In recent years, NASCAR has seen an influx of drivers from other various racing organizations make the switch to stock cars. Juan Pablo Montoya, Sam Hornish Jr., and Dario Franchitti are a few drivers who moved from open wheel to the enclosed cockpits of NASCAR.

As rumors swirl about a possible transition for IndyCar star Danica Patrick, two veterans of Formula 1 have already started testing for potential 2010 rides in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

The third annual Performance PR Plus Driver Advancement Marketing Summit will be headlined by Kelley Earnhardt, John Bickford, Boston Reid and Michael Burch.

The two day workshop, created to help drivers learn important aspects of the business like obtaining sponsorships and marketing themselves, is scheduled for January 30 – 31, 2010 in Charlotte, NC.

Earnhardt, the Vice President and General Manager of JR Motorsports and the business manager for her brother, NASCAR superstar Dale Earnhardt Jr., will offer insight into how teams choose drivers and creative ways to find sponsorships. Earnhardt, who began her career behind the wheel, has a unique and invaluable perspective on the sport.

Now that Jimmie Johnson has been the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion for a full week, it is time for the official Champion’s Week to begin.

This week Johnson and the rest of the Chase for the Sprint Cup drivers will be very busy with various activities and hardcore race fans in the area of these activities have many chances to see their favorite drivers up-close and personal.

Over the weekend, IndyCar driver Danica Patrick tweeted about her trip to New York City for a big announcement and an appearance on Good Morning America. GoDaddy.com was also advertising the announcement.

While many were wondering if this would be the long-awaited decision that Patrick would try her hand at NASCAR, it seems they will have to wait even longer.

After making a generous donation to a winter coat drive, Patrick unveiled her new, GoDaddy.com green and black IndyCar.