Things They Are A-Changin'

Will this guy be at Red Bull Racing
next year?

The hottest topics in NASCAR today?

Babies, Red Bull and Chi-town.

First, driver Jeff Gordon and wife Ingrid Vandebosch  welcomed their new addition into the world this morning. Leo Benjamin Gordon was born at 8:53 a.m and weighed in at seven pounds, two ounces.

Per the driver's web site, "He's happy and healthy, and Mom is doing great."

Second, ESPN's David Newton wrote today that Red Bull Racing is close to announcing that current Richard Petty Motorsports driver Kasey Kahne will join their team in 2011. 

The announcement would end months of speculation that began after Hendrick Motorsports announced Kahne will take Mark Martin's ride in 2012. 

What Kahne's interim move will mean for Red Bull driver Scott Speed isn't clear.  And there's also no news yet as to whether Red Bull driver Brian Vickers, who is out for the season due to health issues, will return next year. 

Stay tuned.

Rumors are also flying that Red Bull may be leaving Toyota (or vice versa).  If so (and Kahne does join the team), Chevrolet could well be the make of choice.

Finally, NASCAR announced today that Chicagoland Speedway will host the first Sprint Cup chase race in 2011.  Jenna Fryer with the Associated Press reports that Chicago will trade its traditional night race for a prime spot on the NASCAR schedule.

More schedule changes will be announced Tuesday. Kansas Speedway will get a second Cup date.  And Kentucky Speedway will get its first - thanks to Atlanta, which will lose one.

To better understand the political maneuverings involved in NASCAR scheduling, be sure to read Jeff Gluck's great explanation over at SB Nation.

And that's - in the words of Walter Cronkite- the way it is.

(For right now at least).