Racing News

      AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) - Jimmie Johnson has moved closer to a NASCAR record fourth consecutive championship with a dominating win at Phoenix International Raceway.
      Johnson led 238 laps Sunday to win his seventh race of the season, and fourth since the start of the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.

    MARTINSVILLE, Va. (AP) - Denny Hamlin turned a dominant car into a winner at Martinsville Speedway, passing Jimmie Johnson with 138 laps to go Sunday and holding off the Chase leader on a series of late restarts.
      Helped by a long green-flag run, Hamlin pulled away after a restart with 52 laps to go, ending Johnson's remarkable run of five trips to Victory Lane in the last six races at the shortest circuit in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series.

      CONCORD, N.C. (AP) - Jimmie Johnson raced to his third victory
in the Chase for the Sprint Cup to take control of the championship
standings.
      Johnson held off teammate Jeff Gordon on a handful of late
restarts Saturday night for his sixth career victory at Lowe's
Motor Speedway. Although he's long dominated at the track, the win
was the Lowe's-sponsored driver's first since 2005.

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) - Jimmie Johnson is returning to his dominant
ways at the perfect time. His latest accomplishment: the fastest

      FONTANA, Calif. (AP) - Jimmie Johnson is back in control of NASCAR's Chase for the Championship.
      The three-time defending champion easily pulled away from Jeff Gordon following a restart with three laps remaining to win the Pepsi 500 on Sunday at Auto Club Speedway.

TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) - The fences at Daytona and Talladega will
be raised from 14 to 22 feet following a safety analysis conducted

      KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) - Tony Stewart used a fast final pit stop to grab a much-needed victory at Kansas Speedway.
      It was the first victory in eight races for Stewart and put him back into title contention after a tough start to the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.