The struggles in the U.S. automobile sales market are trickling down to racing, with the latest blow coming to the Craftsman Truck Series. Dodge will not provide any financial support to any teams in the series in 2009, Dodge Motorsports senior manager Mike Delahanty said. "We'll have no factory-funded teams," Delahanty told ESPN.com. "When times are tough, there are certain things that are lower on the priority list than others." Dodge had been a powerhouse in the Truck Series earlier this decade, winning 46 of 99 races from 2001-04 and championships with drivers Bobby Hamilton in 2004 and Ted Musgrave in 2005. In recent years Dodge has scaled back its involvement, with only Bobby Hamilton Racing-Virginia receiving money from the manufacturer this season. Dodge informed the team that its factory support would end this season, and BHR-VA has talked to Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota about a switch for 2009. Delahanty said the manufacturer's involvement with the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series is unaffected.



Earlier in the week the #4 team ceased operations as well. I didn't realize that until yesterday, that's why Stacy Compton was still on the picks form.  This announcement comes right after Dennis Setzer gets the pole and finishes 2nd in the race. Oh well, I guess next year I'll have to change the groups up a little bit more since there won't be any Dodges.