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Juan Pablo Montoya says the racing in NASCAR is better than any other series he's competed in, and if someone can't see that, they don't need to be watching.

The status of competition often is a key issue for fans and has been even more so as Jimmie Johnson seemed headed to a record-breaking fourth consecutive title — at least until last weekend when his lead narrowed after wrecking at Texas.

Montoya, who has competed in various series including Formula One and Indy Car, lends a different perspective to the debate.

"I think people that complain about a NASCAR race, they haven't watched anything else of motor racing," Montoya said Tuesday in a conference call with reporters. "Honestly, if you don't like what you're seeing, you shouldn't be seeing it because it's the greatest racing you can have in any motorsport scene. It doesn't get any better than this, I'll tell you the truth.

"I'm not saying this because I'm here. I'm saying this because I've lived all of them, and nothing compares to this. I don't get it. The Talladega race with people being very conservative and then a huge wreck. But if you go to Talladega, you can expect that. It's not something new. I don't know why people complain about it when the racing is so good.

"Like last week was good racing. You know, it was a blast. A lot of things happened, so it's very ... I don't understand when people complain about things like that.''

PENALTIES: NASCAR announced that it has docked Martin Truex Jr. 50 points, car owner Teresa Earnhardt 50 points and fined crew chief Kevin Manion $50,000 after Truex's car failed post-race inspection at Texas. Manion also remains on probation until Dec. 31.

The front of Truex's car was found to be below minimum height requirements. Truex falls from 24th to 26th in the driver point standings with the penalty, as Elliott Sadler and AJ Allmendinger each gain a spot.

TITLE SCENARIOS: Although Jimmie Johnson lost more than half his lead on Mark Martin at Texas, Johnson could still clinch the title this weekend at Phoenix.

Johnson needs to lead the driver second in the standings, Martin, by at least 195 points after the race. Johnson holds a 73-point lead on Martin entering this weekend with Jeff Gordon 112 points behind.

To clinch at Homestead, Johnson needs to average a fourth-place finish in the final two races and it won't matter where anyone else finishes.

MORE TITLES: Kyle Busch and Ron Hornaday are each on the verge of clinching series titles and could do so this weekend.

Busch leads Carl Edwards by 272 points in the Nationwide Series. If Busch leaves Phoenix at least 195 points ahead, he'll be the champion.

It would be Busch's first series crown.

In the Camping World Truck series, Hornaday holds a 197-point lead on Matt Crafton. If Hornaday has a 195-point lead after Phoenix, he'll be the series champion for the fourth time.

NEW RIDES: Braun Racing will expand to have four entries in the Nationwide series next year. Brian Scott will be the driver of one of the teams. The other drivers will be announced later. ... Red Horse Racing will have ARCA series champ Justin Lofton drive for it next season in the Camping World Truck series.

PIT STOPS: Speed Channel will air the Sprint Cup banquet live from Las Vegas from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. on Dec. 4. The banquet will be re-aired on Speed from 1-5 a.m. Dec. 5 and 1-5 p.m. on Dec. 6. ... Hendrick Motorsports has won the past five Cup races at Phoenix. ... Foxsports.com, citing unidentified sources, reports that more than 40 employees have cut from Richard Petty Motorsports as part of its merger with Yates Racing after this season.

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