It's official - Kasey Kahne and Budweiser in 2008 and other news

Budweiser and GEM made the announcement this morning, Kahne will be the new driver of the #9 red Bud car in NASCAR starting in 2008.  While GEM and Kahne have struggled this year, Budweiser apparently has confidence that it will only take time for them to get back on top and be competitive again. 

Kahne's popularity had a lot to do with it too.  While he may not be NASCAR's most popular driver, he is one of the popular drivers in NASCAR and has the marketability to sell products.  While beer isn't the first thing that comes to mind with Kahne, I think it'll all work out in the end, it just may take some getting used to.  Don't get me wrong, I like Kahne, it's just that beer is not a product that comes to mind with him, maybe it's his quiet, boy next door image, I don't know, but I'm sure it'll all work out for the good for all parties involved.

In other news, Jr.'s number and sponsor are to be announced tomorrow, I'm sure you'll see it all over the news.  It is speculated that AMP Energy Drink will come on board and that it may be multiple sponsors instead of just one primary sponsor.  Rumors have the 88 and 81 as being the numbers, but with all the news about Yates selling the 88 to Hendrick, I'm guessing that is what the number will be.  Don't understand it, but if that's what they want.

The Busch Series is still looking for a title sponsor and according to NASCAR, they will run even if a sponsor is not found, but don't know what they will do about the name.  I don't see how they can really run without a sponsor because NASCAR isn't going to want to give up that much of their big bucks.

Oh, and NASCAR is coming up with what they think is a brilliant idea to give the Busch Series (or whatever it will be called) their own identity....new cars.  They think that if they change the cars, it will have its own identity again and will stop being referred to as "Cup Lite."  I don't think it'll work, but that's their great idea to fix it.

The idea is to go to Chevy Camaros, Dodge Challengers, Ford Mustangs and an unnamed Toyota with a hopeful target date being 2009.  I honestly don't think new cars will change things.  NASCAR won't do what they need to give them back their identity, limit the Cup drivers.  I'm not saying no Cup drivers at all, but limit them to the amount of races, don't let them take the points and limit the winnings, that will make the teams run the developmental drivers that we lack in the Busch Series.  Oh and we can't forget they need to lower the costs of the teams, it's no wonder the big sponsors want Cup drivers in the cars for how much they have to pay out to put the cars in the races, it's too damn expensive for a lower series.

And if they love the "fan draw" that the Cup drivers bring, have some special race, kind of like the All-Star that the Cup Series has.  Have some Cup drivers (only a handful, don't want the whole field) and then take the top drivers in the Busch Series.  Run it like a special race, for money and bragging rights only, no points and recognize the top Busch driver if a Cup driver wins the race.

Your thoughts?