JJ's three-peat, economic woes among 2008 highlights, lowlights

At the season-ending Sprint Cup Series awards banquet next week in New York City, Jimmie Johnson will be honored for his record-tying third consecutive championship. Johnson, who finished the season 69 points ahead of Carl Edwards, joined Cale Yarborough (1976-78) as the only drivers in NASCAR's 60-year history to win three Cup titles in a row.

Earnhardt Jr.'s 1st year with Hendrick ends on disappointing note

Even though Dale Earnhardt, Jr. made the field for the 2008 "Chase for the Sprint Cup" championship, his first year with Hendrick Motorsports did not live up to expectations.

Nemechek, Furniture Row Racing agree to contract buyout

Furniture Row Racing announced Friday it has bought out the contract of driver Joe Nemechek. The racing organization recently made known it would field a Sprint Cup Series team on a limited schedule in 2009.

Kenseth signs contract extension with Roush Fenway Racing

Roush Fenway Racing announced Thursday it has signed Matt Kenseth to a multi-year contract extension. Kenseth, the 2003 Cup Series champion, has been with the racing organization since 1998.

Johnson enjoying his place in NASCAR history

Days after capturing his third-consecutive Sprint Cup Series championship, Jimmie Johnson has returned to his home in North Carolina to relax and allow his record-tying accomplishment to finally sink in. Johnson, who finished 15th in last Sunday's season-ending race at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, matched Cale Yarborough's 30-year-old record of three titles in a row.

Menard to drive No.98 for Yates in '09

Yates Racing announced Tuesday that Paul Menard will drive the No.98 Ford for the team during the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.

Johnson, No.48 team the next dynasty in professional sports

After capturing his third-consecutive Sprint Cup Series championship Sunday at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, Jimmie Johnson and his No.48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet crew have not only established themselves as one of the greatest teams in NASCAR, but as the latest in a string of professional sports dynasties.

Three-Peat: Johnson captures record-tying third-straight Cup title

Jimmie Johnson became the second driver in NASCAR's 60-year history to win three consecutive Cup championships. Johnson finished 15th in Sunday's season-ending Ford 400 at the Homestead- Miami Speedway to join Cale Yarborough as the only drivers to accomplish the feat.

NASCAR cancels 2009 testing at sanctioned tracks

In an effort to cut costs for teams, NASCAR announced it is banning testing at its sanctioned tracks for the 2009 season.

Logano grabs pole for Nationwide race at Homestead

David Reutimann recorded his first career pole in the Sprint Cup Series by taking the top starting spot in Friday's qualifying for the Ford 400 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. Reutimann, the driver of the No.44 Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing and a native of Zephyrhills, FL, rounded the 1.5-mile oval in 31.462 seconds (171.636 m.p.h.).

NASCAR - Sprint Cup - Ford 400 Preview

This Week in Auto Racing November 14 - 16

Sprint Cup Series

Nothing "funny" about moving tail end of NASCAR race to ESPN2

With the second-to-last race in the "Chase for the Sprint Cup" reaching its climactic point and Jimmie Johnson on the verge of clinching his record-tying third consecutive series championship, viewers in the Eastern and Central time zones were stunned to see the remaining 34 laps of Sunday's Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway switched from ABC to ESPN2.

Johnson on the brink of third-straight title with Phoenix win

Jimmie Johnson won Sunday's Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 with a dominating performance at the Phoenix International Raceway. Johnson, the two-time defending Sprint Cup Series champion, led 217 of 313 laps and held off a hard-charging Kurt Busch in a green-white-checkered finish.

Hamlin takes pole for Nationwide race at Phoenix

Ron Hornaday, Jr. edged Sprint Cup Series regular Kyle Busch to win the pole for Friday night's Lucas Oil 150 Craftsman Truck Series race at Phoenix International Raceway. The No.33 Chevrolet driver and defending series champion rounded the one-mile oval in 27.319 seconds (131.776 m.p.h.).

This Week in Auto Racing November 7 - 9

Sprint Cup Series

NASCAR - Sprint Cup - Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 Preview

Edwards could make it an interesting Chase after all

Just when it looked like Jimmie Johnson was going to run away with this year's "Chase for the Sprint Cup" championship, here comes Carl Edwards with a late-season surge.

Fuel strategy pays off for Edwards with Texas victory

Carl Edwards drove the final 69 laps without pitting for fuel to win Sunday's Dickies 500 at the Texas Motor Speedway and trim 77 points off of Jimmie Johnson's lead in the Sprint Cup Series championship standings. The No.99 Roush Fenway Racing driver led 212 of 334 laps and finished 8.310 seconds ahead of second-place Jeff Gordon.