http://www.yardbarker.com/rss/sport/14 Recent Yardbarker articles: NASCAR en-us LAS VEGAS -- They said Jimmie Johnson was boring. Didn't like to put on a show. Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:50:06 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Jimmie_Johnson_stars_on_the_Vegas_Strip/1682482 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Jimmie_Johnson_stars_on_the_Vegas_Strip/1682482 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Jimmie_Johnson_stars_on_the_Vegas_Strip/1682482 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/9/49dfa31b0407f465a878a1b26a6f09d8733b3888/small/GettyImage.ashx_url_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f93787009.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D02FDC0404EC2C718C037B144BF5E65FCF33C2AB13ADECC3E3.jpg NASCAR drivers tell jokes at the expense of four-time defending Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson. (NBC Sports) Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:59:40 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Video_Drivers_roast_Johnson_in_Vegas/1680972 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Video_Drivers_roast_Johnson_in_Vegas/1680972 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Video_Drivers_roast_Johnson_in_Vegas/1680972 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/6/8/681f51e4cc159e40432a92a7237d86fa2138cae7/small/GettyImage.ashx_url_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f93820963.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D035BEB446F46170C708E6B373673EDAB076E39927D394F6ED.jpg For Rick Ren, it was time for a change. Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:31:47 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Ren_to_manage_Kyle_Busch_39s_Trucks_venture/1680853 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Ren_to_manage_Kyle_Busch_39s_Trucks_venture/1680853 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Ren_to_manage_Kyle_Busch_39s_Trucks_venture/1680853 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/8/e8ccd2a5db0c6d2c0a9e528914e0a4a4ba68560c/small/Ford_300_b82e.jpg   Friday night at the annual NASCAR awards banquet, Jimmie Johnson will deliver a really boring speech. He'll thank his team, his family, his myriad sponsors, Rick Hendrick and Jeff Gordon. Ten seconds after it's over, people will forget that he gave a speech in the first place and the legend of the Vanilla Racer will live on. Want to punch up your image, Jimmie? Here's the speech you should give: [Standing ovation as he takes the stage to receive the championship trophy]... Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:29:27 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nascar/article_external/AWARD_SPEECH_JIMMIE_JOHNSON_SHOULD_GIVE/1680866 http://www.yardbarker.com/nascar/article_external/AWARD_SPEECH_JIMMIE_JOHNSON_SHOULD_GIVE/1680866 http://www.yardbarker.com/nascar/article_external/AWARD_SPEECH_JIMMIE_JOHNSON_SHOULD_GIVE/1680866 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/3/734cbe144660415f775190f0d4628663df88daf5/small/GettyImage.ashx_url_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f93820567.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D0CCDA3AA74FFB99BC08E6B373673EDAB07660FADDC24D71A2.jpg LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. is NASCAR's most popular driver for the seventh consecutive year. Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:50:35 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Earnhardt_Jr_is_NASCARs_most_popular_driver/1680552 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Earnhardt_Jr_is_NASCARs_most_popular_driver/1680552 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Earnhardt_Jr_is_NASCARs_most_popular_driver/1680552 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/d/bdaa8d43fbc7db146e0355f2245e8c791100cd04/small/GettyImage.ashx_url_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f93075974.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D05CCCC695E262214954B6BC483E20A3EB596FEA4B48AEDFC8.jpg Richard "Slugger" Labbe will be the crew chief for Paul Menard and the No. 98 Menard's Ford in 2010. A formal announcement is expected from Richard Petty Motorsports on Monday. Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:20:37 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nascar/article_external/Sources_Labbe_named_Menard_39s_new_crew_chief/1680271 http://www.yardbarker.com/nascar/article_external/Sources_Labbe_named_Menard_39s_new_crew_chief/1680271 http://www.yardbarker.com/nascar/article_external/Sources_Labbe_named_Menard_39s_new_crew_chief/1680271 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/a/6/a6f6bc9c39e24477a392d4227b2d40dacccf2e67/small/GettyImage.ashx_url_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f92335219.