Nascar

Hamlin shows growth this year

"Dustin Long ()" — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0500

HOMESTEAD, Fla. — It's become harder to dismiss what Denny Hamlin does or says.

His career-high fourth victory of the season Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway doubled his career win total entering this year and guided him to a fifth-place finish in the points.

Jimmie Johnson wins fourth straight Cup title

"Dustin Long ()" — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0500

HOMESTEAD, Fla. — His adrenaline fading, the weight of what Jimmie Johnson invested to win a record-breaking fourth consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup championship showed.

After a brief celebration with his wife, crew chief and crew and a series of interviews, Johnson headed back to the start/finish line for more pictures, more cheers and more memories.

NASCAR 2009

"Staff Reports" — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:17:21 -0500

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

NASCAR notes: Martin proud of second place in points standings

"Wire Reports" — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0500

HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Mark Martin accepted NASCAR's silver medal for the fifth time Sunday night, unable in the season-ending Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway to derail Jimmie Johnson's march toward stock-car immortality, while Martin joined Richard Petty and Bobby Allison as the only drivers to finish No. 2 in the points standings five times.

Greatest NASCAR driver without a title?

"Dustin Long ()" — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0500

HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Mark Martin chases a championship he doesn't need. He refuses to define himself based on titles won even if many others do.

Championships, though, once consumed him, ate at him, caused sleepless nights. No matter how hard he worked, how focused he was, how much he inspired his team, he couldn't win a championship in NASCAR's top series.

Earnhardt laments end of the racing year

"Dustin Long ()" — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0500

HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Today ends what has been one of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s most frustrating seasons. Although he comes into today's race at Homestead-Miami Speedway 24th in the points, he's not ready for the season to end.

Sprint Cup Lineup

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0500

FORD 400

(At Homestead-Miami Speedway)

Lap length: 1.5 miles

(Car number in parentheses)

1. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevy, 173.919.

2. (82) Scott Speed, Toyota, 172.695.

3. (47) Marcos Ambrose, Toyota, 172.678.

4. (5) Mark Martin, Chevy, 172.353.

5. (14) Tony Stewart, Chevy, 172.243.

Gordon enters bittersweet NASCAR weekend

"Dustin Long ()" — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0500

HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Should Jimmie Johnson win his fourth consecutive Sprint Cup title Sunday, Jeff Gordon likely will smile, hug his teammate and celebrate Johnson's momentous feat.

As part owner of Johnson's car, Gordon will be happy.

As a competitor, pangs of frustration will gnaw at him with another championship lost.

Kahne considers leaving RPM

"Dustin Long ()" — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0500

HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Kasey Kahne might be maxed out at RPM.

Kahne is strongly considering bolting Richard Petty Motorsports after his contract expires next season because of the instability surrounding the organization and will start shopping around for a new team in January.

Johnson extends Hendrick contract to 2015

"Jenna Fryer ()" — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:47:12 -0500

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) — Jimmie Johnson, on the verge of a NASCAR record fourth consecutive championship, signed a contract extension today to drive for Hendrick Motorsports through the 2015 season.

TV vs. radio: NASCAR wants to know

"Dustin Long ()" — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0500

NASCAR is surveying Fan Council members about TV broadcasts, asking fans if they watch the races on TV with the sound turned down to hear the radio broadcast and how often they do so.

Johnson solid for season’s end at Homestead

"Dustin Long ()" — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:50:37 -0500

AVONDALE, Ariz. — Really, did many people think Jimmie Johnson would finish poorly two races in a row?

Johnson diffuses Chase drama

"Dustin Long ()" — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0500

AVONDALE, Ariz. — History isn't always dramatic. Even when it's remarkable.

Jimmie Johnson's run to a record-breaking fourth consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup championship might not be appreciated by all who tire of seeing him in victory lane — as he was again Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway.

Get used to it.

NASCAR officials meet with feuding Keselowski, Hamlin

"Dustin Long ()" — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0500

AVONDALE, Ariz. — NASCAR officials met with Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin before Sunday's race to discuss their incident during Saturday's Nationwide race. It wasn't the first time they've had a run-in on the track.

Start-and-park racing: No glory, but it's a living

"Dustin Long ()" — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0500

AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Dave Blaney fiddles with four quarters and stands among the row of cars that don't have a garage stall at Phoenix International Raceway.

This is NASCAR's low-rent district.

Here are Sprint Cup teams that show up to only some races or those that start-and-park, collecting a paycheck and moving on to the next track often to do the same thing.

Robby Gordon's 2010 sponsorship in doubt

"Dustin Long ()" — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0500

AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Robby Gordon says he has sponsorship for only the first eight races of next season and has run nearly one-third of this season without sponsorship, though he's kept company decals on his car in those races.

Montoya backs NASCAR's form of racin'

"Dustin Long ()" — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0500

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.

Race is back on for final two weeks of Chase

"Dustin Long ()" — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0500

FORT WORTH, Texas — There is hope. That might be all there is, but now NASCAR Sprint Cup title contenders have more than wishful thinking on their side as they chase Jimmie Johnson.

Drama aplenty unfolds in Texas

"Dustin Long ()" — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0500

FORT WORTH, Texas — Two hours before Sunday's race, NASCAR Chairman Brian France conceded that dramatic storylines in the sport "aren't what they have been in the past or will be in the future," in citing a reason for NASCAR's slumping TV ratings.

Lame duck crew chief makes right call for Busch

"Dustin Long ()" — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0500

FORT WORTH, Texas — Kurt Busch will have a new crew chief next season and some have questioned why not make the change with his title hopes over, but Pat Tryson's pit call helped Busch win Sunday's race at Texas Motor Speedway.

Busch, who had one of the strongest cars all race, helped save a lap's worth of fuel in the 64 circuits after his final pit stop.

France to broadcasters: Just call the race

"Dustin Long ()" — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0500

FORT WORTH, Texas — NASCAR Chairman Brian France says he wants TV broadcasters that work NASCAR events to call the sport like those in other sports do and limit their areas of criticism.

France made the comments in an exclusive interview with the News & Record before Sunday's race at Texas Motor Speedway.

NASCAR faces a dilemma about its racing

"Dustin Long ()" — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0500

FORT WORTH, Texas -- A race that featured 58 lead changes boring? Two cars upside down in the final laps and the talk is about single-file racing earlier in the event?

NASCAR faces a dilemma about its racing.

Complaints by some fans about last week's Talladega race points to a deeper issue about competition: What is good racing and are fans seeing it this season?

Biffle: Meetings with NASCAR officials productive

"Dustin Long ()" — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0500

FORT WORTH, Texas --Greg Biffle said he was pleased with the conversations in a recent follow-up meeting to the town hall sessions NASCAR officials held five months ago.

Newman would like to ground NASCAR

"Dustin Long ()" — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0500

FORT WORTH, Texas --Ryan Newman stresses that the car needs to be changed before the Sprint Cup series returns to Talladega next April to limit the likelihood of it getting airborne.

NASCAR official blasts TV coverage of Talladega race

"Dustin Long ()" — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0500

A NASCAR official criticized ABC's broadcast of Sunday's Talladega race, stating in a blog that the network "missed a lot of very good racing."

ABC defended its coverage in a statement Tuesday, saying: "We feel we had a strong telecast. We're not going to comment on the article."