NEXT RACE: Homestead Race Information/Stats page including.......

• Johnson wins pole at Homestead: #48-Johnson won the Coors Light Pole Award for the FORD 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway with a lap of 173.919mph for his 4th pole of the season and 23rd career pole. #82-Speed was 2nd fastest followed by #47-Ambrose, #5-Martin, #14-Stewart, #29-Harvick, #39-Newman, #16-Biffle, #21-Elliott and #33-Bowyer.
  The non Top-35 drivers who made the race: #82-Speed, #21-Elliott, #78-Smith, #02-Gilliland, #36-McDowell, #71-BLabonte, #37-Kvapil and #08-TLabonte [using a past champions provisional].
  Five drivers who failed to qualify: #87-Nemecehk, #66-Blaney, #70-Skinner, #13-Papis and #09-Stremme.
  See qualifying results, pole progression, starting lineup on my Homestead Qualifying Results/Starting Lineup page.(11-20-2009)

• Qualifying Fast Facts - Homestead-Miami Speedway:
  #48-Jimmie Johnson won the Coors Light Pole Award for the FORD 400 with a lap of 31.049 seconds, 173.919 mph.
  This is his 23rd pole in 291 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
  This is his fourth pole and 26th top-10 start in 2009.
  This is his second pole in nine races at Homestead-Miami Speedway. His first Homestead pole came in 2007. He finished seventh that race.
  #82-Scott Speed (second) posted his seventh top-10 start of 2009 and his second in two races at Homestead-Miami Speedway. This matches his best career start (Homestead, 2008; Chicagoland, 2009).
  #47-Marcos Ambrose (third) posted his first top-10 start at Homestead-Miami Speedway. It is his sixth in 36 races this season.(NASCAR Statistics)(11-20-2009)

• Homestead starting spots for the 2009 Chase Drivers:
  (in order of chase points standings coming into Homestead)
  1) #48-Jimmie Johnson, on the pole, 1st
  2) #5-Mark Martin, 4th
  3) #24-Jeff Gordon, 20th
  4) #2-Kurt Busch, 12th
  5) #14-Tony Stewart, 5th
  6) #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, 23rd
  7) #16-Greg Biffle, 8th
  8) #11-Denny Hamlin, 38th
  9) #39-Ryan Newman, 7th
  10) #9-Kasey Kahne, 25th
  11) #99-Carl Edwards, 24th
  12) #83-Brian Vickers, 33rd.(11-20-2009)

• Eight 2008 pole sitters shut out: there are eight drivers who scored a pole in 2008 that did not in 2009. #9-Kahne had a six season pole streak on the line [he has won at least one pole in each of the last six seasons] tha is gone. Other drivers who won a pole in 2008 and none in 2009 were: #16-Biffle [2 straight season with a pole], #88-Earnhardt Jr.[2], #99-Edwards [2], #87-Nemechek[1], Patrick Carpentier [1 - has no ride], #98-Menard [1] and Travis Kvapil [1 - no ride]. See 2009 pole winners, some stats and facts and all time pole winners on my Pole Winners page.(11-20-2009)

• NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Season Finale Live on ABC: The 2009 season finale for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is this weekend at Florida's Homestead-Miami Speedway as the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup ends with the crowning of the champion. ESPN's live, flag-to-flag coverage of the Ford 400 airs Sunday, Nov. 22, on ABC and ABC HD beginning with NASCAR Countdown at 2:30pm/et. The race's green flag is scheduled for 3:30pm/et. Also from Homestead, ESPN2 airs coverage of NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying on Friday, Nov. 20, at 3:00pm/et, as well as coverage of final practice on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 3:00pm/et.
  Dr. Jerry Punch will be lap-by-lap announcer for ESPN's coverage, with analysis by 1999 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Dale Jarrett and two-time NASCAR champion crew chief Andy Petree. Reporting from the pits will be Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Shannon Spake and Vince Welch, with two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion crew chief Tim Brewer in the ESPN Craftsman Tech Garage.
  Allen Bestwick will host the pre-race NASCAR Countdown program with analysis by 1989 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Rusty Wallace, Brad Daugherty, co-owner of a winning team in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, and three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion crew chief Ray Evernham in the ESPN pit studio.

• Jayski's - 2009 Sprint Cup Race Results Page
  (pole and race winner with speed and starting/finishing position, links to race results, drivers & owners points, pit stall selections, qualifying results/starting lineup, practice speeds and chase stats as well as link to race track and race information page for each race)

• Clinch scenerio for Homestead: #48-Jimmie Johnson is closing in on history and doing so in style. Johnson victory at Phoenix in Week 9 boosted his points lead over second-place Mark Martin to 108 points. Johnson will clinch a record fourth consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup championship if he finishes 25th or better in the Chase finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
  "So now, Martin's predicament begs the question: How many times has Mark Martin gained more than 108 points on Jimmie Johnson, in a single race? The answer is nine times including once at Homestead, in 2005.(11-16-2009)

