On the first day of preparations for NASCAR's version of the playoffs, a topic more commonly associated with other sports dominated conversation Friday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. ...more

September 13, 2008

Clint Bowyer was a surprise qualifier for last year's Chase, and even after he made it, hardly anyone regarded him as a threat. ...more

September 12, 2008

When a caution flag comes out in auto racing, the leader loses most of whatever lead he has been able to build. ...more

September 10, 2008

In the only really riveting Chase to date, Kurt Busch led Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon by only 18 and 21 points entering the finale at Homestead. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Mark Martin still were in contention mathematically. Busch edged Johnson by eight and Gordon by 16 for the championship. ...more

September 10, 2008

The 4-year-old Chase for the Championship gives NASCAR the equivalent of a postseason. After 26 of the 36 races, the top 12 drivers qualify to have their points reset to 5,000, and they get 10 points for each race they won. (Carl Edwards lost the 10-point bonus for one of his wins because of a penalty). Points are then accumulated the same way they are during the first 26 races. Only the top 12 are in position to win the title. ...more

September 10, 2008

Jimmie Johnson has momentum on his side and history in sight. Never mind that Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards dominated the regular season, the Chase is Johnson's time of the year and the two-time defending NASCAR champion isn't turning his title over without a fight. ...more

September 8, 2008

Clint Bowyer already had assured his spot in the Chase for NASCAR's biggest championship, and he looked as if he was about to pad his lead in another one. ...more

September 8, 2008

Rarely does a battle for 12th place ever get this interesting. Clint Bowyer, upstart David Ragan and Kasey Kahne are in a scramble for it in the Sprint Cup standings. The driver ranked ahead of the other two after today's rescheduled regular-season finale at Richmond probably will land the last berth in NASCAR's playoffs. ...more

September 7, 2008

For much of this decade, NASCAR officials have talked incessantly of the parity that exists in the Sprint Cup series. ...more

September 5, 2008

It has certainly been the season of Kyle Busch, and Carl Edwards has definitely proved himself a credible championship threat. ...more

September 3, 2008