NASCAR News

Updated Friday November 21, 2008 at 7:15am

The latest 50 news items. All links will open in a new window. View Sources

Kenseth signs extension with Roush Fenway Racing
Roush Fenway Racing has signed Matt Kenseth to a multi-year contract extension. Kenseth, the 2003 Cup Series champion, has been with Roush Fenway since 1998 and has 16 wins in 328 starts.
11/20/2008 1:29:03 PM   [NASCAR.COM - Sprint Cup Series Headlines]

Gordon heads off-road.
Robby Gordon prepares for the Baja 1000 following the conclusion of the Sprint Cup season.
11/20/2008 11:06:11 AM   [Crash.Net NASCAR Newsfeed]

Despite late-season run, Busch remains optimistic
A season that started off with so much promise ended a little too quietly for 23-year-old Kyle Busch.
11/20/2008 7:32:17 AM   [NASCAR.COM - Sprint Cup Series Headlines]

Gordon gearing up to run very rough, very fast Baja
Most drivers are looking forward to getting some rest now that the 2008 season is over. Robby Gordon isn’t among them.
11/20/2008 7:06:41 AM   [NASCAR.COM - Sprint Cup Series Headlines]

Despite Johnson’s title run, Cup Series sees down turn
Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards opened the 2008 season intent on knocking Jimmie Johnson from the top of NASCAR.
11/20/2008 6:53:04 AM   [NASCAR.COM - Sprint Cup Series Headlines]

Driver for Edwards’ USAC team in critical condition
U.S. Auto Club driver Cameron Dodson has been critically injured in a crash along a rural Hancock County road.
11/20/2008 6:12:37 AM   [NASCAR.COM - Sprint Cup Series Headlines]

Chase yet to deliver its intended punch.
Looking at the impact of the NASCAR Chase on the business side of the sport.
11/20/2008 2:21:17 AM   [Crash.Net NASCAR Newsfeed]

IMS Winners Dixon, Johnson Lead All-America Team Nominees
Indianapolis 500 winner Scott Dixon and Allstate 400 at the Brickyard winner Jimmie Johnson are among the list of nominees for the 2008 Auto Racing All-America team. Voting has started among more than 300 members of the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association for the prestigious All-America honors. IMS Tickets
11/19/2008 6:58:47 PM   [Allstate 400 at the Brickyard News Feed]

ESPN2 ratings up in 2008 with seven percent gain
A season of improved ratings and viewership for the Nationwide Series on ESPN2 ended on a high note as the Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway delivered a 1.6 household coverage rating, an increase of 33 percent from the 1.2 rating for last year’s race that also aired on ESPN2.
11/19/2008 9:41:03 AM   [NASCAR.COM - Nationwide Series Headlines]

Teams continue to reduce staff in wake of season end
Petty Enterprises, The Wood Brothers, Bill Davis Racing and Ernie Elliott’s engine shop all reduced their staffs in the two days since Sunday’s season finale.
11/19/2008 9:19:45 AM   [NASCAR.COM - Sprint Cup Series Headlines]

Knaus: Johnson is the best ever
Jimmie Johnson’s crew chief Chad Knaus is adamant that his driver is the best in NASCAR history, following his third consecutive Sprint Cup title this year
11/19/2008 12:32:54 AM   [NASCAR news - autosport.com]

HoF Racing will trim staff even if it gets sponsorship
Hall of Fame Racing, the NASCAR team owned by Arizona Diamondbacks executives, will cut its staff even if it secures sponsorship to run a full 2009 season.
11/18/2008 1:06:47 PM   [NASCAR.COM - Sprint Cup Series Headlines]

Menard, Carter pairing up at Yates Racing for 2009
If veteran crew chief Larry Carter earned his “master builder’s certificate” for what he engineered in the second half of the 2008 Sprint Cup season with Jamie McMurray at Roush Fenway Racing, he has an even more ambitious project ahead of him.
11/18/2008 12:55:06 PM   [NASCAR.COM - Sprint Cup Series Headlines]

SPEED ratings highest since move to net in ‘03
The dramatic Craftsman Truck Series finale on SPEED peaked at more than one million households and put an exclamation point on the most-watched season since the series moved to the network in 2003.
11/18/2008 9:23:01 AM   [NASCAR.COM - Craftsman Truck Series Headlines]

Bowyer, JGR to be honored at Nationwide ceremony
In its first season as title sponsor of the Nationwide Series, Nationwide Insurance has been rewarded with a “two-for-one.”
11/18/2008 8:34:20 AM   [NASCAR.COM - Nationwide Series Headlines]

Truck Series pays tribute following Benson’s title run
Johnny Benson admitted he was more nervous standing in front of an audience of his peers Monday night during the Craftsman Truck Series awards banquet in the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Grand Ballroom than he ever was during Friday night’s emotionally electrifying season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
11/18/2008 7:31:13 AM   [NASCAR.COM - Craftsman Truck Series Headlines]