• ESPN Radio Revs Up NASCAR Coverage: RaceDay to Originate from Homestead-Miami Speedway. ESPN Radio will be dialed in throughout the final week of the 2009 NASCAR season providing comprehensive coverage as the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup heads for the checkered flag. Listeners and simulcast viewers (Mike & Mike in the Morning and the Scott Van Pelt Show on ESPN2, The Herd with Colin Cowherd ESPNU) will get to hear from ESPN NASCAR experts as well as NASCAR drivers. Rusty Wallace, Marty Smith, Jimmie Johnson, and Dale Jarrett are among those expected to contribute. Weekend morning's RaceDay will originate from Homestead-Miami Speedway, sight of Sunday's final race.
  Mike & Mike in the Morning (6-10 am/et M-F): Rusty Wallace (Friday); co-hosts Greenberg & Golic will also feature NASCAR during some daily "What's Everyone Talking About" segments
  The Herd with Colin Cowherd (10 am - 2 pm/et M-F): NASCAR will be featured during several daily "Spanning the Globe" segments; Homestead preview coverage Friday and re-cap Monday; NASCAR content will be included in podcasts posted after each show
  Scott Van Pelt Show (2-4 pm/et M-F): post-Homestead reaction and discussion; Homestead preview Friday and re-cap Monday
  Doug Gottlieb Show (4-7 pm/et M-F): Marty Smith (Friday); Sprint Cup winner Monday
  RaceDay with Pat Patterson (6-7am/et, Saturdays, Sundays): Saturday RaceDay will feature an interview with NASCAR Truck series champ Ron Hornaday who recently joined Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, and Jeff Gordon as a four-time NASCAR Champ, and the latest from the Nationwide Series where Kyle Busch needs to only start Saturday to pick up his first big time NASCAR title. Sunday RaceDay will focus on Jimmie Johnson as he attempts to make history with his run for a fourth consecutive Sprint Cup Series championship.(ESPN)

• Some Chassis selections for Homestead: compiled from some pre-Homestead press releases and team sites, some chassis selections and history for the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway:
  #00-David Reutimann The #00 Aaron's Dream Machine for this week is chassis #625. This Aaron's Dream Machine has seen action in four races, including the recent race at Texas, where David ran in the top ten throughout the race. Its best finish was 4th at Las Vegas.
  #02-David Gilliland and the JGR team will run chassis: No. 242 (Back-Up Chassis: No. 225), the same chassis ran at Lowe's Motor Speedway in October, where it finished 25th.
  #07-Casey Mears team will unload chassis #282 from the Richard Childress Racing stable, which made its debut at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this year. After finishing 19th there, this Chevrolet Impala SS was run at Michigan International Speedway in August with a finish of sixth, Dover International Speedway in September finishing 17th and Lowe's Motor Speedway in October finishing seventh.
  #1 Martin Truex Jr. The #1 Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boat team will bring chassis #070 to Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend. This chassis was last used for the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Kansas where Truex and team brought home a 16th-place finish. The team also used this chassis earlier this season for the first races at Atlanta (3/09) and Texas (4/09). It was in the Atlanta race with chassis #070 that Truex brought home his first top-10 finish of 2009.
  #2-Kurt Busch Kurt, Pat and crew will bring out "Patriot" again this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Formerly known simply as "PRS-702," the team debuted this Miller Lite Dodge Charger two weeks ago in the Dickies 500 at Texas. When Kurt scored the big victory in the first time out for the car, he continued the Penske Racing tradition in naming his winning mount. With the Fort Hood tragedy occurring earlier that week, Kurt wanted to pay tribute to the military in his name selection. The fact that his car was carrying a special Operation Homefront color scheme and the organization's representatives and soldiers helped Kurt celebrate the win "sealed the deal" in naming the car "Patriot."
  #5-Mark Martin: crew chief Gustafson has chosen Chassis #5-527 for this weekend's event at Homestead- Miami Speedway. This is the same chassis that Martin drove to Victory Lane at Darlington Raceway in May and Chicagoland Speedway in July.
  #6-David Ragan will be unloading chassis RK-620 Last ran Charlotte fall 2009  finished 20th. The Backup: RK-638 Last ran Charlotte spring 2009  finished 24th. Ragan will be running the new FR9 engine in Homestead. It will be the second time the team has run the new engine, the other was Talladega. The Homestead Center (SLIC - 3311) in the South Florida District was selected for the November 22 Ford 400 presented by Pennzoil at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
  #11-Denny Hamlin: and JGR team unload JGR 248 this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. This car is a two-time winner in 2009, chalking up victories at Pocono and Martinsville. It will attempt to go three for three this weekend. JGR 253 is the back up. The #11 FedEx Express Camry will feature "IND" on the wing caps this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The Indianapolis market is being recognized for outstanding commitment to safety and superior customer service. These results are a reflection of the dedication, hard work, and professionalism of the Indianapolis team.
  #12-Brad Keselowski and the Penske Racing Dodge team will use chassis PRS-706 during Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series season finale event at Homestead-Miami Speedway. PRS-706 is a brand new chassis to the #12 Penske Dodge team.
  #14-Tony Stewart Chassis #14-564 debuted at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth two races ago, where it delivered a strong performance by qualifying fourth and finishing sixth. Prior to Texas, Chassis #14-564's only action had been in the wind tunnel. The season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway will mark the car's second career start.
  #18-Kyle Busch: Sunday's Ford 400 will be the third career start for No. 254. It made its on-track debut in September at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga., where Busch started fifth and finished 13th. The #18 team brought this car back in October to Auto Club Speedway. Busch started at the rear of the field due to an engine change and worked his way up to 22nd by lap 40. But Busch was too ill to drive the whole distance and was forced to vacate the seat to relief driver David Gilliland at that time. The combined effort netted a finish of 24th place.
  #26-Jamie McMurray and the Crown Royal team will be unloading chassis RK-617 at Homestead, last raced at Charlotte, Oct. finishing 33rd
  #29-Kevin Harvick will pilot Chassis #288 from RCR's Sprint Cup Series stable. This car was built new for the October race at Auto Club Speedway, where it finished 10th, before being raced to an 18th-place finish at Lowe's Motor Speedway and then fifth at Texas Motor Speedway two races ago.
  #31-Jeff Burton will race Chassis #290 from the RCR Sprint Cup Series stable. This is a brand new Caterpillar Chevy that will be put through its first paces this weekend.
  #33-Clint Bowyer will pilot Chassis #284 from RCR's Sprint Cup Series stable. Built new for 2009, this Chevrolet debuted at Atlanta Motor Speedway in September, where Bowyer recorded a 29th-place finish.
  #36 Michael McDowell Chassis: TBR  93, raced previously at Martinsville in October , Texas & Phoenix in November.
  #42-Juan Pablo Montoya and the #42 Target team are bringing chassis #910 to Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend. This is a brand new chassis for the 2nd race in a row.
  #48-Jimmie Johnson has piloted primary chassis number 553 to Victory Lane twice this season, at Indianapolis in July and California in October. Johnson last drove backup chassis number 558 to a win at Lowe's Motor Speedway in October.
  #71-Bobby Labonte will close out the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season with TaxSlayer.com as the primary sponsor on the hood of his #71 Chevy which is chassis number 227, was last seen on-track in Texas where it qualified in 28th position with Labonte behind the wheel.
  #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. HMS engineers and crew chief Lance McGrew will unload Hendrick Motorsports Chassis #88-559. Earnhardt last raced this chassis at Auto Club Speedway in October. He spent 70 percent of the race inside the top 15 and was running 11th when he was involved in an accident with five laps remaining. He finished 25th.
  #99-Carl Edwards and Aflac Racing team will be unloading chassis RK-669. Edwards last raced this car at Fontana in October and finished sixth and has raced this Ford three times in 2009, at Richmond in May and both New Hampshire races.
  (Team/Driver PRs)

