From Hendrick Motorsports PR . . .

Lisa Smokstad, the tire specialist on the #25 National Guard/GMAC Chevrolet, is going on maternity leave. The longtime Hendrick Motorsports employee, a Minnesota native, is expecting either this weekend or next weekend to be her last before maternity leave.

Smokstad and her husband Craig, car chief on the #83 Red Bull Toyota, expect their first child in September.

Craig Smokstad was on the #25 team before departing for Red Bull, as he stayed loyal to drive Brian Vickers, for whom he was car chief from the Busch Series.