news-record.com

NEXT RACE: Dickies 500
Track: Texas Motor Speedway, Ft. Worth, Texas
Practices: 1 p.m. Friday, 9:30 a.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. Saturday(Speed)
Qualifying: 4:30 p.m. Friday (Speed)
Race: 3:30 p.m. Sunday
TV: WXLV-45 at 2:30 p.m. Sunday
Laps: 334 (501 miles on a 1.5-mile oval)
Entry list: Click here
Defending champion: Carl Edwards
Also this week: Nationwide O'Reilly Challenge at Texas (noon Saturday, ESPN2) and Truck Series WinStar World Casino 350 at Texas (8:30 p.m. Friday, Speed)

NASCAR 2009 preview: Stories, team and driver capsules, predictions and more

RACE 1: Daytona 500 (Feb. 15)
Matt Kenseth wins his first Daytona 500 when he passes Elliott Sadler on the final lap of green-flag racing. Rain shortens the 200-lap race to 152 laps. The 2007 winner, Kevin Harvick, finishes second. Read the story.
Hardin column: It's the lack of thought that counts for Junior
Notebook: Earnhardt has forgettable day at Daytona
Story: Fan's record is unbroken
Daytona 500 results: Click here

RACE 2: Auto Club 500, California Speedway (Feb. 22)
Matt Kenseth becomes the first driver since Jeff Gordon (1997) to win the Daytona 500 and the season's next race. Gordon finishes second and takes over second spot in the standings behind Kenseth. Read the story.
Notebook: NASCAR teams hope to get attention of sponsors
Auto Club 500 results: Click here
Story: Who won't make NASCAR's Chase?
Story: Gordon on the verge of long-awaited win

RACE 3: Shelby 427, Las Vegas Motor Speedway (March 1)
Kyle Busch went from first (he won the pole) to worst (he started last because of a blown engine) to first to win his first race at his home track. Points leader Matt Kenseth's engine gave out after six laps. Jeff Gordon finished third to take over the poinst lead. Read the story.
Notebook: Toyota scrambles to fix problems with bad engines
Shelby 527 results: Click here
Story: Kurt Busch gears up

RACE 4: Kobalt Tools 500, Atlanta Motor Speedway (March 8)
Last week was Kyle Busch's time to shine. This week, older brother Kurt Busch led 234 of the 330 laps and beat points leader Jeff Gordon to the line in a green-white-checker finish. Read the story.
Notebook: Edwards' pit selection becomes a factor
Kobalt Tools 500 results: Click here
Notebook: NASCAR drivers reach out to fans to attend events
Notebook: Formula 1 tinkers with crowning of champions

RACE 5: Food City 500, Bristol Motor Speedway (March 22)
For the third straight race, a Busch ended up in victory lane. One race after older brother Kurt won, Kyle Busch led 378 of 503 laps and held off teammate Denny Hamlin in a green-white-checker finish. Read the story.
Notebook: Notebook: Martin, Newman finish in top 10
Food City 500 results: Click here
Story: NASCAR tracks generate big business, but how big?
Story: NASCAR's All-Star race to end with 10-lap shootout
Story: Earnhardt Jr., Eury Jr. still a team
Notebook: Dale Earnhardt's grandson to race Nationwide
Story: Fledgling race team raising eyes

RACE 6: Goody's Fast Relief 500, Martinsville Speedway (March 29)
Jimmie Johnson moved Denny Hamlin out of the way to win his first race of the season. Hamlin, a native Virginian who led 296 laps, promised payback at a later date. Read the story.
Notebook: Momentum continues to build for Stewart
Goody's Fast Relief 500 results: Click here
Story: Hamlin vows to strike back at Johnson for bump

RACE 7: Samsung 500, Texas Motor Speedway (April 5)
Scratch Texas Motor Speedway off the list of tracks where Jeff Gordon has never won. The current points leader led a race-high 105 laps and broke a 47-race winless streak. Read the story.
Notebook: Trouble in pit road makes Edwards' day forgettable
Samsung 500 results: Click here
Story: A Petty prepares for Indy
Story: Problem: Tires are rubber and lugs need glue