• To the Back (0): #7-Gordon [driver change/Crafton qualified]
• Johnson on the pole
• Starting Lineup
• Qualifying Order/Results
• Practice Speeds Page
• Goodyear Tire Notes
• Entry List
• Homestead-Miami Speedway News Page
• 2009 Chase Rules, Notes History
• 2009 Results, Points
• 2009 Race Officials
• All-Time Pole Winners page
• Qualifying Rules
  
  

  ---

  LAST RACE RUNDOWN: Phoenix Race Information/Stats page including.......

  
  
  • Chase Stats
  • Johnson wins at Phoenix
  • Race Results/Awards
  • Drivers Points Standings
  • Owners Points Standings
  • Race notes, lucky dogs, penalties
  • To the Back (0): none reported
  • Pit Stall Selections
  • Martin Truex Jr. on the pole
  • Starting Lineup
  • Qualifying Order/Results
  • Practice Speeds Page
  • Goodyear Tire Notes
  • Entry List
  • Phoenix International Raceway News Page

• NASCAR Now Originates from Homestead for Season Finale: NASCAR Now, ESPN2's daily NASCAR news and information program, will close out its 2009 season with four shows originating from Homestead-Miami Speedway, site of this weekend's final races of the NASCAR season. Allen Bestwick will host the programs with analysts including Rusty Wallace, Brad Daugherty, Ray Evernham and Dale Jarrett, and reporters Mike Massaro, Nicole Manske and Marty Smith.
  The first program from Homestead airs Friday, Nov. 20, at 12:30am/et (late Thursday night), with another airing Saturday, Nov. 21, at 12:30am/et (late Friday night). The one-hour weekend edition airs Sunday, Nov. 22, at 10:am/et with a preview of that day's NASCAR Sprint Cup finale at Homestead, with the final NASCAR Now of the season airing at 10:00pm/et Sunday.

• Wave Energy to sponsor #36 team in 2010: Wave Energy Drink has agreed to an extension of their NASCAR Sprint Cup sponsorship program with Tommy Baldwin Racing in 2010 and will appear as the primary sponsor in 14 select events, beginning with the Daytona 500 next February. Wave Energy Drink will be an associate sponsor for the remaining 2010 races and will be the primary sponsor for the All-Star race in May. In addition to the Daytona 500, Wave Energy Drink will appear as the primary sponsor at the following 2010 events: Atlanta (3/7), Texas (4/18), Richmond (5/1), Charlotte (5/22 & 5/30), Michigan (6/13), Daytona (7/3), Watkins Glen (8/8), Atlanta (9/5), Dover (9/26), Kansas (10/3), California (10/10), Texas (11/7) and Homestead (11/21).(Wave Energy PR)(11-21-2009)

• Hamlin to have knee surgery: #11-Denny Hamlin will have arthroscopic knee surgery on Wednesday to repair some minor damage to his right knee, he said Friday. Hamlin was originally scheduled to have the surgery during an off week this summer but elected to postpone it until after the season. "There's tears in there," he said. "[The surgery is to] basically scope it out. I just have problems with it when I get out of the car, it really is stiff and the joints really hurt, so it's something that needs to be done for the long run."(SceneDaily)(11-21-2009)

• NASCAR And Craftsman Name Winners Of NASCAR Craftsman Wrenchman Awards: Craftsman and NASCAR have announced the winners of the first annual NASCAR Craftsman Wrenchman Award. The Wrenchman Award recognizes behind-the-scenes NASCAR crew members from each of the three national NASCAR Series who "turn the wrenches" in the shop and along pit row, but rarely get the recognition they deserve. Winners were announced at The Wrenchman Award Ceremony in Miami from November 20-22.
  The winner from the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series was chosen by online fan voting. Winners from the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series were selected by a committee.
  The NASCAR Craftsman Wrenchman Award SM winners include:
  "Andrew Mason, Shop Foreman, Richard Childress Racing # 29, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
  "Ramie Jones, Team Engineer, Braun Racing #32, NASCAR Nationwide Series
  "Bob Rahilly, Truck Chief, Jim Rosenblum Racing #28, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
  All NASCAR Craftsman Wrenchman Award winners will receive a cash prize of $14,000 and $10,000 in Craftsman gift cards. At The Wrenchman Award Ceremony in Miami, the winners were also rewarded with a trophy from NASCAR and Craftsman representatives. The two-foot trophies were specially designed in the shape of a wrench for each winner.(NASCAR)(11-21-2009)

