Motorsport.com - NASCAR-CUP - Stories

Back to back wins for Kenseth

Tue, 09 Mar 2004 21:19:31 +0000

Reigning Cup series champion Matt Kenseth checked out to an almost three second lead over the field to score his second win of the season. His first victory was at Rockingham, round two for the 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. Race winner Matt Kenseth celebrates. Photo b ... Keep reading

It's all Johnson at Pocono

Wed, 04 Aug 2004 04:19:29 +0000

Jimmie Johnson wheeled the No. 48 Hendrick Chevy to his fourth win this season in the Pennsylvania 500. Johnson took the lead at lap 32, and despite being jockeyed out of the top spot a few times, he easily fought his way back to the front every time to grab his tenth career win. Jimmie Johnson ... Keep reading

Earnhardt fined, docked points

Thu, 01 Apr 2004 04:27:10 +0000

NASCAR's favorite son, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., has been fined $10,000 and docked 25 driver and owner points after an intentional spin at Bristol Motor Speedway. A lug nut problem caused Earnhardt to begin sliding backwards through the field at lap 417, and the No. 8 Chevy then spun at lap 430 bringing out a caution. ... Keep reading

Jimmie Johnson nabs pole at Charlotte

Sat, 29 May 2004 17:56:44 +0000

Jimmie Johnson went out dead last and but came out first, knocking Ryan Newman out of the top spot to earn his first Budweiser pole of the season. Newman, had gone out fourth and held the top spot throughout the session, until Johnson -- who went out 52nd -- bested him by almost a mile per hour with a lap of 187.052 mph. ... Keep reading

Kurt Busch on pole for season finale

Sun, 21 Nov 2004 16:33:27 +0000

NASCAR Nextel Cup series points leader Kurt Busch made his stand going into the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Busch, who leads the standings by just 18 points, will start the No. 97 Roush Ford from the pole for the Ford 400. Kurt Busch. Photo by Kurt Dahls ... Keep reading

NASCAR unveils 'Chase for the Championship'

Wed, 21 Jan 2004 19:07:58 +0000

During a press conference at the NASCAR Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C., NASCAR President Mike Helton unveiled the new point system that will determine the 2004 Nextel Cup series champion. The new system will work as follows:

5 additional points for the winner of the race - this will be in effect for all three of NASCAR's top series. Drivers ... Keep reading

Nemechek scores first 2004 pole at Talladega

Sat, 02 Oct 2004 17:34:47 +0000

Joe Nemechek grabbed the Bud pole at Talladega Superspeedway in the No. 01 Chevrolet with a lap of 190.749 mph. This marks Nemechek's first pole of the 2004 season, and the seventh of his career. Joe Nemechek. Photo by Todd Corzett. "This is great," said a ... Keep reading

Earnhardt Jr rockets to win at Talladega

Tue, 05 Oct 2004 14:45:16 +0000

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. didn't lead every lap, or dominate the day as DEI cars tend to do on restrictor plate race tracks. But, winning pit strategy at the races closing laps gave Earnhardt all he needed to wheel the No. 8 Budweiser Chevy into victory lane at Talladega Superspeedway for the fifth time in his career. ... Keep reading

Stewart brings home win in Chicago

Tue, 13 Jul 2004 18:16:36 +0000

Tony Stewart's up-and-down weekend ended on the right note, in victory lane at Chicagoland Speedway's NASCAR Nextel Cup race today. Tony Stewart. Photo by Eric Gilbert. Stewart crashed in practice on Friday and was forced to qualify and race in a backup ca ... Keep reading

Rusty Wallace's "Last Call" in 2005

Thu, 02 Sep 2004 22:11:40 +0000

Rusty Wallace, driver of the No. 2 Penske Racing Dodge, today announced that 2005 will be his final year on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup tour. Wallace's final season will be nicknamed "Rusty's Last Call" and serve as a season long celebration of Wallace's illustrious career in NASCAR Cup series racing. ... Keep reading