RACE 8: Subway Fresh Fit 500, Phoenix International Raceway (April 18)
Mark Martin becomes the third-oldest winner in NASCAR history after starting from the pole and dominating the race. The 50-year-old Hendrick Motorsports driver led 157 of 312 laps to get his first win in four years. Read the story.
Notebook: Earnhardt goes from bad to good to worse
Subway Fresh Fit 500 results: Click here
Story: Martin savors return to victory lane

RACE 9: Aaron's 499, Talladega Superspeedway (April 26)
Brad Keselowski wins in only his fifth Cup start for single-car owner James Finch. But Keselowski's win was overshadowed by three major wrecks, including one right before the finish line that send Carl Edwards' car into the fence and injured at least seven fans. Points leader Jeff Gordon got caught up in the first big wreck and finished 37th, which opened the door for Kurt Busch (sixth) to take over the points lead. Read the story.
Notebook: Talladega rewards underdog with first Sprint Cup victory
Aaron's 499 results: Click here
Story: NASCAR says safety devices worked
Notes: Earnhardt advises against 'being stricter'

RACE 10: Crown Royal 400 at Richmond (May 2)
After winning the Friday night Nationwide race, Kyle Busch completed a weekend sweep by powering past the field in Saturday night's Sprint Cup race. Jeff Gordon (eighth) finished four spots ahead of Kurt Busch, the points leader coming into the race, to reclaim the top spot in the standings. Read the story.
Notebook: Sponsoring car worth it, Army says
Crown Royal 400 results: Click here
Story: Ol’ 'mo’ firmly in Kyle Busch's camp
Story: SMI asks for a NASCAR cup race in Kentucky
Notebook: No lead is safe in last four NASCAR Cup races
Story: Ex-motorcycle racing star now in NASCAR's minor leagues
Story: Darlington: A winner for Gordon?
Story: Stewart's new venture clicking on all cylinders

RACE 11: Southern 500 at Darlington (May 9)
Mark Martin held off Jimmie Johnson to claim his second win of the season and jump into Chase contention. The top five finishers all use Hendrick equipment, and a Hendrick driver (Jeff Gordon) continues to lead the points race. Read the story.
Notebook: Busch's bid for win falls flat as Kenseth steals one
Southern 500 results: Click here
Story: Mayfield banned after positive drug test
Story: Hendrick's drivers, equipment steal the show this season
Story: NASCAR won't reveal substance in Mayfield test
Story: Burton's team wins Pit Crew Challenge
Story: Drivers want to see a list of banned substances
Notebook: Drivers throwing caution to the wind
Story: For Keselowski, it's been racing since birth
Notebook: France will not name drug names
Story: Jimmie Johnson edges out Kurt Busch for all-star pole
Hardin: Storm on horizon sweeps NASCAR's good ol' days away

ALL-STAR RACE: At Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord (May 16)
Tony Stewart took the lead with two laps to go and won his first All-Star race. The win is also the first victory for Stewart's first-year race team. Read the story.
Notebook: Mayfield talks, denies taking illegal drugs
All-Star results: Click here
Story: Stewart's victory a win for the team
Story: Doctor: Substance revealed to Mayfield
Story: Commentary: Mayfield madness hangs over NASCAR
Story: Aching back prompts Jeff Gordon to seek relief
Story: Memorable moments at Coca-Cola 600
Story: Decisions abound as teams prep for Chase
Story: Mayfield meets with NASCAR over drug test
Story: NASCAR needs a few good villains
Story: Rain gets best of Coca-Cola 600
Notebook: Drivers say rule will add to races

