Kansas.com: Motorsports

Respect grows for Martin

JENNA FRYER — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:08 CST

HOMESTEAD, Fla. —Mark Martin has lost to Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart — some of NASCAR's greatest drivers — in his frustrating bid for an elusive championship.

Standing in his way now? Jimmie Johnson, who takes a 108-point lead over Martin into today's season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Barring a total collapse, Johnson will be the one to send Martin to a fifth runner-up finish in the standings. In doing so, Johnson will become the first driver in NASCAR history to win four consecutive championships.

France defends Johnson's reign

JENNA FRYER — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:03 CST

HOMESTEAD, Fla. —NASCAR chairman Brian France wants Jimmie Johnson to be commended for his four-year run atop NASCAR, and not used as an example of why the championship format might be flawed.

Johnson heads into Sunday's finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway poised to become the first driver in NASCAR history to win four consecutive titles, all under the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship format implemented in 2004. His dominance has made it easy for Chase critics to blast the system, which France called unfair.

' 'The only way fair to look at it is not to pick apart the format, but recognize excellence,'' France said Friday. ''I don't think historians could have predicted how good they are. What I wouldn't want to do is take away from the accomplishment of Jimmie and his team. In this format, dominating four straight years is incredibly difficult to do.''

Johnson closing in on history

JENNA FRYER — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:06 CST

AVONDALE, Ariz. —When a fluke accident cost Jimmie Johnson a huge chunk of his points lead, he knew there was no more room for error in his bid to win a NASCAR record fourth consecutive championship.

But when it came time to plot a strategy for Phoenix International Raceway, playing it safe was never an option.

Johnson cruised to a dominating victory Sunday that moved him to the edge of history, winning the fourth race of this Chase for the Sprint Cup championship in what his rivals considered a "statement" showing.

Edwards makes Busch wait for title

JENNA FRYER — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:06 CST

AVONDALE, Ariz. —Carl Edwards rolled to a dominating win at Phoenix International Speedway that temporarily staved off Kyle Busch's bid to clinch the Nationwide Series title.

Busch's first NASCAR championship is still a near-certainty — he's up 190 points over Edwards and only needs to start next week's race at Homestead-Miami Speedway to grab the title.

But early problems Saturday spoiled Busch's bid to get it out of the way. He spun his Toyota eight laps into the race, suffered heavy damage when he hit the wall, and had to battle to a ninth-place finish.

Johnson's lead fading away

STEPHEN HAWKINS — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:07 CST

FORT WORTH, Texas — Jimmie Johnson's drive to history took a hard hit against a wall and Kyle Busch ran out of gas trying to complete an unprecedented NASCAR trifecta.

Kurt Busch drove to Victory Lane at Texas after his younger brother ran out of fuel with 2 1/2 laps left Sunday, finishing 129 laps ahead of the rebuilt car driven by Johnson, who saw his points lead slashed from 184 to 73 over Hendrick teammate Mark Martin with two races left.

"It was definitely not the day we wanted," Johnson said. "It's not as bad as it could have been. At one point I was told to hop out of car and I was done.... It's still a big ouch."

Zero wins for Edwards

STEPHEN HAWKINS — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:02 CST

FORT WORTH, Texas — Carl Edwards has found a way to try to mask the frustration of his winless NASCAR Sprint Cup season.

"I've kind of tried to think of it differently," Edwards said. "It's not that we haven't had no wins this season, it's just that we've had nine wins over the last two. That sounds a lot better."

That still doesn't erase that very noticeable zero in 2009.

Gordon on pole in Texas

STEPHEN HAWKINS — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:07 CST

FORT WORTH, Texas — Jeff Gordon is suddenly having all kind of success at Texas Motor Speedway, a track where he had never won until earlier this season.

Gordon captured his first pole of the season, waiting until the second-to-last race to extend his streak of 17 consecutive seasons with a pole, with a qualifying lap of 191.117 mph Friday at the 1 1/2-mile, high-banked Texas track.

"We weren't waiting," said Gordon, smiling. "We were working hard every weekend. And you know we've been very close.... But the fact that we did get it and to do it here at Texas, a track where we have struggled at until recently, this is a great place to do it. We're focused on ending this season the best we possibly can. "

Wild, fiery finish at Talladega

JENNA FRYER — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:02 CST

TALLADEGA, Ala. —NASCAR demanded drivers be on their best behavior at Talladega Superspeedway, where a ban on bump-drafting sanitized what's usually one of the most spectacular races of the season.

In the end, chaos reigned, just like always.

After 450 miles of what resembled a slow Sunday drive, the action picked up and the outcome was much of what everyone has come to expect out of Talladega: An unlikely winner, two spectacular crashes and an army of drivers frustrated about the unpredictability of restrictor-plate racing.

Drafting raises risk at Talladega

Associated Press — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:03 CDT

Michael Waltrip pulled up to the back of Jimmie Johnson's car, settled in on his bumper and shoved him all the way around Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway as the two drivers worked on a strategy for NASCAR's fastest race track.

"We got hooked up and started flying," said Johnson.

Only problem? NASCAR doesn't want to see such aggressive drafting anymore, and when Waltrip didn't heed a warning to back off a bit, he was yanked out of the final practice session leading into today's race.