• Mayfield holds auction: Jeremy Mayfield sat in the back of his large barn Friday morning about 800 miles from where NASCAR's season-ending weekend was kicking off. Several hundred people surrounded him, listening intently as a fast-speaking auctioneer sold dozens of items. Banned from driving by NASCAR after testing positive for methamphetamines, Mayfield has become an auction fanatic. Only this time, he was selling his own stuff, ranging from a second home, land, cars, dirt bikes and bulldozers to weed-whackers, humidifiers and sunglasses. If it was all sold by the end of the day it would be worth about $5 million, money needed to help his ongoing court fight to be reinstated to the sport. "Obviously, this will help financially," Mayfield said. "But it's also what I like to do." And besides a few old pieces of sheet metal for sale and the racing hats worn by some of the visitors, there were few signs of NASCAR on the premises. Mayfield walked around his land with a smile, but also determined to prove that he's not a drug user. His wife, selling clothes and shoes in another section of the facility, took a harder stand against how others in the sport have treated them. "It's hurtful when you've been with people who you thought were your family for 17 years and then you're kind of left out here," Shana Mayfield said, referring to other drivers and their wives. "You kind of feel like you're out in the middle of a field and the vultures are after you. Nobody is standing up for you or trying to help you. That's a hard feeling, and it hurts. And everyone will know the truth before it's over with." The legal fight has cost Mayfield his race team and has put him into debt, although he disputed claims that he owes his former attorney money. "I've paid Bill Diehl a lot of money," he said. "We'll get it worked out."(Associated Press)(11-21-2009)

• SportsCenter Special Originates from Homestead on Championship Day: ESPN's flagship program SportsCenter will present a 90-minute special from Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday, Nov. 22, at 1:00pm/et, following NFL Countdown on ESPN. The telecast will lead up to NASCAR Countdown on ABC at 2:30pm/et. SportsCenter presented by AutoZone at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship will be hosted by Allen Bestwick and will give NASCAR fans the opportunity to see things that go on prior to a race that they normally don't get to see. Mike Rowe, host of Dirty Jobs on the Discovery Channel, will be a special on-site reporter for ESPN and look at some of the dirty jobs of NASCAR. Rowe's voice has been heard by NASCAR fans as the narrator of segments during ESPN's coverage of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup this season.
  ESPN's Dave Burns will spend the program shadowing the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet of Jimmie Johnson, taking viewers behind-the-scenes as the car goes through final race preparation and NASCAR inspection. And ESPN's Marty Smith will shadow Johnson himself in the hours before he attempts to make history as the first driver to win four consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup championships.
  The program also will include a heartwarming story of how the building of Homestead-Miami Speedway in 1994 and 1995 helped bring the Homestead area back from the devastation wrought by Hurricane Andrew, one of the worst natural disasters in history, on Aug. 24, 1992. Joining Bestwick in the ESPN Pit Studio will be analysts Rusty Wallace, Brad Daugherty and Ray Evernham. Several NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers also are expected to stop by the studio during the course of the program.

• Kahne considering leaving RPM after 2010: from a Dodge Motorsports Notes & Quotes - Kasey Kahne Open Interview done at Homestead:
  Q) HOW MUCH WILL YOU TRY AND STAY IN THE LOOP WITH RPM MANAGEMENT ON WHAT'S GOING ON?
  Kahne: "I use to try and stay in the loop and then things don't happen that they say will. At this point, I have one year left (on my RPM contract). I want to do the best job for Richard Petty Motorsports in my final year. It's up to them what happens. They do their thing and I'll do mine. All I can do is make myself better at driving race cars and communicating with Kenny Francis. If I do that, I'll be happy next season."
  Q) SO YOU'LL TRY AND LOOK ELSEWHERE NEXT YEAR?
  Kahne: "Yeah."
  Q) REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS NEXT YEAR, WILL NEXT YEAR BE YOUR LAST YEAR WITH RPM?
  Kahne: "That's hard to say. Come January, I can start looking around; I can talk to other people. I would imagine the Gillett's are going to talk to me at that point. But as of right now, the Gillett's haven't talked to me and I'm just kind of doing my job, doing the best that I can through the end of the season. The ups and downs of the team has made it difficult for me to really say, 'Man, I'm going to be here for 10 more years.' I really don't know what's going to happen. Truthfully, I don't know what's going to happen right now."(Dodge Motorsports Transcript)(11-20-2009)

  

• Addington moving on: during the Ford 400 Sprint Cup Series qualifying at Monestead-Miami Speedway, Andy Petree of ESPN2 reported that Steve Addington, former crew chief for #128-Kyle Busch at Joe Gibbs Racing, informed JGR he woul leave and is moving on. No word what team or job he is going to.(11-20-2009)

• Jeff Gordon to stay full-time another few years: #24-Jeff Gordon will drive through at least the 2013 season for Hendrick Motorsports, team owner Rick Hendrick said Friday. There has been speculation that Gordon, who has a lifetime deal with HMS, will retire within the next couple of years. The speculation arose in part because of Gordon's back problems and in part because he wants to spend more time with his family. "He's committed to at least 2013, maybe 2014," Hendrick said. "I'm hoping he's going to drive a bunch of more years. We know it's going to be at least three or four." Hendrick said he's also negotiating a new deal with DuPont, the primary sponsor on Gordon's car since he entered the Sprint Cup Series in 1992. DuPont's contract is due to expire in 2010 and Hendrick said the company will remain on the #24 at least for a good portion of the races through the end of Gordon's career.(ESPN)(11-20-2009)