RACE 12: Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway (May 24-25)
The longest race of the year was the longest race in years — the race that was supposed to start at 6 p.m. Sunday started two-and-a-half hours late and didn't finish until 6:25 p.m. Monday. David Reutimann picked up his first career win by staying out late in the race. Jeff Gordon stayed atop the standings as the 24 Hours of Charlotte covered only 340.5 of 600 scheduled miles. Read the story.
Coca-Cola 600 results: Click here
Notebook: Crew chief takes chance, gets win
Hardin: NASCAR finally put race out of its misery
Story: Hendrick quiet on Eury's future with team
Story: NASCAR officials meet with owners, drivers
Story: NASCAR, you've shrunk the driver
Story: Eury Jr. out as Earnhardt Jr.'s chief
Story: Earnhardt's new crew chief has his eye on the Chase
Story: Mayfield asks judge to rescind suspension
Story: Earnhardt: 'I haven't been on my game'
Story: No more Mayhem in NASCAR
Notebook: Reutimann enjoying best week of Cup career

RACE 13: Autism Speaks 400 at Dover (May 31)
Jimmie Johnson went from running away from the field to running down Tony Stewart. Johnson nipped at Stewart's bumper, went nose-to-nose, then soared past him on an outside pass on the concrete track for his second win of the season. Stewart's consolation prize: the lead in the series standings after Jeff Gordon finished 26th. Read the story.
Notebook: Gordon's weekend in Dover not memorable (June 1)
Autism Speaks 400 results: Click here
Story: NASCAR asks to move Mayfield case (June 3)
Story: Stewart atop Cup standings as owner (June 4)
Notebook: NASCAR adopts double-file restarts (June 5)
Story: NASCAR countersues against suspended Mayfield (June 5)
Story: NASCAR taking Mayfield to court (June 6)
Story: Track owner has faith in Pocono's future (June 7)
Notebook: Pole-sitter Stewart wrecks car, will start in back of field (June 7)

RACE 14: Pocono 500 at Pocono (June 7)
Rain gave Tony Stewart the pole, then a wreck made him start in the rear of the field. But never mind that: Stewart gambled on fuel and won his first race of the season and extend his points lead. The victory was the first by a Sprint Cup owner-driver since Ricky Rudd in 1998. Read the story.
Notebook: Fuel pump ends Hamlin's day (June 8)
Pocono 500 results: Click here
Story: Petty team lets nine employees go, cuts salaries (June 9)
Story: Sources say Mayfield tested positive for meth (June 10)
Story: Petty says NASCAR in 'survival mode' now (June 11)
Story: Nationwide crew chief suspended for racial slur (June 12)
Story: Former crew chief sues Roush Fenway Racing (June 12)
Story: GM making 'NASCAR-wide' cuts (June 13)
Notebook: Busch unfazed by criticism over smash (June 13)
Story: NASCAR, can you hear me? (June 14)
Notebook: Owner Childress wants to see aggressive moves from his teams (June 14)

RACE 15: LifeLock 400 at Michigan (June 14)
Jimmie Johnson ran out of gas with one lap to go. Greg Biffle's tank went dry about half a lap later. He was passed by Mark Martin, who coasted across the finish line for his third win of the season. Martin gained five spots in the standings and climbs into the top 12. Read the story.
Notebook: France sees GM sticking around (June 15)
LifeLock 400 results: Click here
Story: NASCAR says Mayfield expert lied in affidavit (June 17)
Story: Mayfield expert says educational background misstated (June 19)
Notebook: Long's suspension trimmed to eight races (June 19)
Story: NASCAR Hall of Fame to open in May (June 19)
Story: Montoya wants to make his point at Infineon Raceway (June 20)
Story: Mark Martin's success is 'about the race' (June 21)
Notebook: Mystery surrounds restarts today (June 21)