Hamlin races past Johnson in Va.

HANK KURZ Jr. — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:06 CDT

MARTINSVILLE, Va. —Denny Hamlin didn't need to do anything funny to exact his revenge from Jimmie Johnson at Martinsville Speedway. He just drove right by him.

And then he drove away with ease on three restarts over the final 52 laps, ending the three-time defending series champion's remarkable run of five trips to Victory Lane in the previous six races at the shortest circuit in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series.

Hamlin used an out-of-sequence pit stops after about 160 laps to move to the front, then held on up there until the entire leaderboard headed for pit road about 20 laps later.

Johnson bears in on another title

HANK KURZ Jr. — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:06 CDT

MARTINSVILLE, Va. —Jimmie Johnson hears the chatter in the garage and knows that some of his fellow drivers have grown weary of seeing him win races and championships.

And why not?

He's won 23 races in the past three seasons, and claimed the points championship each year, too, becoming the only driver other than Cale Yarborough to win three straight.

Johnson takes control of Chase

JENNA FRYER — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:05 CDT

CONCORD, N.C. —One by one, the championship contenders struggled to stay out of trouble at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Not Jimmie Johnson, though.

In a career of impressive feats, he grabbed yet another one Saturday night by completing a "perfect weekend" to take control of the Chase for the Sprint Cup standings. The three-time defending series champion led every practice session, started from the pole and then held off his challengers over several late restarts for his third victory in five Chase race this season.

Earnhardt's frustration grows

JENNA FRYER — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:06 CDT

CONCORD, N.C. —Dale Earnhardt Jr. hit rock bottom during his last trip to Lowe's Motor Speedway. He struggled with his car, feuded with his crew chief and finished a season-low 40th in one of the most embarrassing weekends of his career.

Team owner Rick Hendrick fired crew chief Tony Eury Jr. three days after that May debacle, and things were supposed to turn around with some fresh leadership at Earnhardt's team.

It hasn't happened.

Easy win for Johnson in Calif.

WILL GRAVES — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:07 CDT

FONTANA, Calif. —Jimmie Johnson is back in control of NASCAR's Chase for the Championship.

The three-time defending Sprint Cup champion easily pulled away from Jeff Gordon following a restart with three laps left to win the Pepsi 500 on Sunday at Auto Club Speedway for his fifth victory of the year and 45th overall.

The win was Johnson's fourth at the 2-mile oval and sent a message to the rest of the contenders he has no plans of giving up his spot atop the series easily.

Johnson waiting in wings

WILL GRAVES — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:07 CDT

FONTANA, Calif. —Juan Pablo Montoya is well aware NASCAR veteran Mark Martin leads the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship heading into today's 500-mile race at Auto Club Speedway.

It just doesn't feel that way.

When Montoya looks at the standings, it's not Martin's name that jumps out but three-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson, who lurks just 18 points behind Martin — and 33 points ahead of Montoya — heading into a stretch the native Californian has turned into his own personal springboard to the title.

Franchitti wins IRL title

Associated Press — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:07 CDT

Dario Franchitti's return to IndyCar racing couldn't have gone better. He's the IRL champion once again.

Franchitti successfully emerged from one of the closest points races in series history Saturday, winning the season-ending Indy 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the first caution-free IRL race ever.

The 2007 champion — who skipped 2008 to explore NASCAR — held off Target Chip Ganassi teammate Scott Dixon and Penske Racing's Ryan Briscoe.

Stewart wins Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway

JENNA FRYER — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:43 CDT

KANSAS CITY, Kan. —Tony Stewart didn't have time for a debate. He had one last chance to grab the win at Kansas Speedway, and it came down to one critical decision.

Two tires, or four?

The two-time series champion asked for two on the final pit stop Sunday, and crew chief Darian Grubb immediately agreed with the strategy. The rapid thinking got Stewart the race lead, and he held on over the final 26 laps for his fourth win of the season.

Logano gets best of Busch again

Associated Press — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 00:06 CDT

KANSAS CITY, Kan. —That horrific barrel roll at Dover, the one that looked more like a scene from "Talladega Nights" than a real NASCAR wreck?

Turns out it gave Joey Logano confidence, not fear.

Passing points leader Kyle Busch with three laps left, Logano won at Kansas Speedway on Saturday, pulling out his fourth Nationwide victory less than a week after that spectacular crash during a Sprint Cup race.

Martin driving strong at 50

RANDY COVITZ — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 00:06 CDT

As is his style, Mark Martin didn't want to make a fuss or a draw any attention to himself.

Martin, NASCAR's elder statesman and tortured soul, had just quietly extended his contract with Hendrick Motorsports a few weeks ago to keep racing fulltime in the Sprint Cup series through the 2011 season.

"Who would want to quit?" Martin said.

Martin, Johnson come under NASCAR scrutiny

JENNA FRYER — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 00:06 CDT

KANSAS CITY, Kan. —Mark Martin and Jimmie Johnson used a pair of wins to race their way to the top of the Sprint Cup standings.

Fair and square. No cheating involved.

Even so, tongues were wagging Friday at Kansas Speedway after NASCAR warned the two Hendrick Motorsports teams they came awfully close to failing post-race inspection at Dover.