FanHouse

Drive for Five? Jimmie Johnson's Reign May Continue

Holly Cain — 2009-11-22T22:34:00 00:00

Filed under: Jimmie Johnson, Chase for the Sprint Cup

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- With two laps to go, pop star Nick Lachey began clapping and cheering on his good friend. The back slaps and handshakes among crew, family and friends started coming like a slow wave picking up speed as Jimmie Johnson slid his Chevy out of the final turn and approached the last checkered flag of the NASCAR Sprint Cup season.

His father, Gary, stood behind the growing celebration in his son's pit stall at Homestead Miami Speedway -- a huge smile on his face, a sparkling Superman pin attached over the logo of his Hendrick Motorsports cap.

Superman is the nickname bestowed on Johnson, who on Sunday became the first driver in NASCAR's 61-year history to win a fourth consecutive Sprint Cup championship.

More: 48's Path: Part 1 | Part 2
Rick Hendrick Misses Finale | Stewart, Montoya Tangle | Final Standings

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Stewart, Montoya Tangle in Finale

Holly Cain — 2009-11-22T20:50:00 00:00

by Holly Cain

Filed under: Juan Pablo Montoya, Tony Stewart, NASCAR Crashes, Sprint Cup

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Tony Stewart and Juan Pablo Montoya positioned themselves for a grand finale in NASCAR's Sprint Cup season-ender at Homestead Miami Speedway on Sunday. Montoya was set for a career-best points finish, with Stewart enjoying a great debut effort for his own new team.

Instead of finishing on a high note, the two veterans engaged in a spirited battle of fender-banging that resulted in both losing positions in the final championship standings.

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Rick Hendrick Misses Season Finale

Holly Cain — 2009-11-22T14:00:00 00:00

by Holly Cain

Filed under: Chase for the Sprint Cup, Hendrick Motorsports

Hendrick Motorsports announced Sunday morning that team owner Rick Hendrick would not be trackside at Homestead Miami Speedway for that afternoon's Ford 400 NASCAR season finale, but instead remained back in Charlotte, N.C., for a family emergency.

Hendrick's 29-year-old niece Alesha Gainey is in critical condition at a Charlotte hospital being prepared for a liver transplant, Hendrick Motorsports general manager Marshall Carlson told reporters. Gainey is the daughter of Hendrick's late brother John, who was killed in a plane accident in 2004 along with Hendrick's son Ricky and two other of John Hendrick's daughters.

"Rick's priority at this point is supporting his family,'' Carlson said. "He's so proud of his teams but needs to be with his niece and her family.''

Hendrick Motorsports driver Jimmie Johnson earned his fourth consecutive Sprint Cup championship later in the day, defeating HMS teammate Mark Martin by 141 points. Johnson's title also gives HMS its ninth Cup championship, which ties it with Petty Enterprises for the most in Cup Series history.

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Live Ford 400 Chat From Homestead

Holly Cain — 2009-11-22T06:00:00 00:00

by Holly CainJoin me trackside from Homestead Miami Speedway right now, prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series' season finale Ford 400. Any way you look at it history will be made. Will Jimmie Johnson hold on to become the first driver in NASCAR's 61-year history to win four straight titles or will 50-year-old Mark Martin, a four-time champion runner-up, finally win his first title and become the oldest driver to do so?

Is the recent Hendrick Motorsports domination bad for the sport or a feat to be celebrated? What will it take to stop Johnson's No. 48 team next year? How would the Chase for the Championship be different if Kyle Bush were in the title hunt? Will Roush Fenway Racing get it together for next year?

Join the discussion and help FanHouse wrap up the NASCAR season.

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Rejuvenated Mark Martin Remains NASCAR's Sentimental Favorite

Holly Cain — 2009-11-21T18:16:00 00:00

by Holly Cain

Filed under: Mark Martin, Chase for the Sprint Cup, Hendrick Motorsports

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Mark Martin winces, then breaks into a grin every time he hears the introduction.