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D071603D253CE92BA5C488FADE0D409B992CD7089BAAE8A639.jpg On Thursday afternoon, the NASCAR Chasers ran a Victory Lap through Las Vegas, and it was quite the sight to see. Matter of fact, I would've liked to see it at full speed. But at least they got in a pit stop, and we got a few photos. Hit the jump below for a photo gallery, and feel free to add your own comments to the mix.Ryan Newman peels out past the MGM Grand. No Talladega-style Flips on the Strip, alas. Arr! There be Jimmie Johnson in front of Treasure Island, matey! Cousin Carl Edwar... Fri, 04 Dec 2009 11:08:16 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/The_NASCAR_Vegas_burnout_a_photo_gallery/1679902 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/The_NASCAR_Vegas_burnout_a_photo_gallery/1679902 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/The_NASCAR_Vegas_burnout_a_photo_gallery/1679902 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/b/9b3e57f6f06930aa6342dd8e0a75bc40a2afd0dc/small/Ford_300_354f.jpg   There are many words that can be used to describe Kyle Busch. Most can’t be published on this site, and we publish all sorts of crazy @#%. But regardless of what you think of Kurt’s little brother, one thing is clear. He generates interest. Enough to be our No. 11 top story of 2009. read more Fri, 04 Dec 2009 11:00:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/TOP_STORY_NO_11_KYLE_BUSCH_SUCKS_ROCKS/1679809 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/TOP_STORY_NO_11_KYLE_BUSCH_SUCKS_ROCKS/1679809 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/TOP_STORY_NO_11_KYLE_BUSCH_SUCKS_ROCKS/1679809 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/c/9c5f9022e32c24bce5625cddaca00ad73122fd0f/small/Ford_300_f758.jpg No wins or movies for these two in 2009   Before the start of every season, writers and broadcasters predict who will soar and who will flop. Those of us brave enough to make such statements look like geniuses with some calls and first-time race watchers with others. Looking back at the start of 2009, I saw stronger campaigns ahead for this group.   1. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Prior to Earnhardt’s 2009 season of unrelenting misery and inexplicable failure, he was the strongest Hend... Fri, 04 Dec 2009 08:00:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/FIVE_BIGGEST_DISAPPOINTMENTS_OF_2009/1679101 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/FIVE_BIGGEST_DISAPPOINTMENTS_OF_2009/1679101 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/FIVE_BIGGEST_DISAPPOINTMENTS_OF_2009/1679101 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/1/f/1f005239f010a6f4fd15b4f71fc9700d45d4131f/small/Ford_400_69a3.jpg Dale Earnhardt Jr. is NASCAR's most popular driver for the seventh consecutive year. Earnhardt's win keeps him at third on the career list behind Bill Elliott's record 16 times selected as the most popular driver, and Richard Petty, who won the award nine times. The award, which is sponsored by Chex and presented by the National Motorsports Press Association, has been given since 1965 and voted on by fans. Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:14:34 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Earnhardt_again_wins_most_popular_award/1676665 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Earnhardt_again_wins_most_popular_award/1676665 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Earnhardt_again_wins_most_popular_award/1676665 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/5/e54d4c706f568747de11afc253008d084288a73d/small/GettyImage.ashx_url_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f93262103.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D01BD0C865A8F9DA4880C701BA0D6F30453E26A8BB724B4F70.jpg I love Champions Week; there are going to be some great pictures coming out of Vegas this week. So far, the early leader for best pics is Greg Biffle. Clockwise from top left: Biffle looks on as Juan Pablo Montoya goes taco-tossing; Biff poses with Paul Menard ... oh, my bad, that's a real cupcake; Biffle croons a little "Strangers In The Night"; Biffle and wife Nicole pose with Emeril Lagasse and aforementioned pastry treat.Much more to come, but so far, the 16 is notching its ... Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:50:37 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Greg_Biffle_is_really_enjoying_Champions_Week_in_Vegas/1673147 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Greg_Biffle_is_really_enjoying_Champions_Week_in_Vegas/1673147 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Greg_Biffle_is_really_enjoying_Champions_Week_in_Vegas/1673147 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/f/4f135fa67b923394f545d5fa565e2efeb8b307e6/small/GettyImage.ashx_url_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f92879064.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D020DB35823B0F31C5EB39E3A59965D1FD27782B23A8B93E27.jpg We all know that Jimmie Johnson won the 2009 championship under the current Chase format. Critics – like me – have made the case that every year the Chase is increasingly devoid of drama. So let’s take a look at some other point systems and see how else the 2009 season could have ended. The Jimmie Johnson Era is not inevitable. One of the scnarios produced a different champion, and some of the races were considerably closer than what we had. 1) If we used the Formula 1 syst... Thu, 03 Dec 2009 08:00:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/HOW_THE_2009_SEASON_WOULD_HAVE_ENDED_USING_DIFFERENT_POINT_SYSTEMS/1672785 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/HOW_THE_2009_SEASON_WOULD_HAVE_ENDED_USING_DIFFERENT_POINT_SYSTEMS/1672785 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/HOW_THE_2009_SEASON_WOULD_HAVE_ENDED_USING_DIFFERENT_POINT_SYSTEMS/1672785 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/d/ed7e9858401fbe0829c0406f7326ef75f3a7f307/small/NASCAR_Champion_Jimmie_9cd8.jpg They couldn't derail the four-time Cup champ on the racetrack. But the Chase drivers did make Jimmie Johnson squirm plenty at the celebrity roast Wednesday in Vegas. Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:54:55 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/The_roast_of_Sprint_Cup_champ_Jimmie_Johnson_at_Las_Vegas_Motor_Speedway_was_the_best_show_in_town/1671092 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/The_roast_of_Sprint_Cup_champ_Jimmie_Johnson_at_Las_Vegas_Motor_Speedway_was_the_best_show_in_town/1671092 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/The_roast_of_Sprint_Cup_champ_Jimmie_Johnson_at_Las_Vegas_Motor_Speedway_was_the_best_show_in_town/1671092 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/5/4/54a86713ac4b5539520b29042b10adf648360cc9/small/NASCAR_Banquet_Preview_b229.jpg We're counting down the best stories of the decade, and today, we focus on some of the best off-track action around -- the fights! NASCAR first burst into popularity thanks to a fight at the 1979 Daytona 500, and the drivers haven't slowed down since. Check some of the most famous on- and off-track fights of the last 10 years, right here. 10. Jeff Gordon vs. Matt Kenseth, Bristol, 2006: Kenseth dumped Gordon, and then Gordon got out of his car and shoved Kenseth. Really. I can't ... Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:50:13 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Best_of_the_decade_The_top_NASCAR_fights_of_the_2000s/1663799 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Best_of_the_decade_The_top_NASCAR_fights_of_the_2000s/1663799 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Best_of_the_decade_The_top_NASCAR_fights_of_the_2000s/1663799 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/3/9/396076d083bb5925b186603e17106c2170a75a51/small/GettyImage.ashx_url_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f93306608.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D0FF3D73A42CCC16A29F19D2C759DB1A0717D5E8DEA836C576.jpg We're counting down the top moments in NASCAR over the last 10 years, and today, we focus on the best races of the decade. Many of them center around one single event, but all had fans' hearts pounding right into the final lap. 10. 2008 Camping World RV 400 at Dover: It was a Roush-Fenway special, as Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth traded the lead in the final laps. Biffle wove through lapped traffic and claimed the win. 9. 2002 All-Star Race: Ryan Newman and Dale Earnhar... Tue, 01 Dec 2009 01:10:50 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Best_of_the_decade_The_10_best_races_of_the_2000s/1659143 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Best_of_the_decade_The_10_best_races_of_the_2000s/1659143 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Best_of_the_decade_The_10_best_races_of_the_2000s/1659143 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/6/3/6322be07858f3d1f56d16cdfddc51665aeeba0ef/small/AMP_Energy_500_7ede.jpg Jimmie Johnson stares out at his domain, holding his fourth trophy. You're far, far below, and so am I. But that won't stop us from captioning this, will it? Heck no.After the jump, Johnson (him again?) meets with Yogi Berra. Who brought the pic-a-nic baskets? kinggeorge:Yogi: Being Champion is a lot like winning. Jimmie: Are you that guy that writes those fortune cookie sayings? Mister F:Yogi: If you come to a fork in the road, pit. JJ: Hey, that's really good advice. I hear tha... Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:52:45 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Create_a_caption_I_bet_I_could_hit_Mark_Martin_from_here/1655112 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Create_a_caption_I_bet_I_could_hit_Mark_Martin_from_here/1655112 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Create_a_caption_I_bet_I_could_hit_Mark_Martin_from_here/1655112 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/4/44e4194284e65377175efc2fc3597d8f484e5a9f/small/Ford_400_71ba.jpg Jimmie Johnson has won four straight Sprint Cup titles, something no other driver has done. That makes him the most dominant driver of all time during any four-year span, right? The answer is no, according to the Wall Street Journal. (Brief aside: I love the Journal. Great newspaper. But when it weighs in on NASCAR, awkward things like this tend to happen. So I take this piece with a grain of salt.) According to writer David Biderman, Johnson is not the most dominant champion in history. He ... Sat, 28 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nascar/article_external/JOHNSON_MOST_DOMINANT_EVER_MAYBE_NOT/1644060 http://www.yardbarker.com/nascar/article_external/JOHNSON_MOST_DOMINANT_EVER_MAYBE_NOT/1644060 http://www.yardbarker.com/nascar/article_external/JOHNSON_MOST_DOMINANT_EVER_MAYBE_NOT/1644060 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/3/e/3ee6ad139cf50c7706156119bccfc097df08ed5a/small/93312962.jpg Denny Hamlin pays back Brad Keselowski, but Hamlin ends up looking like a rookie Welcome back ladies and gentlemen, about one week ago at Homestead-Miami Speedway, all three of NASCAR’s national series had their season finales on the 1.5 mile track that ended with its normal fireworks. But it’s been the last few weeks that still have NASCAR fans talking and wanting more after the action on the racetrack has heated up. All three series as a matter of fact have had their moments of anger ... Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:25:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Anger_drama_in_the_last_few_weeks_leaves_NASCAR_fans_wanting_more_after_finale_in_Homestead/1641114 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Anger_drama_in_the_last_few_weeks_leaves_NASCAR_fans_wanting_more_after_finale_in_Homestead/1641114 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Anger_drama_in_the_last_few_weeks_leaves_NASCAR_fans_wanting_more_after_finale_in_Homestead/1641114 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/c/9/c98e307dc78eac091f954efb8058e8ec3fb76f44/small/Ford_400_188e.jpg Jimmie Johnson solidified himself among NASCAR's greatest, but he still doesn't get the love he deserves. Mark Kriegel explains why. Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:31:54 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nascar/article_external/VIDEO_Where_is_the_love_for_Jimmie_Johnson/1639890 http://www.yardbarker.com/nascar/article_external/VIDEO_Where_is_the_love_for_Jimmie_Johnson/1639890 http://www.yardbarker.com/nascar/article_external/VIDEO_Where_is_the_love_for_Jimmie_Johnson/1639890 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/2/7/27d6d6bb2e207d7c44a51706b68c9209a04d1ce4/small/Ford_400_a6a6.jpg In early September I compared Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s first 12 races of the season with crew chief Tony Eury Jr. (pictured above) to his second 12 races of the season with replacement crew chief Lance McGrew. My conclusion: it was unclear that any improvement had been made because Junior’s performance was similar under both crew chiefs. Since then, 12 more races have passed, which means there is more data to review. I have drawn a new conclusion, and it’s one Rick Hendrick mig... Fri, 27 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nascar/article_external/REPLACING_CREW_CHIEFS_DID_NOT_HELP_JUNIOR/1638920 http://www.yardbarker.com/nascar/article_external/REPLACING_CREW_CHIEFS_DID_NOT_HELP_JUNIOR/1638920 http://www.yardbarker.com/nascar/article_external/REPLACING_CREW_CHIEFS_DID_NOT_HELP_JUNIOR/1638920 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/d/5/d56b8f6d16cbfc84416bd80805c637fd2f087a44/small/Ford_400_Qualifying_da27.jpg Maybe it's because I don't watch a lot of late-night television, but this clip made me realize Craig Ferguson gives a really good interview. Carl Edwards - who will