• Johnson & Lowe's extend with Hendrick UPDATE Knaus? Lowe's Companies Inc. will continue its successful relationship with Hendrick Motorsports after signing a three-year agreement that secures primary sponsorship of the #48 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Driving the #48 Lowe's Chevys will be current points leader and three-time defending Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, who has signed a five-year contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports that will keep him with the organization through 2015. Johnson and Lowe's previously were signed through the 2010 season. The new pacts build upon a partnership launched in 2001 when Johnson was selected by Hendrick Motorsports to drive for the new Lowe's-sponsored #48 team. After nearly eight full seasons, the driver-sponsor relationship has become one of the most successful in NASCAR.
  "Jimmie Johnson and Hendrick Motorsports are a key part of our marketing efforts and outreach to our more than 225,000 employees," said Robert A. Niblock, Lowe's chairman and CEO. "We believe this is the best combination in racing, and we're proud to have Jimmie carry the Lowe's name in NASCAR." Since his first full-time Sprint Cup season in 2002, Johnson has earned a series-leading 47 victories and only twice has finished outside the top two in championship points. Of the 16 NASCAR drivers who have recorded 40 or more wins, just three -- Herb Thomas, David Pearson and Richard Petty -- have higher career winning percentages.
  "Lowe's commitment to the 48 team and Hendrick Motorsports is tremendous and has been a source of pride for me personally," said Johnson, 34, who never has had a primary sponsor other than Lowe's in Sprint Cup competition. "We've built a championship team together, and I'm proud the 48 will carry the Lowe's colors for many more years."
  Through 35 of 36 races in 2009, the #48 Lowe's team led by crew chief Chad Knaus has posted 15 top-five finishes, 23 top-10s and a series-high seven wins. Johnson leads the championship standings with a 108-point margin over teammate Mark Martin going into Sunday's season finale at Homestead.
  "Lowe's took a chance on us back in 2001, and it's not a stretch to say this whole thing would never have been possible without them," said Rick Hendrick, who co-owns the #48 team with driver Jeff Gordon. "When you have a partner put that much faith in you, it's incredibly rewarding to see them be successful. They're a company with values and practices that we admire and learn from in our own business, and we feel very fortunate to continue this amazing ride together. Jimmie is charting new territory in our sport, and that's due to a combination of natural talent and unsurpassed work ethic. How he's committed himself is just incredible, and it shows in everything that he does -- not just on the racetrack. There's no question that he's one of the great champions in all of sports, and he's not done yet."(Hendrick Motorsports)(11-20-2009)
  UPDATE: Hendrick added that he's working on a lifetime deal for Chad Knaus, the crew chief for Jimmie Johnson. Hendrick tried to sign Johnson, who's on track to win an unprecedented fourth straight championship on Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway, to a lifetime contract as well, but "I couldn't borrow enough money to make it work."(ESPN)(11-20-2009)

• Busy weekend for Robby Gordon: The final race weekend of the 2009 season will also mark one of the busiest weekends of the year for #7-Robby Gordon. Before going to Homestead-Miami Speedway to compete in the 400-mile race on Sunday afternoon, Gordon will travel to the Baja Peninsula to compete in the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000, November 19-22. The Baja 1000 will mark the fifth and final event in the Tecate SCORE International Off-Road Series 2009 Championship, which Gordon is currently leading. Robby's Remarks  "It's going to be a very physical and exhausting weekend for me," said Gordon. "The Baja 1000 is not an easy event, but I'm confident that my guys prepared an extremely competitive trophy truck for me. Hopefully we'll be able to complete that race with a strong finish and secure the championship. As soon as we're done there, we'll be headed back to Miami for the Sprint Cup Series finale. I'm very excited to have Matt Crafton work with the MAPEI / Menard's team to help practice and qualify our Camry. Matt's a great driver, and I'm sure that he'll do a great job preparing the car. Hopefully we'll be able to get a strong finish this week in our Cup program as well. A good finish at Homestead would be a great way to build motivation and excitement for the 2010 season at the RGM shop." (RGM)(11-20-2009)

• One final triple for 2009 by Kyle Busch: With #18-Kyle Busch participating in Friday's NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, Saturday's NASCAR Nationwide Series race, as well as Sunday's Sprint Cup event at Homestead, Busch will make his 84th 85th and 86th overall starts in 2009 across NASCAR's top three series. By merely starting Saturday's Nationwide Series race, Busch will clinch the series championship, his first in NASCAR.(JGR)(11-20-2009)

• Homestead Goodyear Tire Notes: While teams in all three NASCAR series in action this weekend will be running the same right-side tire code (D-4136), teams in the Sprint Cup Series will be running a different left-side code (D-4220) . . . Sprint Cup teams ran this same right-side code with a different left-side code at Homestead in 2008 . . . this left-side code features a compound change to give the cars more grip, compared to what was run at Homestead last year . . . in addition to Homestead, Cup teams ran this exact combination of left- and right-side tires at both races at Texas this season . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Homestead . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire. The estimated pit window is every 50-55 laps, based on fuel mileage (Sprint Cup). See full notes, tire pressures, codes and more on my Homestead Race Info pgae - Goodyear section.(11-20-2009)

• M&M'S Most Colorful Fan of NASCAR at Homestead: Cynthia Peace, grand prize winner of the M&M'S Seeks the Most Colorful Fan of NASCAR Contest, will receive a VIP experience at Homestead-Miami Speedway that includes meeting Kyle Busch and viewing all three season-ending races in style. An avid NASCAR fan for more than a decade, Peace attended her first race at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Ill., in 1999. She has completed the Richard Petty Driving Experience, her favorite track is Bristol Motor Speedway, her favorite driver is Kyle Petty, and she is excited to share her VIP experience at Homestead with family from California, Oklahoma and Texas. Peace and her husband Bobby are parents of 16-year-old daughter Kelsey and live in Havana, Ill.(JGR)(11-20-2009)