"Ladies and gentlemen ... Mark Martin, who is attempting to become the oldest champion in NASCAR history."

The difference between this week and years ago is that Martin grinned. He's been doing that a lot lately.

Martin trails his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson by 108 points entering Sunday's Ford 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup season finale at Homestead Miami Speedway. Johnson, 34, only needs to finish 25th or better to clinch a historic fourth consecutive title.

Martin, 50, is still looking for his first.

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Newman Satisfied With Team Debut

Holly Cain — 2009-11-21T14:30:00 00:00

by Holly Cain

Filed under: Ryan Newman, Tony Stewart, Stewart-Haas Racing

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- If pressed to find one thing Ryan Newman would change about his season, of course, he'd like to score a win in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup season finale at Homestead Miami Speedway.

After being close to victory circle a half-dozen times this season, that's about the only thing he feels is missing from a stellar debut season with the essentially start-up Stewart-Haas Racing team. Newman won two pole positions in the No. 39 U.S. Army-sponsored Chevrolet and, after an ominous start at the season-opening Daytona 500, still qualified for the 12-driver Chase for the Championship.

In our last installment of Inside the Chase for the Championship with Ryan Newman, FanHouse looks at the evolution of the season and how Newman evaluates his fresh start.

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Johnson Wins Pole for Homestead Finale

Holly Cain — 2009-11-20T20:25:00 00:00

by Holly Cain

Filed under: Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin, Chase for the Sprint Cup

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- The hard-core conspirators will think NASCAR scripted it. The reality is Jimmie Johnson was the fastest driver of the day.

Johnson will start his No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet from the pole position in Sunday's Ford 400 at Homestead Miami Speedway -- the ultimate beginning to the last chapter in his quest to become the first driver to win four consecutive championships.

Of all things Johnson knocked his Hendrick Motorsports teammate -- and only title challenger left -- Mark Martin off the top spot on the qualifying speed chart. Johnson leads Martin by 108 points and needs only to finish 25th or better to clinch his historic championship.

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Brian France Talks State of NASCAR

Holly Cain — 2009-11-20T16:00:00 00:00

by Holly Cain

Filed under: Chase for the Sprint Cup

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- NASCAR Chairman Brian France held an impromptu news conference Friday at Homestead Miami Speedway, addressing topics from NASCAR's legal battle with driver Jeremy Mayfield, to shortening the schedule, to the Chase for the Championship format and the possibility of Danica Patrick coming to NASCAR.

Generally speaking and considering the poor state of the economy, France said he's pleased with the season although he'd love to have fuller fields of cars carrying more corporate sponsorship and better television ratings. He said the COT is here to stay and he doubts NASCAR will start shortening the lengths of races.

Here are excerpts from France's meeting with reporters.

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Jimmie Johnson Signs Contract Extension With Hendrick

Holly Cain — 2009-11-20T13:25:00 00:00

by Holly Cain

Filed under: Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Two days before he attempts to wrap up a historic fourth consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup championship, Jimmie Johnson has announced a contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports that will keep the champ driving the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet through the 2015 season.

"It's the only car I've ever driven,'' Johnson said with a smile Friday morning. "I'm very proud of that.''

Cain on Johnson: Long Road to American Hero | Toast of the Coast

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Everything's Gravy in Hendrick Universe

Holly Cain — 2009-11-19T18:35:00 00:00

by Holly Cain

Filed under: Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin, Chase for the Sprint Cup, Hendrick Motorsports

MIAMI -- NASCAR's Championship Weekend officially kicked off Thursday during a contenders press conference that couldn't have been less like boxing's version of a pre-bout showdown. This was more meet-and-greet than stare-and-glare.

The players here -- three-time defending Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson and his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Mark Martin -- like each other, so much so it was difficult to remember that they are actually competing against one another.

Johnson gushed about what a great driver Martin is. And Martin humbly insisted he was just happy to be in position to challenge Johnson. And their team owner Rick Hendrick maintained, "I'm just living the dream."