Red Bull gets two in top 35.
Driver swap pays dividends for Red Bull in the final round of the NASCAR Sprint Cup at Homestead.
11/18/2008 4:12:08 AM   [Crash.Net NASCAR Newsfeed]

Test ban may help Johnson win again.
Will Jimmie Johnson reap the benefits of the decision to ban NASCAR testing in 2009?
11/18/2008 3:07:49 AM   [Crash.Net NASCAR Newsfeed]

NWS: Bowyer holds off Edwards for first title.
Looking back at the battle for the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series title.
11/18/2008 3:02:15 AM   [Crash.Net NASCAR Newsfeed]

NASCAR Newscast: Homestead.
Looking back at the NASCAR Sprint Cup season finale at Homestead.
11/18/2008 2:35:04 AM   [Crash.Net NASCAR Newsfeed]

The Racetrack Of Champions: 2008 IMS Winners Sweep Season Titles
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway further cemented its reputation as a racetrack of champions when Jimmie Johnson clinched his third consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title Nov. 16, as all three winners of major events in 2008 at the Speedway - Scott Dixon, Johnson and Valentino Rossi - also captured their respective series crowns this year. It’s the first time this feat has occurred since IMS began to play host to three annual races in 2000. IMS Tickets
11/17/2008 2:37:05 PM   [Allstate 400 at the Brickyard News Feed]

Truck title brings it all full circle for owner Davis
For a guy who had waited two decades to finally celebrate a NASCAR championship, Bill Davis seemed amazingly relaxed about the whole ordeal. As the laps wound down Friday night at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Davis was a picture of serenity, even if his insides might have been churning.
11/17/2008 1:51:19 PM   [NASCAR.COM - Craftsman Truck Series Headlines]

Key to Truck Series season: Riding momentum swings
Johnny Benson didn’t hesitate when asked what he thought was the key moment of his 2008 Craftsman Truck Series championship season. It came before the No. 23 Toyota even touched the asphalt at Daytona International Speedway back in February.
11/17/2008 1:49:10 PM   [NASCAR.COM - Craftsman Truck Series Headlines]

Braun earns Truck rookie award, eyes bigger goals
Colin Braun knew he’d better win the Craftsman Truck Series rookie of the year award in 2008, or he’d hear about it from team owner Jack Roush.
11/17/2008 12:50:08 PM   [NASCAR.COM - Craftsman Truck Series Headlines]

Vickers bests Ambrose to lock No. 84 inside top 35
The haulers of Marcos Ambrose and Brian Vickers were parked side-by-side in the garage area at Homestead-Miami Speedway all weekend. They will be again at Daytona in February, but with one significant difference.
11/17/2008 11:02:08 AM   [NASCAR.COM - Sprint Cup Series Headlines]

Benson always believed he would win a Truck title
Johnny Benson wasn’t surprised to win the 2008 Craftsman Truck Series championship.
11/17/2008 10:44:46 AM   [NASCAR.COM - Craftsman Truck Series Headlines]

Emotion, frustration mark Stewart’s Gibbs farewell
The familiar orange and white racecar came to a stop in the garage area, and for the longest time, Tony Stewart sat inside, helmet on, not moving. Was he savoring his final ride in the No. 20 machine with which he had become synonymous? Was he struggling to control his emotions following his last start with Joe Gibbs Racing?
11/17/2008 9:54:22 AM   [NASCAR.COM - Sprint Cup Series Headlines]

Edwards: Double second feels good but…
Carl Edwards finishes the season second in both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup standings.
11/17/2008 5:20:18 AM   [Crash.Net NASCAR Newsfeed]

Johnson delighted by title success.
Jimmie Johnson secures a third NASCAR Sprint Cup crown in succession at Homestead.
11/17/2008 4:40:16 AM   [Crash.Net NASCAR Newsfeed]

Smith wins Rookie of the Year title.
Regan Smith becomes Sprint Cup rookie of the year at Homestead.
11/17/2008 3:24:41 AM   [Crash.Net NASCAR Newsfeed]

Roush suggests total test ban.
Jack Roush suggests NASCAR should allow no testing at all during 2009.
11/17/2008 3:21:05 AM   [Crash.Net NASCAR Newsfeed]

Gordon upbeat after fourth-place finish.
Jeff Gordon fails to win a race during 2008, ending his long victory run.
11/17/2008 3:17:17 AM   [Crash.Net NASCAR Newsfeed]

Stewart ends Gibbs career.
Tony Stewart brings an end to his time with Joe Gibbs at Homestead.
11/17/2008 3:13:30 AM   [Crash.Net NASCAR Newsfeed]