RACE 16: Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Infineon (June 21)
Richard Petty returns to victory lane for the first time in 10 years at the unlikeliest of places. Just as unlikely was the driver who joined him. Kasey Kahne, who had never finished better than 23rd in five previous races at Infineon Raceway's road course, held off Tony Stewart to give Petty his first win as a car owner since 1999 at Martinsville. Read the story.
Notebook: Hendrick empire might grow (June 22)
Toyota/Save Mart 350 results: Click here Story: Kahne's win masks serious issues at RPM (June 23)
Story: Big NASCAR names and teams on outside looking in (June 23)
Story: Kasey Kahne entering favorite part of NASCAR season (June 24)
Story: Mayfield said he has never taken meth (June 26)
Story: Mayfield's affidavit claims suspension is breaking him (June 27)
Story: Tony Stewart chases Dale Jr. in merchandising race (June 28)
Notebook: Bonus points must-have for drivers (June 28)

RACE 17: Lenox Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire (June 28)
Joey Logano overcomes a crash and a lost lap, then saves just enough fuel to earn his first Sprint Cup victory in this rain-delayed race. Read the story.
Notebook: Kyle Busch apologizes for part in eight-car wreck
Lenox Industrial Tools 301 results: Click here
Story: Judge lifts suspension, says Mayfield can race (July 1)
Story: Mayfield misses deadline to enter car at Daytona (July 2)
Story: NASCAR's Hall of Fame will speak with a Southern drawl, y'all (July 3)
Notebook: No fear of flying for Mr. Backflip
Story: New era in NASCAR born 25 years ago (July 4)
Notebook: France continues to defend drug policy (July 4)
Hardin: Richard Petty has stories he wants to share (July 4)

RACE 18: Coke Zero 400 at Daytona (July 4)
Kyle Busch took over the race lead with one lap to go, but he couldn't block Tony Stewart and ended up in the wall. The victory was Stewart's 35th career win and helped the driver/owner pad his lead in the points standings. Read the story.
Coke 400 results: Click here
Notebook: Mayfield stays away from Daytona (July 5)
Commentary: NASCAR creating chaos on the track (July 6)
Story: NASCAR asks court to keep Mayfield off tracks (July 7)
Story: Michael Waltrip makes move to replace himself (July 8)
Notebook: Darrell Waltrip: Drivers getting too reckless (July 8)
Notebook: Busch, Stewart on same page after dust up (July 9)
Story: Busch: Stewart 'dumped' me at Daytona (July 10)
Notebook: Eury Jr. calls out media for role in Junior's bad season (July 10)
Story: Vickers wins pole for Cup race at Chicagoland (July 10)
Story: The good, the bad and the ugly (July 11)
Notebook: NASCAR pleased GM out of bankruptcy on Friday (July 11)

RACE 19: LifeLock 400 at Chicagoland (July 11)
Car owner Rick Hendrick picked up a nice 60th birthday gift from Mark Martin, who regained the lead with 16 laps left and cruised home with his fourth win of the season. Another Hendrick driver, Jeff Gordon, finished second. Read the story.
Notebook: Wood Brothers add a race (July 12)
LifeLock 400 results: Click here
Story: Most Sprint Cup teams still trying to keep up with Hendrick (July 13)
Story: Kurt Busch not eager to rehash Chicagoland race (July 15)
Story: Age won't slow Mark Martin (July 16)
Story: NASCAR: Mayfield fails another drug test (July 16)
Story: All a Twitter: Kyle Petty joins text-happy craze (July 16)
Story: Mayfield asserts independent drug test was negative (July 21)
Story: Networks: NASCAR start times not a factor (July 22)
Story: Long-awaited NASCAR Hall of Fame heading down the home stretch (July 24)
Story: NASCAR wins appeal, keeps Mayfield idle (July 25)
Story: Kyle Busch promises a more positive attitude (July 25)
Analysis: Brickyard an odd fit in Cup schedule (July 26)
Story: Why did Indy's tires go flat? (July 26)
Notes: Future still cloudy for Harvick, Vickers (July 26)

