off the track."
Terms of the agreements were not announced.
RCR also fields Cup entries for drivers Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer and Paul Menard, as well as entries in the Camping World Truck and ARCA series. Harvick signed a contract extension last season, and Menard joined the organization at the end of 2010. Bowyer’s current contract runs through the 2011 season.
"RCR is very happy to announce the continuation of our partnerships with both Caterpillar and Jeff Burton on the No. 31 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series," Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing, said. "Cat Racing has proven to be successful both on the track, with Jeff and his team's achievements, and off the track, with the creative programs provided to its customers."
Martin to go retro in Hendrick 25
Hendrick Motorsports announced Tuesday it had signed a five-race deal with Farmers Insurance to sponsor Mark Martin, including a special No. 25 car for the Sprint All-Star Race.
The points-paying races for Farmers will be June events at Kansas, Pocono and Infineon and the August night race at Bristol. The sponsorship means the No. 5 car of Martin has been sold for the rest of the year.
Martin, 52, is leaving the team after the season, with Kasey Kahne replacing him in 2012.
The No. 25 car for the all-star race commemorates when Hendrick first fielded the No. 25 in 1986—25 years ago—with Tim Richmond.
“It’s cool to do something, especially for me, that brings back a little bit of our history,” Martin said Tuesday. “When I was trying to get my feet under me, that car was out there.”
Wallace adds Nationwide car
Rusty Wallace Racing officials announced that the organization will field a third car in select NASCAR Nationwide Series events for the remainder of the season.
Driving duties for the No. 64 entry will be split among Sprint Cup Series veteran David Reutimann, David Stremme and Jason Bowles.
Reutimann, who competes for Michael Waltrip Racing in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series, will be behind the wheel when the team competes in this weekend’s race at Nashville Superspeedway. Sponsorship for that effort will likely be announced later this week.Stremme will pilot the car in the majority of a four-race package that will carry sponsorship from Aspen Dental—at Michigan, Kentucky and Bristol.
Bowles, the 2009 K&N West Series champion, is slated to appear in three events with the team. Those events are Watkins Glen (another featuring Aspen Dental sponsorship), Road America and Montreal.
Larry Carter, RWR general manager, will serve as crew chief for the team.
The organization currently fields two full-time Nationwide Series teams for drivers Steve Wallace and Michael Annett.
Special to the Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service