Notes: Hornish shrugs off speculation about future

RICHMOND, Va. -- Perhaps it's Sam Hornish Jr.'s success in the IndyCar Series that gives rise to frequent speculation about his career plans.

Perhaps it's also that similar success hasn't come quickly in Cup Series racing.

A three-time IndyCar champion, and the winner of the 2006 Indianapolis 500, Hornish, 30, often is grist for the rumor mill whenever a major change occurs at Penske Racing.

Such a change happened recently when Penske announced the signing of Shell/Pennzoil as the primary sponsor of Kurt Busch's Dodge, starting in 2011. At that time, Brad Keselowski will move to the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge currently driven by Busch.

The addition of Pennzoil means the subtraction of Mobil 1, which currently sponsors Hornish's No. 77 Dodge. Nevertheless, team owner Roger Penske and other principals in the organization have repeatedly affirmed their commitment to Hornish, who has repeatedly affirmed his commitment to NASCAR racing.

Hornish has grown accustomed to the talk.

"I think ever since I won my first IndyCar race, people speculated that I was going to go to NASCAR at some point in time," he said Friday at Richmond International Raceway. "Ever since I came over here, I think people have speculated that I was going to go back to IndyCars.

"So I'm no stranger to having people speculate on what I'm going to do. Whenever people are talking about you, I guess it's a good thing, as long as they're not talking about something bad that you did.

"I don't feel uncomfortable about it. Roger and everybody have told me that they're gung-ho, and we're all moving forward. That's good, not only for me, but for all the guys on the team, because it gives them things to work for, knowing that we're not looking forward just to competing this year but also to making ourselves better for next year."

Earnhardt Jr.

Earnhardt staying put as well

For those trying to fit the Kasey Kahne piece into the puzzle at Hendrick Motorsports, speculation about Dale Earnhardt Jr. is skewed, according to the driver himself.

Kahne has signed with Hendrick, which already has a full stable of drivers under contract for 2011. That leaves owner Rick Hendrick with the obligation to find Kahne a ride for next year before he inherits the No. 5 car from Mark Martin in 2012.

Some have speculated that JR Motorsports, owned jointly by Earnhardt, Hendrick, Kelley Earnhardt and Tony Eury Jr., will move up to Cup racing and perhaps provide a ride for Kahne. Not so, Earnhardt said.

"That's probably not even worth talking about," Earnhardt said. "It's not going to happen. It might be a good story or a good rumor -- whatever. It ain't reality, man."

Nor would Earnhardt consider moving to JRM himself to make room for Kahne at Hendrick next year -- another rumor that has made the rounds in the garage.

"I like working with Rick," Earnhardt said. "I'm going to stick there, stick around as long as I can. I want to stay with Rick as long as he'll keep me."

Burton

Burton plans to serve

Thoughtful, opinionated and eminently quotable, driver Jeff Burton has earned the nickname "Mayor of the Garage" in NASCAR circles.

Though politics is one of many options open to Burton when he retires from racing, he's committed to public service.

"I see myself serving my community in some form or fashion," Burton said. "I don't know what that is. I never served in the military. I've lived my life to be the best race car driver and a good husband and a good father. That's been my mission. I had not served my country, and that's something that I think we all need to do.

"When I step back from this, then that's what I'm going to go set out to do. I don't know if that's going to be in a political arena. I don't know if that's going to be volunteering. I don't know what that means, other than to say that I haven't done my part, and it would be my time to do my part."