RACE 20: Allstate 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (July 26)
Juan Pablo Montoya dominated the race, but got caught speeding with 24 laps to go. Jimmie Johnson took the lead on the restart and held off pole-sitter Mark Martin to become the first repeat winner at the Brickyard.Read the story
Notebook: Kyle Busch falls in standings (July 27)
Allstate 400 results: Click here
Story: Hendrick still not in a Sprint Cup comfort zone (July 28)
Story: NASCAR claims that Mayfield lied (July 28)
Story: NASCAR says meth use was witnessed (July 29)
Notebook: Roush's odd man out McMurray loses ride (July 29)
Story: Mayfield's stepmother strikes back with lawsuit (July 30)
Story: Report: Lowe's won't renew speedway deal (July 31)
Notebook: Stewart on pole after rain washes out qualifying (Aug. 1)
Story: Speedway officials still working on deal with Lowe's (Aug. 1)
Story: Does momentum in NASCAR matter? Maybe not (Aug. 2)
Story: Kahne has King Richard close to Chasee (Aug. 2)
Notebook: Stewart wrecks in practice, will start in rear today (Aug. 2)
Story: Pocono will try to run today (Aug. 3)

RACE 21: Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono (Aug. 3)
Pocono is clearly Denny Hamlin's favorite track. The Virginia native snapped a 50-race winless streak in a rain-delayed Monday afternoon race at the Pennsylvania tri-oval. Hamlin has won three of his eight races at this track. Read the story
Notebook: New plugs spark Johnson's late run (Aug. 4)
Pennsylvania 500 results: Click here
Notebook: Montoya finds his groove as he seeks points title (Aug. 5)
Story: Clock ticking for Kyle Busch (Aug. 6)
Story: Reutimann still angry about Pocono wreck (Aug. 6)
Story: Johnson captures first road-course pole (Aug. 8)
Story: Uneasy sits the head that wants a crown (Aug. 9)
Story: Johnson looking for breakthrough win on road course (Aug. 9)
Notebook: Ambrose victorious again at The Glen (Aug. 9)
Story: Rain delays Lally's Cup debut (Aug. 10)

RACE 22: Heluva Good! at The Glen (Aug. 10)
For the second week in a row, rain on Sunday delayed the Sprint Cup race to Monday. Points leader Tony Stewart put on a show by holding off runner-up Marcos Ambrose over the final 21 laps. The win was Stewart's fifth in eight races at Watkins Glen. Read the story.
Notebook: Gordon's woes at Watkins Glen continue (Aug. 11)
Heluva Good! race results: Click here
Notebook: Journeyman driver Papis: Stock-car racers best of best (Aug. 12)
Story: Carl Long: Can you help a fella out? (Aug. 15)
Story: Junior speaks, but will NASCAR listen? (Aug. 15)
Story: NASCAR's parking lot is getting full (Aug. 16)
Notebook: Helton in no rush to make changes (Aug. 16)

RACE 23: Carfax 400 at Michigan (Aug. 16)
Jimmie Johnson led 133 laps and, along with Hendrick teammate Mark Martin, dominated the race. But Johnson ran out of gas with two laps left, and fuel-starved Brian Vickers coasted him for his second career Cup win. Read the story.
Notebook: Big day for Earnhardt Jr. (Aug. 17)
Carfax 400 race results: Click here
Story: Junior's demeanor key to recent success (Aug. 18)
Story: Mayfield's stepmother arrested (Aug. 18)
Story: Vickers gets contract extension from Red Bull (Aug. 19)
Story: Reading, writing and ... racing? (Aug. 20)
Story: Obama honors NASCAR champions and drivers (Aug. 20)
Story: Cautionary tale: Fewer bumps mean less interest in Bristol race (Aug. 22)
Notebook: Vickers: Kyle Busch 'out of rope' (Aug. 22)

RACE 24: Sharpie 500 at Bristol (Aug. 22)
Kyle Busch broke out of a slup and won his fourth race of the season by holding off Mark Martin. Busch clawed his way back into Chase contention: With two races left, he's only 34 points out of 12th place. Read the story
Notebook: Carburetors may become history in NASCAR (Aug. 23)
Sharpie 500 results: Click here
Story: Calm side of Kyle comes out after win (Aug. 24)
Notebook: Concord will have two NHRA events in 2010 (Aug. 26)
Story: Young driver in unwanted spotlight (Aug. 27)
Story: Ride is just beginning for Earnhardt fans (Aug. 28)
Story: Keselowski part of Penske's move to younger drivers (Sept. 2)
Story: Slumping RCR reorganizes (Sept. 3)
Story: Edwards will race with a broken foot (Sept. 4)
Story: NASCAR circles back to its roots (Sept. 6)
Notebook: Stewart: Patrick will race in NASCAR (Sept. 6)