Newman on top at Richmond

Sat, 11 Sep 2004 10:14:14 +0000

Ryan Newman grabbed the pole for the last race of NASCAR's "regular season" at Richmond International Raceway, and for a good reason. Newman must earn a good finish at RIR to ensure his position in the "NEXTEL Chase for the Championship" which officially begins with the close of the race at Richmond. ... Keep reading

Kahne enjoys working double duty

Sun, 22 Feb 2004 22:33:37 +0000

For Kasey Kahne, on-the-job training this season will mean spending a little extra time in the office. The 23-year-old native of Enumclaw, Washington is challenging for the Raybestos rookie of the year award after replacing Bill Elliott in the #9 Evernham Motorsports Nextel Cup car and is competing for the Busch Series title in the #38 Akins Motorsports Dodge. ... Keep reading

Gibbs plans to stay close to race team

Sat, 14 Feb 2004 17:19:47 +0000

Joe Gibbs may have traded in the smell of the motor oil for the scent of pigskin But, at a media conference Friday morning at Daytona International Speedway, Gibbs made clear that his heart will not be far away from the track. Earlier this year, car-owner Gibbs, announced that he would relinquish the reigns of his race team to son J.D., and return as head coach of the Washington ... Keep reading

Hendrick cars outduel DEI at Daytona

Wed, 07 Jul 2004 06:27:22 +0000

Hendrick horsepower conquered the DEI powerplants to score a 1-2 finish for Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson in the Pepsi 400. Gordon and Johnson blasted to the front with seven laps to go, with Gordon earning the victory from the pole. Jeff Gordon. Photo by Kurt Dahlst ... Keep reading

Earnhardt/Stewart have forged strong friendship

Fri, 20 Feb 2004 22:17:56 +0000

It's not often that 2002 Cup series champion Tony Stewart feels delighted after a second place finish. Yet, that is just what happened after the season-opening event, where Stewart helped push Dale Earnhardt, Jr. to his first Daytona 500 victory. "I'm just tickled," said Stewart in a post-race press conference. ... Keep reading

Mears gets first career pole at Pocono

Sat, 31 Jul 2004 02:19:32 +0000

Casey Mears took the top spot for the Pennsylvania 500 today with a fast lap of 171.720 mph. Mears took to the track late in the qualifying session, and bested the field by a small margin to win his first career pole in the NEXTEL Cup series. "Our first pole in the Cup series, wow, it's awesome," an excited Mears said after he learned he had won the pole. ... Keep reading

Busch returns to contender form

Fri, 02 Apr 2004 23:17:01 +0000

This is familiar territory for Kurt Busch. One year ago, his win in the March race at Bristol Motor Speedway vaulted Busch to second in the championship standings behind Roush Racing teammate Matt Kenseth. Then, the following week, Busch charged from his 30th starting position to a ninth-place finish at Texas Motor Speedway. ... Keep reading

The last Southern 500

Sat, 13 Nov 2004 21:31:54 +0000

This weekend NASCAR brings to a close a rich part of stock car racing history: on Sunday, the final Southern 500 will be run at Darlington Raceway. In a world where traditions are as sacred as used tissues, it might not come as a surprise that NASCAR has tossed aside something as storied as the Southern 500, but to many race fans it still marks a sign of the sanctioning body moving ... Keep reading

Hendrick cars sweep MIS qualifying

Sat, 19 Jun 2004 19:06:53 +0000

Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jeff Gordon, Brian Vickers and Jimmie Johnson swept the first three spots in qualifying for the Michigan 400 this Sunday at Michigan International Speedway. Jeff Gordon. Photo by Eric Gilbert. Gordon, a two-time winner at Mic ... Keep reading

Sadler gets first win of season at Texas

Tue, 06 Apr 2004 23:13:22 +0000

Elliott Sadler held off the stampeding No. 9 Dodge of Kasey Kahne to propel the No. 38 Ford into victory lane at Texas Motor Speedway. The finish was a nail-biter as the No. 30 lapped car of Johnny Sauter crossed the path of Sadler in the final turn of the final lap, which almost allowed the Kahne to steal the win. ... Keep reading