• History Awaits: Johnson Closing in On Fourth Straight Title: #48-Jimmie Johnson needs to finish 25th or better in Sunday's Ford 400 to become only the first driver to win four consecutive championships. Johnson now leads second-place Mark Martin by 108 points. Even if Martin were to win and lead the most laps on Sunday  a 195-point day  Johnson would clinch with that 25th-place finish. The clinch scenarios change if Johnson leads laps. If he leads at least one lap, Johnson will clinch with at least a 27th-place finish. If he leads the most laps Sunday, he needs at least a 28th-place finish. A phenomenal Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup has put Johnson in this position. Over the nine races, Johnson has four wins, six top fives, eight top 10s and an average finish of 7.0. It is the third Chase in which Johnson has won four races. He also did it in 2004 and 2007. The statistics don't bode well for a Mark Martin comeback, but anything can happen. Since the current points structure was implemented in 1975, the largest deficit ever overcome in the final race was 30 points by Alan Kulwicki over Davey Allision in 1992. So, clearly, the 108-point gap to Johnson seems daunting  but not impossible. Martin has gained more than 108 points on Jimmie Johnson in a single race nine times their 266-race head-to-head career  including once at Homestead. A couple of other numbers to mull over: Johnson has finished worse than 25th 47 times in his 290-race career. If Martin does end the season in second, it would be the fifth runner-up points finish of his career. Richard Petty has the most career runner-up championship finishes, with six.(NASCAR)(11-20-2009)

• Final Phoenix TV ratings down: ABC's live coverage of Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway earned a final national household rating of 3.3, down from the 3.6 earned for the portion of last year's race that aired on ABC. The telecast averaged 5,172,384 viewers. Saturday's NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Phoenix aired live on ESPN2 and earned a final national household coverage rating of 1.1, down from the 1.3 rating earned for last year's race that also aired on ESPN2. The telecast averaged 1,419,953 viewers (ESPN). See last weeks ratings, along with race-by-race postings and comparision chart on my 2009 TV Ratings page.(11-19-2009)

• Final race for Jack Daniel's in NASCAR MORE...image: After five years of partnership, Jack Daniel's announced in September they would be discontinuing their NASCAR sponsorship with the conclusion of this weekend's race. In honor of their association with Richard Childress Racing, Jack Daniel's has placed the name of every driver, crew member and administrative person who was part of their program at RCR on the hood of this weekend's #07 Chevy that Casey Mears drives. This will be the last time fans can purchase Jack Daniel's souvenirs from the #07 merchandise trailer. And, Mears will be making his final autograph appearance there on Sunday, Nov. 22 at 12:15pm/et and Mears will make his "last call" at the Jack Daniel's Experience on the same day at 12:00pm/et.(RCR)(11-19-2009)
  MORE: Leave it to Jack Daniel's to come up with a personal touch for their finale as primary sponsor for Richard Childress Racing's #07 Chevy this weekend in Homestead-Miami Speedway. Just like Jasper Newton "Jack" Daniel personally made sure his recipe for Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 was always carried out by human touch. After five seasons with RCR, Jack Daniel's and the people of parent company Brown-Forman wanted to show their appreciation in a very personal way for this weekend's race in South Florida. So, they placed the names of everyone who worked on the program since partnering with RCR in 2005 right on the hood of the #07 Jack Daniel's Chevy. Drivers, crew chiefs, crew members and administration personnel are all being honored with approximately 140 names placed all around the words "Jack" and "Thanks" on the hood. "The last five years in the sport has been fun and exciting, to say the least," said Dave Stang, Assistant Vice President of Brand Awareness for Jack Daniel's. "It took a ton of people, and all those fantastic fans, to help Jack get its responsible drinking message communicated throughout the USA and beyond. We recognize them all with this little token of appreciation, Jack would be proud." During their time with RCR in NASCAR, three drivers drove the #07 Jack Daniel's Chevrolet. Dave Blaney in 2005, Clint Bowyer 2006 to 2008 and Casey Mears in 2009, who collectively earned two victories, two pole awards, 21 top-five and 61 top-10 finishes.(RCR), see an image of the hood on my #07 Team Schemes page.(11-19-2009)

• Homestead Rookie Notes: #20-Joey Logano was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the November 15 Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. Logano posted a 21st-place finish and took top rookie honors for the 25th time this season. Logano leads #82-Scott Speed by 36 points (238-202) in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the November 22 Ford 400 at Homestead. Tony Stewart is the only Raybestos Rookie to win in 10 previous NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Stewart captured the inaugural Ford 400 in 1999 by 5.289 seconds over Bobby Labonte. The only Raybestos Rookie to win a pole in 10 previous races at Homestead is Jamie McMurray. McMurray won his first-career pole at the 2003 Ford 400 on the way to claiming Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors. McMurray claimed a ninth-place finish in the race, his 13th top-10 finish of the 2003 season. Ryan Newman holds the all-time Raybestos Rookie record for most poles (6), most top-fives (14) and most top-10s (22). Denny Hamlin holds the record for most earnings by a Raybestos Rookie ($6.6 million in 2006). More than one Raybestos Rookie has posted victories in their rookie season only three times: Morgan Shepherd and Ron Bouchard (one each in 1981), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (two) and Matt Kenseth (2000), Jimmie Johnson (three) and Ryan Newman (2002).(Camp & Assoc./Raybestos), and see rookie history, standings, records, notes and more on my 2009 Rookies page.(11-19-2009)

• Official: McMurray to the #1 car: Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates announced that they will add Jamie McMurray as a teammate of #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, to drive the #1 Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevy for the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. McMurray will return to Ganassi whom he raced for from 2002-2005. Bass Pro Shops will once again return for their fifth season as one of the primary partners on the #1 Chevy. The Jamie McMurray Foundation (JMF), created in 2006, was formed to promote awareness of, and raise funding for, research, education and support for individuals and families affected by autism. The JMF is dedicated to bringing the financial backing and support of the NASCAR community, together with the passion and commitment of the autism community to promote better understanding of this challenging disability. Bass Pro Shops, of Springfield, Missouri, will enter their fifth season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series as one of the primary sponsors of the #1 Chevy.(Earnhardt Ganassi)(11-19-2009)

• Fuel Injection in 2011?: Several sources, including a NASCAR Sprint Cup crew chief and a manufacturer's representative, have confirmed that the sanctioning body intends to replace carburetors with fuel injection on Sprint Cup engines in 2011. The move has been discussed for several years, but in a meeting between NASCAR representatives and representatives of the manufacturers held after the Talladega race, the plan was reportedly presented to those in attendance.(Orlando Sentinel)(11-19-2009)

• One track left with no win for Hendrick: Homestead-Miami Speedway is the only racetrack on the current Sprint Cup schedule where Hendrick Motorsports has not won a race. The organization, which will wrap up its 25th anniversary season this weekend, has recorded eight top-five finishes and 16 top-10s in 10 Cup events (39 starts) there (HMS). It is also the only race track that #24-Jeff Gordon has not won a Sprint Cup race and for #48-Jimmie Johnson, Homestead is one of six race tracks on the Cup circuit he has not won at [the others being Watkins Glen, Infineon Raceway, Chicago, Michigan and Bristol.(11-19-2009)

• What is up with Scott Riggs: Scott Riggs has had a lot of free time lately, 6 months to be exact. So when the former Nascar Sprint Cup series driver got a call from his former late model team, the Bahama, NC native jumped at the opportunity to go out and play. The recent free agent is looking for his second career Myrtle Beach 400 race victory, and recently spent Monday November 16th Testing at Myrtle Beach. He spent the day getting reacquainted with the track regarded as one of the toughest short tracks in the country. "The track has a lot less grip than it did 10 years ago," Riggs stated after spending some time out on the track before making some changes to the car. But he said the lack of grip and the challenging nature is what gives Myrtle Beach its character, and that's what makes it so gratifying when you run well. So on Saturday November 21st and Sunday November 22nd the crafty veteran will make his return to Myrtle Beach Speedway driving the Romeo Guest Construction #2 Ford Fusion.(Myrtle Beach Speedway)(11-19-2009)

• RCR, no wins at Homestead: Homestead has been a bit of an Achilles Heel for Richard Childress Racing and is one of the few race tracks where team owner Richard Childress hasn't earned a Sprint Cup Series victory. As a company, RCR's best finish at HMS came in 2003 and in 2008 when Kevin Harvick finished second. In 29 starts, RCR has four top-five and 13 top-10 finishes at the mile-and-a-half, progressively-banked oval with drivers Dave Blaney, Clint Bowyer, Burton, Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Green, Harvick and Mike Skinner. Auto Club Speedway, Kansas and Las Vegas are the other tracks on the current schedule where RCR has yet to visit Victory Lane.(RCR)(11-19-2009)

• Hall of Champions to be enshrined at HMS: "Hall of Champions"  Homestead-Miami Speedway Champions Club  12:30-1:00pm/et. Homestead-Miami Speedway, in conjunction with NASCAR President Mike Helton, will enshrine the inaugural class of the Homestead-Miami Speedway Hall of Champions in the Champions Club high above Turn 1 on Saturday, Nov. 21st at 12:30pm. Inaugural inductees include Cup Champions "The Gentleman" Ned Jarrett, "The Matador" Bobby Allison and reigning three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson.(HMS)(11-19-2009)

• Final race for DeWalt on the #17: This weekend will mark the end of an era for Matt Kenseth and Roush Fenway Racing. After more than a decade serving as the primary sponsor for Matt Kenseth and the No. 17 team, DEWALT will run its last race aboard the No. 17 Ford Fusion this weekend at Homestead. One of the most successful partnerships in NASCAR history, the duo of Kenseth and DEWALT teamed for the 2000 Rookie of the Year Award, the 2003 Championship and the 2009 Daytona 500 win during their 10-plus year tenure together.(RFR)(11-18-2009)

• Siemens to sponsor the #43; Sorenson thanks RPM: Reed Sorenson drives the #43 Siemens Dodge at Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend. Sorenson is behind the wheel of the #43 for the final time for Richard Petty Motorsports. SORENSON: "I want to thank the Richard Petty Motorsports organization for giving me the chance to race the #43 Dodge this year. I did the best I could and tried to represent the number and company in a way that would make Mr. Petty and our sponsors proud. I learned a lot this year. The opportunity to work with people like Richard Petty and Dale Inman is something that I'll never forget. I also want to thank all of the people that I've worked with this year. I know that everyone put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into getting us to the racetrack every week. I wish we could send them off with a win. They are all first class people and I look forward to hopefully working with some of those people again in the future wherever that takes us."(RPM)(11-18-2009)

• Edwards going for win, had 9 wins in 2008: #99-Carl Edwards, who won a Sprint Cup Series-high nine races in 2008, is still looking for his first Cup win in 2009 heading into Sunday's season finale at Homestead. Only once in series history has a driver won more races one season and been shut out the next. Ned Jarrett won 13 times in 1965, but was winless in 1966. He ran only half the season in 1966 and still finished 13th in the points.(Roanoke Times)(11-18-2009)