RACE 25: Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta (Sept. 6)
NASCAR's Labor Day weekend race moved back south from California, and Kasey Kahne picked up his second win of the season. Kahne took the lead with 11 laps to go and took the win ahead of Kevin Harvick, who was trying for his first Sprint Cup win since the 2007 Daytona 500. Read the story.
Notebook: Memorial Day racing may get busy again (Sept. 7)
Pep Boys Auto 500 results: Click here
Story: Kahne collapse looking less imminent (Sept. 8)
Story: Kyle Busch in foreign territory for Chase (Sept. 9)
Story: Hornish always revved up for change (Sept. 10)
Story: RPM, Yates to merge in 2010, running Fords (Sept. 11)
Story Last lap: Chase field will be set at Richmond (Sept. 11)
Notebook: Martin on pole; Kenseth starts 28th (Sept. 12)

RACE 26: Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond (Sept. 12)
Denny Hamlin and Jeff Gordon battled door-to-door for much of the race, but Hamlin prevailed for the first time at his home track. Kyle Busch finished fifth, but it wasn't enough to get him into the Chase. Brian Vickers was seventh and did make the Chase for the first time. Read the story.
Notebook: JGR working on new deal with Kyle Busch (Sept. 13)
Chevy Rock & Roll 400 results: Click here
Story: Hamlin optimistic as playoffs approach (Sept. 14)
Story: Truex's new crew chief comes from Kurt Busch's team(Sept. 14)
Chase preview: Rookies, former champs tangle in Chase (Sept. 16)
Notebook: Roush on the rebound (Sept. 16)
Story: Earnhardt racing to be relevant once more (Sept. 18)
Story: Perennial bridesmaid holding his tongue (Sept. 19)
Notebook: Kahne will ponder future later (Sept. 19)
Story: Teams and drivers adjust to new restart rule (Sept. 20)
Notebook: Gordon will see next title as 1st, not 5th (Sept. 20)

RACE 27: Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire (Sept. 20)
Juan Pablo Montoya took the pole and won the most laps, but wily veteran Mark Martin passed him late and held him off for the win in the first race of the 2009 Chase. Martin extended his points lead over Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin to 35. Read the story.
Notebook: Earnhardt less than pleased with Reutimann (Sept. 20)
Sylvania 300 results: Click here
Story: Kahne needs strong run for sake of team (Sept. 22)
Story: NASCAR loses second liquor sponsor (Sept. 22)
Story: Chase new experience for Vickers, Montoya (Sept. 23)
Notebook: Why Jim Beam, Jack Daniel's are leaving NASCAR sponsorship (Sept. 25)
Story: Drivers lament tires, pit road boxes and Gordon's busy schedule (Sept. 26)
Story: Speeding penalties hurt Chase chances (Sept. 27)
Notebook: Childress will field fourth car next year (Sept. 27)

RACE 28: AAA 400 at Dover (Sept. 27)
The fall race at Dover was a snoozer if you were expecting lead changes — there were six among four drivers. But you have to marvel at three-time champ Jimmie Johnson, who won the pole and the race and closed to within 10 of the points lead. Read the story.
Notebook: Logano gets shaked, rattled during roll (Sept. 28)
AAA 400 results: Click here
Story: Johnson pulls closer in Chase (Sept. 29)
Story: Gillett: Merger remains on track (Oct. 4)