Edwards wins race, Johnson takes title.
Carl Edwards wins the Ford 400 at Homestead but Jimmie Johnson lifts the Sprint Cup crown.
11/17/2008 3:07:53 AM   [Crash.Net NASCAR Newsfeed]

Ford 400 Race results.
Carl Edwards wins the final race of the NASCAR Chase but Jimmie Johnson is crowned champion.
11/17/2008 3:02:32 AM   [Crash.Net NASCAR Newsfeed]

Stewart emotional after last JGR race
Tony Stewart was emotional after making his last start for Joe Gibbs Racing at Homestead before leaving the team to start 2009 with his newly formed Stewart Haas Racing outfit.
11/17/2008 2:20:05 AM   [NASCAR news - autosport.com]

Smith beats stars to Rookies title
Regan Smith became the 2009 Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year, beating a number of big names to the honour in one of the most difficult seasons for newcomers in NASCAR’s premiere division.
11/17/2008 1:50:26 AM   [NASCAR news - autosport.com]

Red Bull cars make top 35 in Cup
Red Bull Racing Team accomplished their goal of putting both their cars in the top-35 in the car owner standings after swapping their drivers for the season finale at Homestead.
11/17/2008 1:40:05 AM   [NASCAR news - autosport.com]

Notes: Roush calls for total ban of Cup Series testing
In the spirit of the ban on testing NASCAR announced Friday, team owner Jack Roush suggested going a step further, if other owners would consent to a gentlemen’s agreement not to test at all.
11/16/2008 9:13:24 PM   [NASCAR.COM - Sprint Cup Series Headlines]

Gordon ends year winless, vows to get back to form
On Lap 208 of Sunday night’s Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, crew chief Steve Letarte ordered up a gas-only pit stop for the No. 24 Chevrolet driven by Jeff Gordon.
11/16/2008 8:45:28 PM   [NASCAR.COM - Sprint Cup Series Headlines]

Edwards takes the race, comes up short in Chase
He conserved the fuel. He won the race. He did the backflip. He took home the trophy. If Carl Edwards had a list of things to do on his dashboard during Sunday’s Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, he completed the checklist by the end of 267 laps.
11/16/2008 8:08:24 PM   [NASCAR.COM - Sprint Cup Series Headlines]

Johnson wins third Cup title
Carl Edwards took his ninth victory of the season at Homestead but that was not enough to prevent Jimmie Johnson from claiming his third consecutive Sprint Cup Series title.
11/16/2008 6:04:00 PM   [NASCAR news - autosport.com]

Johnson wins third title in a row to tie Yarborough
Nothing could stop Jimmie Johnson’s drive into the NASCAR record books. Not even a final, furious push by Carl Edwards.
11/16/2008 5:34:25 PM   [NASCAR.COM - Sprint Cup Series Headlines]

NWS: Edwards: Clint must have been sweating
Carl Edwards’ best isn’t quite enough in the Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway as Clint Bowyer narrowly pips him to Nationwide glory - but the Roush Racing star vows he has learned enough to reclain his crown in 2009.
11/16/2008 11:38:59 AM   [Crash.Net NASCAR Newsfeed]

NWS: Bowyer gets payback, pays Childress back.
Four years’ hard work pays off for Clint Bowyer as the Richard Childress Racing ace proves dreams can come true in beating Carl Edwards to the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series trophy at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
11/16/2008 10:45:35 AM   [Crash.Net NASCAR Newsfeed]

Edwards admits he ‘needs something to happen’.
Carl Edwards is praying for some drama - any drama - to intervene to allow him to pip NASCAR Sprint Cup points’ leader Jimmie Johnson to the crown in the Ford 400 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
11/16/2008 8:31:09 AM   [Crash.Net NASCAR Newsfeed]

NWS: Busch ends season in style at Homested.
Kyle Busch pushes Carl Edwards hard for NASCAR Nationwide Series glory in the Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway - but ultimately settles for second to cap a superb season for Joe Gibbs Racing.
11/16/2008 7:31:41 AM   [Crash.Net NASCAR Newsfeed]

NWS: Edwards’ battle at Homestead, Bowyer’s war.
Carl Edwards does all he can in the Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway - but it’s still not quite enough to prevent Clint Bowyer from securing the NASCAR Nationwide Series crown.
11/16/2008 2:29:22 AM   [Crash.Net NASCAR Newsfeed]

Bowyer takes Nationwide title despite Edwards’ win
Carl Edwards won the battle, but Clint Bowyer won the war.
11/15/2008 8:12:29 PM   [NASCAR.COM - Nationwide Series Headlines]

Benson wins Truck title over Hornaday in final laps
Johnny Benson won his first Craftsman Truck Series championship on Friday night, finishing seventh in the Ford 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway — just one spot ahead of Ron Hornaday to win the title by seven points.
11/14/2008 8:18:56 PM   [NASCAR.COM - Craftsman Truck Series Headlines]

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