Associated Press
The NASCAR notebook …
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. ó Reed Sorenson will drive for Richard Petty Motorsports at Watkins Glen International on Sunday after recovering from the effects of carbon monoxide inhalation suffered in a crash at Pocono Raceway.
Former Formula One champion Jacques Villeneuve had been on standby as a replacement, but the team says Sorenson has recovered and will drive the No. 43 car.
Sorenson was involved in a six-car accident on the 181st lap at Pocono on Monday and went on to finish 35th in the rain-delayed race, 15 laps down. He is 28th in the points standings.
LOWE’S OUT
MOORESVILLE ó Lowe’s will not renew its naming rights of Lowe’s Motor Speedway when its contract expires after this season.
Lowe’s cited changing marketing strategies Thursday as the reason it won’t return in 2010. The home improvement chain signed as sponsor of then-Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1999 in the first major naming rights deal of a NASCAR track.
The Sports Business Journal reported last week that Lowe’s would not come back in 2010, but Speedway Motorsports Inc. president Marcus Smith insisted as late as Wednesday that the talks were continuing on a new deal.
Lowe’s will continue its primary sponsorship of three-time defending NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson.