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

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

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

Rookie Justin Wilson raced to his first IndyCar Series victory Sunday, edging Helio Castroneves in the Detroit Indy Grand Prix. ...more

September 1, 2008

A brief NASCAR era ends Sunday with the final Labor Day weekend running of a Sprint Cup race at Auto Club Speedway. The "fall" race at the track formerly known as California Speedway moves into the Chase next year, and Atlanta will take over the holiday weekend slot. Tribune motor sports writer Tony Fabrizio takes a look at what's topical entering the second-to-last regular-season race: ...more

August 29, 2008

SPRINT CUP PREVIEW RACE NO. 25: CALIFORNIA A brief NASCAR era ends Sunday with the final Labor Day weekend running of a Sprint Cup race at Auto Club Speedway. The "fall" race at the track formerly known as California Speedway moves into the Chase next year, and Atlanta will take over the holiday weekend slot. Tribune motor sports writer Tony Fabrizio takes a look at what's topical entering the second-to-last regular-season race: ...more

August 29, 2008

Casey Mears has a new home for the 2009 season. ...more

August 24, 2008

With three races before the field is set for NASCAR's 10-race Chase for the Championship, nine drivers are separated by 162 points in the competition for the last seven spots. ...more

August 23, 2008

Coming off its final open weekend of the year, NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series heads to Indianapolis Motor Speedway to begin a season-ending stretch of 17 races in 17 weeks. ...more

July 21, 2008

If consistency can still win a championship in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series, Jeff Burton is a serious contender to win his first title. ...more

June 29, 2008