IndyStar.com: NASCAR
Indiana's leading news source for all the top stories, local news, sports and weather.
Johnson about to quietly win his 4th straight NASCAR title
A.J. Foyt never did it. Neither did Mario Andretti, Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt or Don Prudhomme. In fact, a driver winning four consecutive major series championships — as Jimmie Johnson is poised to do this weekend in NASCAR’s...
Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 results
At Phoenix International Raceway Avondale, Ariz. Lap length: 1 miles (Start position in parentheses) 1. (3) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 312 laps, 149.6 rating, 195 points, $267,001. 2. (36) Jeff Burton, Chevrolet, 312, 101.7, 170, $204,006. 3. (5)...
Johnson's on cruise control
Win at Phoenix puts driver of No. 48 on brink of 4th straight title Jimmie Johnson rebounded from a rare bad race with a dominating victory in the Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Ariz., that pushed...
How the Chase is shaping up
NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup moves to Week 9 (of 10) this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. The race is at 3:15 p.m. Sunday. Here’s where the top drivers stand: 1. Jimmie Johnson (leader): After finishing 38th at Texas, does...
Johnson crashes, lead dwindles
Busch brothers dominate as Johnson finishes 38th FORT WORTH, Texas — Jimmie Johnson’s drive to history took a hard hit against the wall and Kyle Busch ran out of gas trying to complete an unprecedented NASCAR trifecta. Kurt Busch won at...
Carl Edwards winless in '09
Frustrating season after 9 wins in 2008 has the Ford driver fired up to build momentum for 2010 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...
McMurray survives wild finish at Talladega
Johnson rallies to finish 6th for commanding lead in championship points race Jamie McMurray was the unlikely winner of an uncharacteristically dull race at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, where a ban on bump-drafting forced most competitors to treat...
Rain provides Johnson extra edge
TALLADEGA, Ala. — Jimmie Johnson last started from the pole at Talladega Superspeedway in 2002, as the points leader, lined up next to Mark Martin. He didn’t even make it to the first lap. In a bizarre prerace mishap as the drivers were...
Montoya not bothered by Griese's remark
TALLADEGA, Ala. — Juan Pablo Montoya was never upset by the “taco” remark that got ESPN announcer Bob Griese suspended. The network this week suspended Griese from broadcasting a college football game on Saturday for the remark he...
NASCAR's Chase
NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup moves to Week 7 this weekend at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. Here’s where the top contenders stand: 1. Jimmie Johnson (leader): In the 32 Chase races since Talladega in 2006, Johnson has 11 wins, 20...
Hamlin triumphs, Johnson ups lead
Three-time defending champion has 118-point advantage in the Chase 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...
Johnson's superiority is getting annoying
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 has won 23 races in the past three seasons, and claimed the points championship each...
Johnson slips in qualifying
Newman, Gordon take front row at Martinsville MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Jimmie Johnson finally wasn’t flawless at Martinsville. The points leader and winner in five of the past six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races on the smallest, tightest oval...
Johnson appears to be in control
NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup moves to Week 6 this weekend at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. Here’s where the 12 drivers stand: 1. Jimmie Johnson (leader): How does he keeping winning championships? He has 11 wins and 21 top-five...
Biffle vs. Loganos? He'd rather not
Incident with younger driver’s dad was overplayed, he says CONCORD, N.C. — Greg Biffle was just trying to get a little payback when he forced Joey Logano into the wall during last week’s Nationwide Series race. He didn’t...
Johnson wins race, takes Chase lead
He’s now in the driver’s seat for his fourth consecutive championship 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...
Chasers watch Johnson closely
Juan Pablo Montoya is well aware that NASCAR veteran Mark Martin leads the Chase for the Sprint Cup heading into today’s 500-mile race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. It just doesn’t feel that way. When Montoya looks at the...
It's a careful road for non-Chase racers
FONTANA, Calif. — David Reutimann saw Mark Martin’s bumper in the mirror and took a deep breath. It wasn’t jitters exactly. Reutimann knew the NASCAR veteran — considered one of the cleanest racers in the business —...
NASCAR Chase hits the West Coast
NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup resumes Sunday (3:15 p.m., WRTV-6) with the fourth of 10 races. This one is at Auto Club Speedway, known to most as California Speedway. A look at how the 12 title contenders stack up: 1. Mark Martin (leader):...
2010 Brickyard 400 will start at 1 p.m.
Change comes as NASCAR pushes to standardize start times for Sprint Cup races The 2010 Brickyard 400 will begin earlier than in recent years — at 1 p.m. — as part of a standardization of start times for NASCAR Sprint Cup races next...
Stewart improves shot
Indiana driver moves to fourth in Chase standings after Kansas triumph KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Tony Stewart found himself in danger of letting a title slip away after just two rounds in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. The two-time...
Stewart wins at Kansas, 4th in title chase
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Tony Stewart found himself in danger of letting a title slip away after just two rounds in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. The two-time champion wasn’t exactly in a must-win situation Sunday at Kansas Speedway, but a...
Earnhardt endorses McGrew for 2010
Dale Earnhardt Jr. has given a formal endorsement for crew chief Lance McGrew. He’s just not sure if that carries any weight. Earnhardt will start a season-best second in today’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway, his 16th race...
Mark Martin again starts No. 1
50-year-old takes his career-best seventh pole of the season KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Mark Martin has another pole in his race to win the Chase. Martin turned a lap of 175.758 mph on a cool, windy Friday on the 11/2-mile oval at Kansas Speedway,...
Johnson made his big move in Kansas last year
A look at where the 12 drivers stand heading to the third race of NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup title. The Price Chopper 400 is Sunday at Kansas Speedway: 1. Mark Martin: How long can he keep Jimmie Johnson behind him? Could be heading...
Johnson dominates again at Dover
Three-time defending champion gains on leader Martin in Chase points DOVER, Del. — Jimmie Johnson dominated again in a Chase race, sweeping the season races at Dover International Speedway to accelerate his bid for an unprecedented fourth...
Johnson completes sweep at Dover
DOVER, Del. — Jimmie Johnson dominated again in winning a crucial Chase race. It’s become about as routine this time of year on the sports calendar as the start of the NFL season or the baseball playoff stretch drive. If he keeps driving...
Martin defies age to lead Chase
DOVER, Del. — The oldest driver in Sprint Cup happens to be the best one in the sport this season. He has won more races than Tony Stewart. Has more poles than Jimmie Johnson. He has earned more respect than any other driver in the garage and...
Martin has shot to keep this lead
Chase leader has run well at Dover Mark Martin, at the crisp age of 50, skips into Dover (Del.) International Speedway this weekend as more than the leader of NASCAR’s old guard; he has more points than anyone in the Sprint Cup series. A look...
Martin opens Chase with win
50-year-old driver going for 1st title gets 5th victory of year LOUDON, N.H. — When a young driver isn’t sure how to approach an on-track situation, they often ask themselves “What would Mark Martin do?” With a championship on...