never be mistaken for a big personality like Darrell Waltrip - comes off well in this segment on the "Late Late Show." Edwards and Ferguson talk about the Talladega crash, flying and fatherhood. (Can you spot the theme? It's fear.) Good stuff. Video below. read more Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:04:18 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/CARL_EDWARDS_ON_039LATE_LATE_SHOW_039/1631322 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/CARL_EDWARDS_ON_039LATE_LATE_SHOW_039/1631322 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/CARL_EDWARDS_ON_039LATE_LATE_SHOW_039/1631322 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/3/b3b42e80ab1a525f3e6e61360f426299602bd560/small/Able_Body_Labor_da34.jpg As the decade of the 2000s draws to a close, we're looking back at the greatest NASCAR moments, events and stories of the last 10 years. We begin with the most successful drivers of the decade -- bearing in mind, we're ranking them on what they've done this decade, not before that. And yes, you already know who's #1.1. Jimmie Johnson: Like you expected anything different. Four championships, 47 wins and 180 top-10 finishes over just nine years. He's staked out one of the m... Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:29:08 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Best_of_the_decade_The_10_best_drivers_of_the_2000s/1625403 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Best_of_the_decade_The_10_best_drivers_of_the_2000s/1625403 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Best_of_the_decade_The_10_best_drivers_of_the_2000s/1625403 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/0/a/0af4dc16f6f7cbdc0be4667054b7f41a5c51b45b/small/Ford_400_3215.jpg Getting Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s team back on track is Rick Hendrick's top priority now that Jimmie Johnson has his record fourth consecutive NASCAR championship. The owner of Hendrick Motorsports says Earnhardt's team will be the organization's primary focus this offseason. Johnson gave Hendrick his record 12th championship in Sunday's season finale, and Hendrick drivers swept the top three spots in the standings. But Earnhardt finished a distant 25th after one of the w... Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:39:08 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Dale_Jr_is_Hendrick_39s_No_1_offseason_priority/1625081 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Dale_Jr_is_Hendrick_39s_No_1_offseason_priority/1625081 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Dale_Jr_is_Hendrick_39s_No_1_offseason_priority/1625081 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/3/93ddab277ab7461916912481b9bf688fc136eaaa/small/Checker_OReilly_Auto_cfa0.jpg One of the bigger surprises of the 2009 Chase came when Pat Tryson, crew chief for Kurt Busch, announced in October that he would be leaving the No. 2 Dodge team to go crew Martin Truex Jr.'s new team. Sure, it was an unfortunately-timed split, but the team looked like it was going to make the best of an awkward situation, and even managed to win the Dickies 500 in Texas. The split was looking almost amicable. And then came Sunday night. After a race in which he was leading but lost groun... Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:54:02 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Kurt_Busch_throws_his_crew_chief_under_the_bus_with_a_smile/1614805 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Kurt_Busch_throws_his_crew_chief_under_the_bus_with_a_smile/1614805 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Kurt_Busch_throws_his_crew_chief_under_the_bus_with_a_smile/1614805 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/1/7/178d1dc3af076ced8225f2ea6e803414cc57715a/small/Checker_OReilly_Auto_b2c3.jpg Jimmie Johnson won a record fourth straight Sprint Cup title at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday to continue one of the most impressive - and underappreciated - dynasties in all of sports. Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus, and their Hendrick Motorsports crew, are the most consistently dominant team in Sprint Cup history. No driver before has ever accomplished a fourpeat. Only Jeff Gordon (four), Dale Earnhardt (seven) and Richard Petty (seven) have won as many or more championships as John... Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:40:17 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nascar/article_external/JIMMIE_JOHNSON_WINS_RECORD_FOURTH_STRAIGHT_SPRINT_CUP_TITLE/1613788 http://www.yardbarker.com/nascar/article_external/JIMMIE_JOHNSON_WINS_RECORD_FOURTH_STRAIGHT_SPRINT_CUP_TITLE/1613788 http://www.yardbarker.com/nascar/article_external/JIMMIE_JOHNSON_WINS_RECORD_FOURTH_STRAIGHT_SPRINT_CUP_TITLE/1613788 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/d/e/dea883252c0891912e41e7608a5dec8ecf484cae/small/GettyImage.ashx_url_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f93304795.