Notebook: Earnhardt Jr. adds adidas to sponsor list (cont'd)

Helton scoffs at Daytona 500 move

Whenever the Nextel Cup Series visits Daytona, home to NASCAR and International Speedway Corp., rumors seem to proliferate.

According to one published report, NASCAR has been discussing a schedule change that would move its most prestigious race, the season-opening Daytona 500, to November.

NASCAR president Mike Helton scoffed at the notion. "That one was a surprise to me," Helton said of the report. "But I've been surprised before."

Signed tires on auction block

On Friday at Daytona, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. unveiled a charitable program that will make used Nextel Cup tires worth more than new ones -- 43 of them, at least.

Starting at noon ET on Friday, online bidding opened for Goodyear's "Get There" charity auction, in which 43 tires signed by 43 different Cup drivers, including Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon, are available to the highest bidders.

Proceeds from the auction will be donated to the NASCAR Foundation, earmarked for charities selected by the individual drivers.

A bar-coding system allows Goodyear to track where, when and by which driver each tire was raced. Tires signed by the drivers will be those they actually used in competition. Each autographed Goodyear Eagle comes with a certificate of authenticity.

Online bidding at www.goodyeargarage.com will remain open until 11:59 p.m. ET Sunday, July 15. A quick check of early bidding Friday afternoon produced no surprises: Earnhardt Jr.'s tire was the leader at $200, followed by Tony Stewart ($175) and Gordon ($150).

Earnhardt Jr., Keselowski discuss Busch ride

Earnhardt Jr. confirmed Friday he has talked to Brad Keselowski about driving the No. 88 JR Motorsports Busch Series car next week at Chicago and perhaps for additional races after that.

Earnhardt himself took over the No. 88 Chevrolet for Friday's Winn-Dixie 250 Busch race after replacing driver Shane Huffman earlier in the week.

"I think Brad Keselowski might drive in Chicago, and I'm talking to Brad about running it all the way to the race in Montreal [in August],"

Earnhardt said. "I've got a neat little thing I want to do in Montreal and Watkins Glen with a buddy of mine I used to race Corvettes with, but I've got to take him testing first to make sure he's got what it takes."