Every year, there is always one driver who defines all of Silly Season and in 2008 – that man is Tony Stewart. But to be realistic – you must believe that most, if not all sponsors considering a change (or any potential new sponsors – are there any?) will wait until Stewart makes up his mind before finalizing their 2009 plans.

It is well known that Stewart wants back into the Chevy camp where he has won two NASCAR Sprint Cup Championships and over 30 races. So that leaves Stewart with only two legitimate options – Hendrick Motorsports or Richard Childress Racing (RCR). Yes, RCR has won more races than Hendrick in 2008 but I would be shocked to see Stewart join RCR and race the Cheerios car. But on the other hand, Hendrick already has four drivers – didn’t they say they had “no room at the inn” last year before signing Dale Jr.? Could Casey Mears be moved to a satellite team like Hass CNC? Let’s just imagine – Dale Jr., Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart all as teammates?

Only time will tell where Tony Stewart lands in 2009 – but the drivers better be ready to grab a seat because once Stewart decides on his plans – it will be pretty easy to be left without a seat once the music stops in the high stakes game of NASCAR Silly Season 2008.

This is the final nail in the coffin for NASCAR’s oldest team – Petty Enterprises. With its dismal performance in the past two decades, NASCAR’s old boys’ network continues to crumble. The trend of corporate sponsors to gravitate to the elite stables of Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, Roush Fenway Racing, Richard Childress Racing and Gillette Evernham Motorsports continues to challenge the sustainability of the remaining fledgling racing teams.

The days of former drivers and crew chiefs operating inefficient poor performing racing teams and shaving millions of dollars from major corporate sponsors are clearly over. The future of NASCAR is clear – there will be six to eight teams, each with four cars. The most elite will thrive; the others will fight for survival and the appeal of NASCAR with its core fans will continue to deteriorate.

Sincere congratulations to Richard Childress Racing and General Mills and best of luck in 2009.