If nice guys got all the best NASCAR rides, Casey Mears would have a job for life. But racing is a results-based business, and Mears didn't have them through 53 races with Hendrick Motorsports. Now team owner Rick Hendrick is parting ways with a driver he considers family.

Nearly every multicar team has someone whose future is in question with the organization. Whether the team is unhappy, the owner is unhappy or the driver is unhappy, being the odd man out can be a lonely place.

<B>Team:</B> Roush Fenway Racing<B>Car: </B>No. 26<B>Last Cup win: </B>Pepsi 400, July 2007<B>The buzz: </B>During a NASCAR teleconference, McMurray was lightning quick to say "no" when asked if he was worried about his job at Roush Fenway, but there's been a lot of speculation about whether or not he'll keep it. McMurray is currently 24th in the points standings, the lowest of his teammates, and has made a few mistakes here and there that don't help his case. Most recently in New Hampshire, the No. 26 slammed Dale Earnhardt Jr. as his No. 88 moved in for a pit stop.

<B>Team:</B> Joe Gibbs Racing<B>Car:</B> No. 20<B>Last Cup win:</B> Watkins Glen, 2007<B>The buzz:</B> A few months ago Stewart admitted he was entertaining offers from other teams, including Haas/CNC, a Hendrick Motorsports satellite team, with possible part-ownership involved. There were also reports that he had asked to be let out of his contract a year early. Joe and J.D. Gibbs said that wasn't going to happen. And while both of his teammates have won this season, Stewart's season of frustration continued in Loudon, where he finished 13th despite leading 132 laps.

<B>Team: </B>Hendrick Motorsports<B>Car: </B>No. 5<B>Last Cup win: </B>Charlotte, 2007<B>The buzz: </B>Now a lame duck at Hendrick Motorsports, Mears officially has been let go from the race team. All three of Mears' teammates — Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. — are in the top 12 right now, but Mears is 23rd. He'd been said to be on the "hot seat" after finishing second-to-last twice in the first five races. Only after he'd been told about the move did Mears' performance improve. He finished fifth at Sonoma two weeks ago and seventh at Loudon last week for just his third and fourth top-10s.

<B>Team:</B> Chip Ganassi Racing<B>Car: </B>No. 40<B>Last Cup win:</B> None<B>The buzz: </B>Unlike other odd men out, Franchitti wasn't dulled by the shine of his teammates. Ganassi driver Juan Pablo Montoya ranks 20th in drivers points and Reed Sorensen ranks 32nd. But his performance has sagged. Franchitti brought a lot of star power to NASCAR when he made the switch from the IRL, but the Scot with the movie-star wife couldn't produce on the track. The Dodge is 41st in driver points.