RACE 29: Price Chopper 400 at Kansas Speedway (Oct. 4)
Tony Stewart used a late pit strategy at Kansas Speedway to win his fourth race of the season Sunday and move back into title contention. Mark Martin finished seventh and retained the points lead, but six other drivers remain within 103 points. Read the story.
Notebook: Martin gains on Johnson; lead slips elsewhere
Price Chopper 400 results: Click here
Story: This Chase closest since format's debut (Oct. 6)
Notebook: Future arrives soon for Patrick (Oct. 7)
Story: Expect earlier NASCAR race starts next year (Oct. 8)
Story: Tires or track? Something's got to give at Fontana (Oct. 10)
Notebook: NASCAR plans to slow cars at Talladega
Story: NASCAR's diversity program goes in reverse (Oct. 11)
Notebook: Chase teams face tough choices (Oct. 11)

RACE 30: Pepsi 500 at Auto Club Speedway, Fontana Calif. (Oct. 11)
There are still six races left in the Chase, but the engravers might want to start putting "Jimmie Johnson" on the 2009 trophy. The three-time champ dominated Sunday's race and took over the points lead from teammate Mark Martin. Read the story.
Notebook: Montoya keeps upbeat attitude
Pepsi 500 results: Click here
Story: Jimmie Johnson looks to expand margin (Oct. 13)
Story: Petty tells Hall to turn back clock (Oct. 14)
Story: Insider's view of NASCAR Hall vote (Oct. 15)
Story: Meet the inaugural class (Oct. 15)
Story: Points leader Johnson wins pole at Charlotte (Oct. 16)
Story: Dust-up leaves Logano's dad in hot water with NASCAR (Oct. 16)
Story: Junior speaks: 'We're just not getting it done' (Oct. 17)
Notebook: Trio in command of Chase points lead (Oct. 17)

RACE 31: NASCAR Banking 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord (Oct. 17)
Another Saturday night race at Lowe's, another dominating performance by Jimmie Johnson. The three-time champ led a race-high 92 laps, won his third Chase race and extended his lead over teammate Mark Martin to 90 points. Read the story.
Notebook: Hendrick tries to soothe Junior's angst (Oct. 18)
NASCAR Banking 500 results: Click here
Story: Johnson's perfect weekend had some warts (Oct. 19)
Notebook: Denny Hamlin: Do unto others... (Oct. 21)
Story: Logano older and wiser the second time around (Oct. 22)
Story: NASCAR drivers do their homework to get an edge (Oct. 23)
Story: NASCAR drivers get by with a little help from their enemies (Oct. 24)
Story: Past racing stars discuss its future (Oct. 25)
Story: Johnson and Knaus' win total is entering some fast company (Oct. 25)
Notebook: Football analyst apologizes for Montoya remark (Oct. 25)

RACE 32: TUMS Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway (Oct. 25)
Virginia native Denny Hamlin held off points leader Jimmie Johnson on a green-white-checker finish to earn his third win of the season. Johnson, meanwhile, extended his lead over No. 2 Mark Martin to 118 points. Read the story.
Notebook: Montoya nudges fans into good mood
TUMS Fast Relief 500 results: Click here
Notebook: NASCAR holds off throwing caution flag (Oct. 27)
Notebook: Gibbs gets Busch new crew chief (Oct. 28)
Story: Sadler to drive Ford at Talledega (Oct. 29)
Story: NASCAR reacts to Allmendinger's arrest (Oct. 30)
Story: Earnhardt will keep crew chief in 2010 (Oct. 30)
Story: NASCAR cars must undergo stringent reviews (Oct. 31)
Notebook: Driver: Probation a fair punishment (Oct. 31)
Story: It's Talladega, so danger lurks (Nov. 1)

RACE 33: AMP Energy 500 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway (Nov. 1)
A wild wreck late in the race sent Ryan Newman flipping, spinning and sliding. Jamie McMurray survived the carnage to end his 86-race winless streak. And what about the points leader? Jimmie Johnson spent most of the day in the back of the pack but came home sixth to extend his lead to 184 points.Read the story.
AMP Energy 500 results: Click here
Notebook: Late dash to 6th place has Johnson feeling better (Nov. 2)