http://www.yardbarker.com/rss/sport/8 Recent Yardbarker articles: Motor Sports en-us We're at the end of the 2000s, and we're taking a look back at the top stories, events, drivers and moments of the last decade. It was a time of change in NASCAR, a time when the regional sport blew up nationally, but change always comes with a price. Today, the top stories of the decade. 1. Death of Dale Earnhardt. It was almost Shakespearean in its drama and tragedy. On the very day NASCAR began its major new television deal, its most famous star died in the final lap of the Daytona... Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:58:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Best_of_the_decade_The_top_10_NASCAR_stories_of_the_2000s/1639715 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Best_of_the_decade_The_top_10_NASCAR_stories_of_the_2000s/1639715 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Best_of_the_decade_The_top_10_NASCAR_stories_of_the_2000s/1639715 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/2/0/204854cbf595b5715f569a6a6b5f9bcaf6e41910/small/Ford_400_fc5c.jpg Sporting News: Under normal circumstances, no one is allowed onto the 103rd floor of the Empire State Building. But Jimmie Johnson, winner of four straight Cup championships, is far from normal. Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:27:21 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Opinion_Johnson_on_top_of_the_world_in_Manhattan/1636803 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Opinion_Johnson_on_top_of_the_world_in_Manhattan/1636803 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Opinion_Johnson_on_top_of_the_world_in_Manhattan/1636803 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/e/4e66ee56048faf89778ab6833cdc63b8f0c1db7b/small/Jimmie_Johnson_in_05ed.jpg Sporting News: Jimmie Johnson raced extremely well this season, but he also benefitted from a major dip in the competitive level of the series. That's something race teams like Roush-Fenway, Gibbs and Childress will work hard to remedy next year. Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:31:30 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Blocking_Johnsons_quest_for_five_straight/1636801 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Blocking_Johnsons_quest_for_five_straight/1636801 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Blocking_Johnsons_quest_for_five_straight/1636801 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/5/5/5513d11bd098389109e81fdc99f097bc10f464f3/small/GettyImage.ashx_url_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f93362644.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D0B73065B16BD8BFFBB25A83A085ACEC63EAF908E52D6ACEF3.jpg The Jimmie Johnson era will end in 2010 if Denny Hamlin has his way. See who else Jorge Mondaca says could stop the champ. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:37:46 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Five_that_will_keep_Jimmie_from_No_5/1632064 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Five_that_will_keep_Jimmie_from_No_5/1632064 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Five_that_will_keep_Jimmie_from_No_5/1632064 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/2/2/22b4c0b123b8644bea254b3dc4eb16f05a6a604c/small/Ford_400_7b47.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 Chad Knaus believes he and Jimmie Johnson can continue to add to their championship total for years to come. But the crew chief first needs a new contract. Knaus on Wednesday denied an ESPN report that he's agreed to lead Johnson through 2015, the length of Johnson's new contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports. Knaus, who has guided Johnson to four straight titles and 47 victories since 2002, is still working under an extension signed in 2006 that runs through next seaso... Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:51:48 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Knaus_says_he_39s_not_close_to_contract_extension/1631321 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Knaus_says_he_39s_not_close_to_contract_extension/1631321 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Knaus_says_he_39s_not_close_to_contract_extension/1631321 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/2/2/22b4c0b123b8644bea254b3dc4eb16f05a6a604c/small/Ford_400_7b47.jpg Jimmie Johnson got the job done in 2009. Now NASCAR's top two stars, Dale Jr. and Kyle Busch, must step up, Jeff Owens says. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:54:07 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/NASCAR_needs_Busch_Dale_Jr_to_step_it_up/1630454 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/NASCAR_needs_Busch_Dale_Jr_to_step_it_up/1630454 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/NASCAR_needs_Busch_Dale_Jr_to_step_it_up/1630454 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/0/e/0ecf37433e2b4fdb428239b3ddfdac363072a364/small/GettyImage.ashx_url_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f93290559.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D06F8DFA119E3D0C7ADD1804DFB136E12AD6F638200365D1DA.jpg It started at New Hampshire and ended at Homestead-Miami. The crowning moment of the 10-race Chase for the Cup? A fourth straight title for a guy named Jimmie Johnson. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:16:28 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Crowning_moment_of_10_race_Chase_for_NASCARs_Sprint_Cup_A_fourth_straight_title_for_Jimmie_Johnson/1630450 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Crowning_moment_of_10_race_Chase_for_NASCARs_Sprint_Cup_A_fourth_straight_title_for_Jimmie_Johnson/1630450 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Crowning_moment_of_10_race_Chase_for_NASCARs_Sprint_Cup_A_fourth_straight_title_for_Jimmie_Johnson/1630450 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/2/7/27d6d6bb2e207d7c44a51706b68c9209a04d1ce4/small/Ford_400_a6a6.jpg Getting his first NASCAR championship Monday is nice, but Kyle Busch is already aiming at bigger goals, Lee Spencer says. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:42:54 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/The_Hot_Pass_Busch_looks_beyond_1st_NASCAR_title/1626183 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/The_Hot_Pass_Busch_looks_beyond_1st_NASCAR_title/1626183 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/The_Hot_Pass_Busch_looks_beyond_1st_NASCAR_title/1626183 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/2/d/2dab8a8c9ce92adcca7269fb37268be00369dd7b/small/GettyImage.ashx_url_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f93343897.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D01DC3D104F2E011A6C4BFFAA08E1E8C228C6D39319D85ED19.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 When Denny Hamlin entered the 2009 Chase for the Cup, he did so with confidence. He won the fall Richmond race, claimed the fourth slot in the Chase and offered this warning to his competition: “They better watch us. This team is dangerous.” Hamlin backed it up early with a runner-up in Loudon. Then the Joe Gibbs Racing driver went to Dover, one of his worst tracks. A 22nd-place finish at the Monster Mile dropped him to sixth. Hamlin responded with a top-5 in Kansas. Then three p... Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:00:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/THREE_DNFS_DOOMED_HAMLIN_039S_CHASE/1623947 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/THREE_DNFS_DOOMED_HAMLIN_039S_CHASE/1623947 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/THREE_DNFS_DOOMED_HAMLIN_039S_CHASE/1623947 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/6/b/6b650ccb6eabf2917aca39bff038653998b3d152/small/Able_Body_Labor_4a81.jpg Lest we forget, Jimmie Johnson wasn't the only winner on Sunday night. Denny Hamlin ran away with the Ford 400, and if he hadn't had a couple misfires earlier in the Chase, this could've been a lot more interesting from a championship standpoint. So before we continue with the JJ love, let's spare a thought for Denny Hamlin:Could Denny Hamlin take over the Memorial Carl Edwards "Dude Who's Going To Unseat Jimmie" role for 2010? We shall see, friends, we shall see... Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:51:10 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Victory_video_Love_for_Denny_Hamlin_Is_that_too_much_to_ask/1619811 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Victory_video_Love_for_Denny_Hamlin_Is_that_too_much_to_ask/1619811 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Victory_video_Love_for_Denny_Hamlin_Is_that_too_much_to_ask/1619811 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/4/945499d875830fbf954af676526a3a4833b51f13/small/Dickies_500_ab0a.jpg As Jay Hart from Yahoo! explains… With the track at Homestead-Miami Speedway flooded with bystanders wanting to be close to history, Jimmie Johnson was left with maybe a 20-foot alleyway to celebrate his fourth consecutive Cup title. Unfazed, Johnson revved his engine, smashed the brake and smoked the tires on his 3,450-pound race car right between [...] Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:00:58 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/JIMMIE_JOHNSON_WINS_4TH_STRAIGHT_NASCAR_CUP_AND_NASCAR_STILL_SUCKS/1617308 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/JIMMIE_JOHNSON_WINS_4TH_STRAIGHT_NASCAR_CUP_AND_NASCAR_STILL_SUCKS/1617308 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/JIMMIE_JOHNSON_WINS_4TH_STRAIGHT_NASCAR_CUP_AND_NASCAR_STILL_SUCKS/1617308 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/5/753ef716669e5f51e2314f13e40c8f5719397724/small/GettyImage.ashx_url_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f93312289.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D025C84B9E9B28F525DC174E146D3DEE7481269F1ACBFE5DEB.jpg NASCAR fans have a lot to say about everything in the sport. Sometimes it's positive, and sometimes it veers into foot-stomping, tantrum-throwing complaining. But are the fans legitimately mad, or are they just griping because it's not their guy holding up the trophy? Tough question, and that's where we come in. In the tradition of the great Urban Legends Reference Pages, we'll take on some of NASCAR fandom's most pervasive whines and decide whether there's any merit t... Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:42:03 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Stale_Whines_Jimmies_success_is_a_product_of_the_Chase/1617349 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Stale_Whines_Jimmies_success_is_a_product_of_the_Chase/1617349 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Stale_Whines_Jimmies_success_is_a_product_of_the_Chase/1617349 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/3/732d5d1e0569d3e7a6e4defa95627390e1776a9e/small/Ford_400_cef1.jpg Jimmie Johnson made history on Sunday by becoming the first driver ever to win 4 straight NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships. Johnson stands alone in that category, but I am about to tell you, from a die-hard NASCAR fan’s perspective, why this unprecedented accomplishment will forever have an asterisk next to it in many fans’ minds. And [...] Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:02:26 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/NASCAR_Hands_Jimmie_Johnson_History_4th_Straight_Championship/1615138 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/NASCAR_Hands_Jimmie_Johnson_History_4th_Straight_Championship/1615138 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/NASCAR_Hands_Jimmie_Johnson_History_4th_Straight_Championship/1615138 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/2/e/2ed2f7b1c0f53128397ca4c53d3f212b59a39ba1/small/GettyImage.ashx_url_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f93262628.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D0DEF3A8B23A966B0D80C701BA0D6F30453360165273987759.