With IndyCar's season ending this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the future of Danica Patrick should be known shortly.

Patrick, who said earlier this year she would not announce her future plans until after the season, is expected to sign a contract to remain with her IndyCar team. She'll also have enough free weekends to race in select NASCAR events and explore a full-time move to the series.

Kelley Earnhardt, general manager of JR Motorsports, confirmed that the organization is interested in running Patrick next year.

"JR Motorsports is exploring the opportunity with Danica Patrick in NASCAR,'' said Earnhardt, sister of team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr., in a statement from the team.

"There is a natural fit at JRM with Dale Jr. and Danica both serving as spokespersons for GoDaddy.com. As a female managing one of the top Nationwide Series teams in the sport, I would be excited to have Danica within the JR Motorsports fold if she decides to enter the world of NASCAR."

ESPN.com reported Tuesday that Michael Waltrip said he's met with Patrick and would be willing to run her in select events.

New drivers

Brazilian drivers Nelson Piquet Jr. and Vitor Meira are scheduled to test with Red Horse Racing of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series on Monday at the short track at Rockingham Speedway.

Piquet was at the center of a recent Formula One controversy where he intentionally crashed -- on what he said were team orders -- to help his Renault teammate win a race in Singapore last year.

Piquet, who was fired from the team midway through the season, spoke this week for the first time since the race-fixing plan became known in August. The 24-year-old told Brazil's TV Globo network that he had done motor racing a service by making the incident known, according to The Times in London.

"Some people have suggested I should have been punished by the FIA [Formula One's sanctioning body], but, in reality, no one has been punished more than I have,'' the Times quoted Piquet's TV interview. "I am at the beginning of my career, unlike the others who have been punished in this case. I am going to have to overcome many obstacles on and off the track to prove my worth.''

Taller fences

Talladega and Daytona are both raising the height of their catchfences from 14 feet to 22 feet along the frontstretch and backstretch at both tracks.

Work on the backstretch fencing at Talladega will be completed by the spring race. Work on the frontstretch fencing will be completed in time for the Cup race there Nov. 1.

That will be the first Cup race there since Carl Edwards flew into the catchfence on the last lap in the spring after contact with Brad Keselowski as they raced for the win. Seven fans were injured in the incident.

New boss

Chrysler's restructuring includes the announcement that Mike Accavitti is no longer president and CEO of the Dodge brand. Accavitti, who once oversaw Dodge's NASCAR program, resigned to pursue other interests, according to a statement from Chrysler. Ralph Gilles becomes president and CEO of the Dodge brand and pledged to continue the company's involvement in NASCAR.

"Dodge intends to remain involved in NASCAR competition,'' Gilles said in a statement from Dodge. "Our brand-focused strategy for development and marketing of Dodge vehicles through the sport remains a good fit for the company.

"Dodge customers and NASCAR fans share the enthusiasm for performance on and off the track. We're looking forward to strong performances for the remainder of 2009 and the foreseeable future."

Pit stops

The Sprint Cup series moves to California this weekend. Roush Fenway Racing has seven wins at Auto Club Speedway, but it has never won the California track's fall race. ... Speed Channel will debut "NASCAR Race Hub'' on Oct. 12. The nightly show will have Richard Petty as a guest that night. The show will have multiple hosts. ... Elliott Sadler is spending this week in New Mexico hunting bull elk with Terry Labonte and Jeff Hammond.