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D0BE3932834EC1E2764B29AE968D4DD938E2A0227537C55D2A.jpg Kyle Busch has won the Nationwide Series championship. Busch only needed to start the race Saturday at Homestead-Miami Speedway to win his first NASCAR title. When the green flag dropped on the race, Busch was the champ. Busch has eight wins in the second-tier series and 11 second-place finishes. He entered with a 190-point lead over polesitter Carl Edwards. Busch had led 2,625 laps entering the race. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:00:31 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Busch_clinches_Nationwide_title_with_start/1608178 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Busch_clinches_Nationwide_title_with_start/1608178 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Busch_clinches_Nationwide_title_with_start/1608178 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/f/4fa1d02df094257612a33f1c46b92a9b253a519a/small/Able_Body_Labor_491b.jpg HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. laughed when asked on pit road Friday if recent allegations in a National Enquirer story entitled "Dale Earnhardt Jr. in a death spiral" were true. He jokingly said there was more truth in a 2004 Enquirer article that said he and drivers Jamie McMurray and Elliott Sadler were involved with "naked partying" with girls in beer-filled hot tubs during spring break in Panama City, Fla. "The hot tub story was kind of true," NASCAR&... Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:39:38 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Dale_Earnhardt_Jr_laughs_off_new_Enquirer_story_laughs_with_old_one/1608404 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Dale_Earnhardt_Jr_laughs_off_new_Enquirer_story_laughs_with_old_one/1608404 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Dale_Earnhardt_Jr_laughs_off_new_Enquirer_story_laughs_with_old_one/1608404 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/6/76b59a8f0d6acbb20cd3e451618b280e3571bf23/small/Checker_OReilly_Auto_d97a.jpg Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne both have somewhat similar stories. One was called “The next Jeff Gordon”, while the other’s car is co-owned by Jeff Gordon. Both came from the Busch(now Nationwide) Series without much success, each having just one win apiece. Both have driven for just one race team in their Cup careers. Both drivers own [...] Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:06:54 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Jimmie_Johnson_is_Happy_With_His_Team_Kasey_Kahne_Isnt/1604051 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Jimmie_Johnson_is_Happy_With_His_Team_Kasey_Kahne_Isnt/1604051 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Jimmie_Johnson_is_Happy_With_His_Team_Kasey_Kahne_Isnt/1604051 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/7/872dcb2cf27d449cf11c23a22e70c78f4e95ea99/small/GettyImage.ashx_url_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f93229749.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D05A79D2E9947F146222C1FDD11E5B57EBCE7C42F8663C989D.jpg by FanHouse NewswireFiled under: Jimmie Johnson, Chase for the Sprint CupAVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Jimmie Johnson rebounded from a rare bad race with a dominating victory at Phoenix International Raceway that pushed him to the edge of a NASCAR record fourth consecutive championship.Johnson led 238 laps Sunday to win for the fourth time in the last five races at Phoenix. It was his seventh victory of the season, and fourth since the start of the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.More importa... Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:03:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Jimmie_Johnson_Wins_at_Phoenix_to_Cruise_Into_Finale/1570769 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Jimmie_Johnson_Wins_at_Phoenix_to_Cruise_Into_Finale/1570769 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Jimmie_Johnson_Wins_at_Phoenix_to_Cruise_Into_Finale/1570769 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/2/0/2050f8b824602798741402165abcff78f3b566bc/small/GettyImage.ashx_url_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f92863311.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D047528676571865731754B02C1483BA119E59D661610E3996.jpg