• Busch's truck team "not looking good", maybe back to Ballew in 2010? During a testing session for the upcoming Snowball Derby [Dec. 2-6] at Five Flags Speedway located in Pensacola, Florida, had a chance to ask Kyle Busch how things were progressing with the truck team he's been trying to put together.
  Q: You and your truck team --- how are things progressing on that?
  A: It's going nowhere fast. I've got no shop to put my stuff in, my builders can't build a building in three years, got no hauler, no trucks no equipment&.so, it's pretty late in the year. Obviously we're already to Homestead; we only have two months before Daytona so it's a short amount of time to put a lot together. I don't think it's going to happen. So if Billy's [Ballew] got an open seat for me over at Ballew, I'd be happy to take it again and hopefully we can get Miccosukee to return. They've been a great partner for us, as well as Toyota.
  Q: So it looks like you are going back to Billy Ballew next year?
  See Nancy's full interview on my Camping World Truck Series site.(11-17-2009)

• #39 to feature U.S. Army All-American Bowl: The hood of Ryan Newman's #39 U.S. Army/Haas Automation Chevy for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Homestead-Miami Speedway will showcase the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, an annual football game featuring the nation's top 90 high school seniors. The 10th anniversary U.S. Army All-American Bowl is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 9 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The all-star classic -- East vs West match-up -- will be televised live on NBC, 1:00pm/et. The U.S. Army All-American Bowl alumni include many current NFL and college standouts including Adrian Peterson (Minnesota Vikings), Chad Henne and Ted Ginn Jr. (Miami Dolphins), Reggie Bush (New Orleans Saints), Vince Young (Tennessee Titans), Mark Sanchez (New York Jets), Tim Tebow (University of Florida Gators), Terrell Pryor (Ohio State Buckeyes), Demarco Murray (Oklahoma Sooners) and Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame Fighting Irish). Gerald Christian, a U.S. Army All-American Bowl selection from Dwyer High School in West Palm Beach, Fla., will attend Sunday's season finale race and will be recognized on stage during prerace ceremonies. A nationally-ranked tight end and linebacker, Christian has verbally committed to play at the University of Florida. Other south Florida area high school stalwarts who have been selected to play in the upcoming U.S. Army All-American Bowl are: Brandon Linder and Michael Palardy, Saint Thomas Aquinas High School, Ft. Lauderdale; Ivan McCartney, Miramar High School, Miramar; Jaylen Watkins, Cape Coral High School, Cape Coral; and Matt Elam also of Dwyer High School in West Palm Beach.(US Army Racing), see an image of the scheme on my #39 Team Schemes page.(11-17-2009)

• New Ford engine to run at Homestead: Ford will run its new FR9 engine next week at Homestead, said Doug Hervey, who oversees Ford's North American racing operations. The plan is for #6-David Ragan to run the car at Homestead, Hervey said. It will be the second race for the engine. The restrictor-plate version was run at Talladega with Ragan and #17-Matt Kenseth. This will be the first time the unrestricted version has run in competition.(Roanoke Times)(11-17-2009)

• RCR cars to support "call 811":
  Richard Childress is a strong advocate for safety and protecting the community and environment. All four Richard Childress Racing (RCR) teams are supporting the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) and its "Call 811" initiative this week in Homestead to help educate fans about the importance of calling 811 before doing any digging or excavation activity. A quick and easy call to 811 helps to protect people from unintentionally hitting underground pipelines, infrastructure and utility lines, which can put the community and environment at risk. As part of the race teams' support, the #29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevy will feature a logo on the deck lid that will read, "811 Know what's below. Call before you dig." In addition to support from RCR and Shell, CGA is also working with driver Joey Logano to help communicate the "Call 811" message at an appearance during race weekend.(RCR)(11-17-2009)

• Great deal on limited-edition NASCAR prints by Garry Hill: Garry Hill, whose motorsports paintings have captured most of the greatest names in NASCAR history, is offering a special deal for the holiday season. An order of two or more limited-edition prints before Nov. 26 will receive free shipping (within the continental U.S.), which, in other words, is a potential savings of $170. For additional information and to see all the original paintings and limited-edition prints, visit www.garryhill.com.(NASCAR This Week)(11-12-2009)

• Event Schedule for 2009 Sprint Cup Series Champion's Week: As the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season nears conclusion  the finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway just a few weeks away  2009 Champion's Week celebrations have taken shape. Las Vegas, Nev., is the host city for this year's Champion's Week festivities, which culminates on Friday, Dec. 4 with the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony at Wynn Las Vegas. This year, SPEED will televise the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony live with two re-airs. The awards ceremony is the series champion's formal celebration. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony can also be heard on Sirius NASCAR Radio (SIRIUS channel 128 and XM channel 128 with the "Best of SIRIUS"), and on MRN Radio. Though the awards ceremony is the traditional focal point, a full roster of exciting events is planned for this year's Champion's Week, many with fan involvement. This year's awards ceremony marks the first time in the sport's history that fans will join drivers, team owners and industry leaders in celebrating the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion. Approximately 300 tickets are available to fans, which are being distributed by tracks, NASCAR partners, top-12 drivers and teams through various fan promotions.(NASCAR), see the schedule, TV Times and more on my 2009 Sprint Cup Awards page.(11-10-2009)

• NASCAR Now Nation: Have something to say about a story on this week's ESPN2's NASCAR Now? Get out your videocam and tell ESPN what you think. Your video may be seen on an upcoming NASCAR Now. Choose a video file on your hard drive, then click the upload button. More info at ESPN.com