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 Last week at Phoenix, Denny Hamlin promised he'd be the first one to Brad Keselowski's "pay window," and sure enough he was. Thirty-four laps into Saturday's Nationwide race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Hamlin dumped Keselowski, who was running eighth at the time, as they came off Turn 4. Keselowski spun twice, but was able to save his car before hitting the wall. Take a look at what happened: Keselowski's crew actually got a laugh out of it. And you have to love the... Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:03:49 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Hamlin_pays_back_Keselowski_sort_of/1608553 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Hamlin_pays_back_Keselowski_sort_of/1608553 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Hamlin_pays_back_Keselowski_sort_of/1608553 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/0/b0b4735c0846b850f1847e5533d73311c82bbb9f/small/GettyImage.ashx_url_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f92863621.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D011B81AF83CDA59151754B02C1483BA11E0227FBA8E993246.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 We all know Kyle Busch's team is running with a new crew chief. Seemed the perfect time to make the swap, considering the old one, Steve Addington, had just won the Wypall Crew Chief of the Week Award by helping Kyle come from 41st to finish fourth at Martinsville. So who's the new kid in town, this Dave Rogers? Like most of the people working in NASCAR, Dave got stars in his eyes as a small child, going to local races with his dad and reveling in the thunder and excitement. Having wo... Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:21:10 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Get_to_know_Dave_Rogers_Kyle_Buschs_new_crew_chief/1603358 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Get_to_know_Dave_Rogers_Kyle_Buschs_new_crew_chief/1603358 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Get_to_know_Dave_Rogers_Kyle_Buschs_new_crew_chief/1603358 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/c/6/c6f74faebb295de1fb43b44feba9cbb12f609db9/small/GettyImage.ashx_url_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f93040152.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D0A6A42B748E59FE1F196A8FFF053A66677954898FD14B9A5F.jpg We're inside 48 hours from the final race of the season, and with the drama all but squeezed out of the Chase for the Sprint Cup, we're forced to look elsewhere for our storylines of interest.So thank you, Kasey Kahne, for giftwrapping this one for us. Kahne, as you know, is one of the most talented drivers on the track but one who's often suffered because of equipment that doesn't measure up to his skill level. He's entering the final year of his contract with Richard Pet... Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:35:41 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Kasey_Kahnes_eyes_are_beginning_to_wander_from_RPM/1602926 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Kasey_Kahnes_eyes_are_beginning_to_wander_from_RPM/1602926 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Kasey_Kahnes_eyes_are_beginning_to_wander_from_RPM/1602926 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/0/40198a642e856db39bc0a2aa42061ac5600a49f9/small/Dickies_500_Practice_396c.jpg by Holly CainFiled under: Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick MotorsportsHOMESTEAD, 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... Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:25:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Jimmie_Johnson_Signs_Contract_Extension_With_Hendrick/1602057 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Jimmie_Johnson_Signs_Contract_Extension_With_Hendrick/1602057 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Jimmie_Johnson_Signs_Contract_Extension_With_Hendrick/1602057 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/3/0/30d3e500292d328cc54d718e4cf6460e085f87d6/small/GettyImage.ashx_url_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f93229744.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D0BD83A29C17D00E5022C1FDD11E5B57EB7B770D75D24905AF.jpg A reputable source on Brazilian SporTV has stated that Kimi Raikkonen has finalized a deal to race for the new Mercedes Grand Prix outfit for 2010. He is reported to have finalized the deal on the same day that Button finalized his deal with McLaren...Read the full article on Bleacher Report... Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:29:09 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Kimi_Raikkonen_To_Race_For_Mercedes_In_2010/1589872 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Kimi_Raikkonen_To_Race_For_Mercedes_In_2010/1589872 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Kimi_Raikkonen_To_Race_For_Mercedes_In_2010/1589872 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/0/b/0b7fa48c2f0a3bf8f015e683c7b9b79315cbb194/small/GettyImage.ashx_url_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f92594465.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D0486B126C91564A0B66009569F00ACE634E16E633991A5A66.jpg by Holly CainFiled under: Jimmie Johnson, Chase for the Sprint CupEL CAJON, Calif. _ If not for Gary Johnson's tendency to get seasick, there's a good chance his son Jimmie Johnson might have been a fisherman, pro surfer or a boat racer instead of making his mark as one of the best NASCAR champions of all time. Gary's father -- Jimmie's grandfather -- spent decades on the ocean as a merchant marine, establishing the family's roots in San Diego, California. His love of the ... Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:30:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Jimmie_Johnson_Toast_of_the_Coast/1588692 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Jimmie_Johnson_Toast_of_the_Coast/1588692 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Jimmie_Johnson_Toast_of_the_Coast/1588692 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/1/8132b0d1db35a7c5c68f909949f4faa4b0ba8144/small/Checker_OReilly_Auto_f5ae.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