Whitley: Johnson the Great Unknown

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Jimmie Johnson: Toast of the Coast

Holly Cain — 2009-11-18T13:30:00 00:00

by Holly Cain

Filed under: Jimmie Johnson, Chase for the Sprint Cup

Part I: Long Road to Be an American Hero | Whitley: The Great Unknown

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Jimmie Johnson's Road to American Hero

Holly Cain — 2009-11-17T16:02:00 00:00

by Holly Cain

Filed under: Jimmie Johnson, Chase for the Sprint Cup

With Jimmie Johnson becoming the first racer in history to win four consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup championships on Sunday, FanHouse motorsports writer Holly Cain took a trip to his hometown outside San Diego last week. This is the first of a two-part series looking at the unlikely start for a stock car great.

EL CAJON, Calif. -- The neighborhood sits just beyond a miniature horse farm, up Crest Mountain in unincorporated El Cajon, where dusty pick-up trucks buzz by impatiently, dirt bikes strapped in their truck beds.

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Jimmie Johnson's Extra Motivation

Holly Cain — 2009-11-08T21:45:00 00:00

by Holly Cain

Filed under: Jimmie Johnson, Chase for the Sprint Cup

Turns out everyone was a little ahead of themselves.

The wild-card race wasn't last week at Talladega, Ala., but Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway. At least as far as NASCAR championship points leader Jimmie Johnson is concerned.

All week the three-time defending Sprint Cup Series champ refused to buy into everyone else's hype that he had a historic fourth consecutive title wrapped up. He cautioned, chastised and -- as it turned out, correctly predicted -- that the 184-point lead over the field he took into Sunday's race wasn't enough to seal the deal.

After being collected in a crash only three laps into the 334-lap Dickies 500, Johnson's nearly one-race points advantage has shrunk to only 73 points over Hendrick Motorsports teammate Mark Martin with two races remaining.

More: Kurt Busch Wins in Texas | Results | Cup Standings

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Jimmie Johnson Wrecks on Lap 3 at Texas Motor Speedway

Holly Cain — 2009-11-08T15:39:00 00:00

by Holly Cain

Filed under: Jimmie Johnson, Chase for the Sprint Cup

NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series championship got a little more interesting only three laps into Sunday's Dickie's 500 at Texas Motor Speedway when points leader Jimmie Johnson was collected in a crash, his No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet suffering major damage.

Johnson was able to continue but lengthy repairs were necessary in the garage resulting in a potentially substantial change in his hefty points lead. Entering the race, Johnson held a 184-point lead over second place Hendrick Motorsports teammate Mark Martin, nearly the equivalent of one full race.

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Ryan Newman Calls Talladega Crash 'Worst Hit I've Ever Had'

Holly Cain — 2009-11-06T16:46:00 00:00

by Holly Cain

Filed under: Ryan Newman, Chase for the Sprint Cup, NASCAR Crashes

For two mornings this week, Ryan Newman struggled just to lift his head off the pillow to get out of bed, his neck muscles still sore from a frightening airborne smash-and-roll wreck at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway last Sunday.

Even as he suited up Friday to practice for Race 8 of NASCAR's 10-race Chase for the Championship at Texas Motor Speedway, he was still aching from the crash, and bristling that it even happened.

Newman had been outspoken about NASCAR's immediate need to keep the race cars from launching into the air during accidents -- only to take that scary ride himself Sunday afternoon.

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Timing Crucial in Danica Patrick Move

Holly Cain — 2009-11-05T20:00:00 00:00

by Holly Cain

Filed under: NASCAR Rumors, Danica Patrick

INDIANAPOLIS -- The timing of the latest round of Danica Patrick-to-NASCAR reports isn't lost on those in the IndyCar world, where Thursday's major announcement that IZOD will be the IndyCar Series' first title sponsor in a decade has been forced to share headlines with its most famous driver's likely part-time foray into stock cars.

