NASCAR to face team shortages

The impact of the sluggish U.S. economy appears to be hitting NASCAR directly. Only 45 teams attempted to qualify for last night's Coke Zero 400, and that has some here worried about how many teams might be lining up to run for next February's Daytona 500.

Robby Gordon has been struggling with sponsorship issues, and things may not be getting any better. Gordon's business relationship with George Gillett and Ray Evernham may not be going all that smoothly at the moment, and it's unclear if Gordon will be with Dodge again next season.

Chip Ganassi's decision to shut down one of his Cup teams so abruptly, in mid-season, releasing 70 crewmen, has raised speculation that more cuts may be looming for that Dodge operation. Gillett, who has been trying to expand his own Dodge operation, could be bidding to purchase one of Ganassi's teams. Winston Salem Journal