NASCAR notebook
Gordon gets new colors
TALLADEGA — We can't say that we discovered this on our own, that honor would go to the Jayski Web site. However, it's kind of interesting nonetheless.
Thursday morning on NBC's Today Show, Jeff Gordon unveiled his new primary paint scheme for the 2009 season. It's not a toss back to Dupont's old rainbow days; actually the change would be hardly noticeable for the casual fan.
The flames remain but change somewhat slightly; they disappear from the hood in favor fades into the different colors. The biggest difference is that the background color changes from deep blue to black.
That's not the most interesting part. This is only the third paint scheme change for Gordon. The other times were in 2001 and 1993, when the rainbow colors were run. Notice anything about those years? Well, those also coincide with the years that new presidents were sworn in to office.
• LOGANO NOT RACING FOR HOF RACING ANYMORE: Joey Logano will stop driving Sprint Cup Series races this season for Hall of Fame Racing.
The 18-year-old phenom is set to replace Tony Stewart in Joe Gibbs Racing's flagship No. 20 next season. The team scheduled him for a handful of starts in a fourth JGR entry this year, and loaned him to Hall of Fame for another five races.
But his first two races in the No. 96 were a struggle: He finished 32nd in his Cup debut in New Hampshire and was 39th last week at Kansas.
Logano was scheduled to make three more starts for Hall of Fame this year, but instead will turn the wheel over to Ken Schrader and focus on the Nationwide Series. He's still scheduled to drive the No. 02 for JGR in Atlanta later this month, and he'll compete in the Truck Series and ARCA Series races at Talladega this weekend.