Recently crowned 2009 IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti -- a former Andretti Green Racing teammate of Patrick's -- said Thursday he's still confident she's staying in IndyCar next season.

"I believe she'll be back in IndyCar next year and that will help her with her goal of winning the Indianapolis 500,'' Franchitti told FanHouse. "If she does drive in NASCAR, I think it will be difficult to do both.''

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IZOD Signs on as IndyCar's Title Sponsor

Holly Cain — 2009-11-05T16:46:00 00:00

by Holly Cain

Filed under: IRL

INDIANAPOLIS -- The IndyCar Series formally welcomed IZOD as the title sponsor for the series Thursday in a flashy, ultra-hip unveiling at Indianapolis Motor Speedway -- a significant development in the future of the series which hasn't had a big money title sponsor in the last decade.

"It is our biggest day in the history of the company,'' said Terry Angstadt, President of the IRL's Commercial Division.

"When people ask about our priorities on a business side, this was number one through ten, believe me.''

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Jimmie Johnson on Bulldozing Talladega, Luck and Enjoying the Ride

Holly Cain — 2009-11-04T06:26:00 00:00

by Holly Cain

Filed under: Jimmie Johnson, Talladega Superspeedway, Chase for the Sprint Cup

To hear Jimmie Johnson describe it, the most challenging part of wrapping up a historic fourth consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship is not getting wrapped up in winning it. No matter how hard everyone else tries to convince him the trophy's been engraved.

He holds a 184-point advantage -- nearly a full race lead -- on second place Mark Martin and only needs to finish 10th place or better in the remaining three Chase for the Championship races to secure the trophy. That's even if Martin wins all three races and leads the most laps in each.

But Johnson insists his approach in the No. 48 Lowe's Chevy will be the same as if he was trailing by 184 points and promised he wasn't about to start being conservative.

"We're showing up to win races,'' Johnson said. "Finishing 10th isn't as easy as it sounds. It is a tough field of cars out there and we need to be on our game. With three to go, we need to race these next two as if we're behind in the points and get every point we can.''

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Different Day, Same Talladega

Holly Cain — 2009-11-02T16:25:00 00:00

by Holly Cain

Filed under: Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman, Talladega Superspeedway, NASCAR Crashes

Before Ryan Newman's horrific Talladega flip-roll-smash-and-slide on Sunday, there was Carl Edwards' car somersaulting into the front stretch fencing.

The late Dale Earnhardt had one of his most frightening accidents at Talladega Superspeedway, barrel-rolling through the tri-oval. Before that it was Ricky Craven and Bill Elliott on E-ticket rides. In 1993, driver Jimmy Horton's car flipped over the Turn 1 wall and landed outside the track.

Rusty Wallace's Talladega crash footage -- pick a year -- used to be standard play before any NASCAR restrictor plate race.

The point is -- while there is a justifiable outcry at the scary accident involving Newman this weekend -- spectacular, highlight-reel wrecks here aren't news. They are old news.

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Despite Precautions, Talladega Remains Wild Ride

Holly Cain — 2009-10-28T17:00:00 00:00

by Holly Cain

Filed under: Carl Edwards, Ryan Newman, Talladega Superspeedway, NASCAR Tracks

Depending on your perspective, Ryan Newman either had the best seat in the house or the worst during NASCAR's last visit to the mighty and unpredictable Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

Carl Edwards, Sprint Cup rookie Brad Keselowski and Newman were 100 yards in front of the checkered flag, set to decide the winner amongst themselves, when Keselowski and Edwards collided directly in front of Newman. Edwards' Ford went airborne, bounced off the hood and windshield of Newman's Chevy, then flew into the fencing along the front stretch grandstands in a horrific-looking accident that led the country's sports highlight reels.

If you haven't seen the video, you will. It'll be played over and over and over all weekend as the Sprint Cup Series makes its Chase for the Championship visit to Talladega this week.

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