Haas-Carter closes shop

Haas-Carter Motorsports issued the following statement Wednesday afternoon:

"The timing could not have been worse for the team to find a replacement. Kmart Corporation has been a great team sponsor since Haas-Carter Motorsports first entered the Winston Cup Series and we wish them well in their restructuring efforts.

"It is with great sadness that Haas-Carter Motorsports releases its drivers and team members to pursue other Winston Cup opportunities as we realize this decision impacts families and friends."

The Fords of Joe Nemechek and Todd Bodine ran at Daytona and Las Vegas after the KMart bankruptcy was announced. The team continued to run the Nemechek car at Atlanta, Darlington and Bristol.

But replacement funding was not forthcoming, the statement today was expected.

The last two NASCAR Winston Cup events had just 43 cars show up. With the demise of the Haas-Carter team, there is the distinct possibility there will not be a full field for the race at the Texas Motorspeedway on 7 April.