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Experience has played a key role in who wins the NASCAR Sprint Cup title Chase and could again this year.

A rookie to the Chase has never won the title, discounting 2004, when every driver would have been considered a Chase rookie with its debut.

The closest a Chase rookie has come to winning the title since is 2005, when Greg Biffle finished second that season by 35 points to Tony Stewart.

Juan Pablo Montoya and Brian Vickers are the Chase rookies this season.

Montoya heads to Dover this weekend fourth in the standings, 55 points behind Mark Martin. Thomasville's Vickers is eighth, 90 points behind Martin.

"I don't even know if we are ready yet," Montoya said of a Sprint Cup title. "We are doing the best we can and, hopefully, we are going to be good enough to at least fight for it. We don't have the experience yet or anything.

"By the time Miami (season finale) comes, we want to make sure we gave our best to make sure we gave ourselves a chance. That's all we can do."

KYLE BUSCH PENALIZED: NASCAR penalized Kyle Busch's team Tuesday for an infraction discovered after Sunday's race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

NASCAR docked Busch 25 driver points, and Joe Gibbs lost 25 car owner points. Crew chief Steve Addington was fined $25,000 and placed on probation until Dec. 31.

The penalty was for the car's left front being too low after the race.

HOLD THAT DRINK: Both Jim Beam and Jack Daniel's announced this week that they will not remain a sponsor in NASCAR after this season. Jack Daniel's sponsors Casey Mears' car at Richard Childress Racing. Jim Beam sponsors Robby Gordon's car at Robby Gordon Motorsports.

Both companies cited changing marketing strategies as reasons for the move.

The move comes after Crown Royal announced in late July that it will be the primary sponsor for Matt Kenseth for only 18 races next year. Crown Royal has been listed as the primary sponsor for Jamie McMurray's car in 23 of 27 points races this season.

OUT FOR SEASON: Clint Pittman, rear-tire changer for Casey Mears' team, will miss the rest of the season with a fractured foot after Denny Hamlin's car ran over his right foot during a pit stop in Sunday's race.

STREAKING: Roush Fenway Racing has won at least one race at Dover for five consecutive years. It's looking to extend that streak this weekend.

Roush Fenway Racing has a similar streak at two of the season's remaining tracks. It has scored at least one win a year each of the past five years at Auto Club Speedway in California and Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Hendrick Motorsports has the longest streak at the remaining tracks. It has won at least once a year at Martinsville Speedway for seven consecutive seasons.

PIT STOPS: Kurt Busch says the engine that blew in teammate Sam Hornish's car Sunday was a developmental engine that is designed to provide more power. ... Jimmie Johnson has won the past two Cup races at Dover. ... NASCAR's Modified series races at Martinsville Speedway at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Practice and qualifying is Saturday. ... Brad Keselowski made his debut with the No. 12 Penske Racing team Tuesday in a Goodyear tire test at Daytona. Others who tested were Clint Bowyer, Marcos Ambrose, Joey Logano and David Ragan.

Contact Dustin Long at 373-7062 or dustin.long@news-record.com