Big crowd in hunt for points chase

Sonoma is hot spot for hot tempers

SONOMA, Calif. - It used to be that short tracks were the guaranteed place for the bumping, banging and blown tempers. It's now shifted to road courses, specifically Sonoma, where more than a few drivers will likely be raging mad by the end of Sunday's race.

2 poles in a row

SONOMA, Calif. - Marcos Ambrose had never won a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pole before last week.

Earnhardt Jr. ends drought with win in Michigan

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - OK, it's just one win. The first in four years, no less.

Ambrose takes Sprint Cup pole at over 203 mph

Dale Earnhardt Jr. in Michigan, site of his last win

BROOKLYN, Mich. - Eleven top-10 finishes. Second place in the Sprint Cup standings.

Speeds high during test runs

BROOKLYN, Mich. - After four drivers posted laps of over 200 mph during a morning test session, Greg Biffle was asked if the fast new track at Michigan International Speedway might be good for the sport.

Logano sets track record at Pocono

LONG POND, Pa. - Thanks to a repave that led to blistering speeds, Pocono Raceway's track record was topped 36 times.

Busch faces murky future

LONG POND, Pa. - Kurt Busch's talent behind the wheel has never been challenged. It's why he always had a ride.

Mark Martin sits atop poll at Dover Speedway

DOVER, Del. - Mark Martin has more poles than candles on the birthday cake.

Earnhardt seeks victory

DOVER, Del. - Dale Earnhardt Jr. is hoping to pick up the next memorable victory for Hendrick Motorsports.

Earnhardt hopes to forget last year

CONCORD, N.C. - At first Dale Earnhardt Jr. was relieved he didn't fall further back than seventh at last year's Coca-Cola 600. Then he realized what he had lost for just about a gallon of gas.

Penske again seeking Memorial Day weekend double

CONCORD, N.C. - Brad Keselowski got the first of many surprises at his first meeting with racing great Roger Penske.

Hendrick goes from cold to hot

CONCORD, N.C. - After months of wondering when any Hendrick Motorsports car would win again, NASCAR's powerhouse program is on a major roll heading into Sunday's Coca-Cola 600.

Rusty Wallace heads group of 5 hall of fame inductees

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Sprint Cup champion Rusty Wallace heads the group of five picked for the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Wednesday.

In the Pits: Gordon on pace for title after Brickyard win

Long before Jimmie Johnson arrived on the NASCAR scene, Jeff Gordon was the fastest thing on wheels.

Gordon an Indy threat after 20 years

INDIANAPOLIS - The reminders that Jeff Gordon won here 20 years ago plaster Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Montoya back at Indy intent on winning for Penske

INDIANAPOLIS - Juan Pablo Montoya is back at Indianapolis Motor Speedway - one night only, an encore of sorts, in a guest-starring role for Team Penske.

Pucker up! NASCAR returns to Brickyard

INDIANAPOLIS - Dale Jarrett loved his win so much he had to celebrate it with a kiss.

Troops entertain Junior, Rahal

EDINBURGH, Ind. - Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Graham Rahal are used to occasional fireworks when drivers get upset at the track.

In the Pits: RTA aiming to close disconnect

There is no clearer example of the disconnect between NASCAR and its teams then the fight earlier this year over the procedures to cool cars down during qualifying.

Keselowski takes Nationwide race

LOUDON, N.H. - Brad Keselowski had a couple of impressive performances at New Hampshire. It's the victory celebration that again gave him fits.

NASCAR: No animosity toward RTA

LOUDON, N.H. - NASCAR President Mike Helton said Friday there is no animosity from the governing body toward the recently formed, nine-team Race Team Alliance that will collaborate on initiatives and issues facing auto racing.

Helton: Talladega races still have big impact

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Mike Helton has seen Talladega Superspeedway's capacity expand in boom times and shrink along with the crowds at one of NASCAR's signature tracks, moving in tandem with the sport's ebbs and flows.

Almirola: Congrats from Petty a special moment

RICHMOND, Va. - Aric Almirola waited two days to experience one of the highlights of his first victory in NASCAR's premier series.

NASCAR penalizes Busch for violation

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - NASCAR has penalized Kurt Busch and his Stewart-Haas Racing team for failing a post-race inspection at Daytona International Speedway.

In the Pits: Pulling the plug on Coke Zero 400 was the right call

When the sky opened for a third time during the rain-rescheduled race at Daytona and teams pulled out car covers to wait out the weather, it seemed the right time for NASCAR to put the Coke Zero 400 out of its misery.

Gilliland takes poll for Coke Zero 400

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - David Gilliland might have summed up Daytona qualifying best.

Earnhardt still embarrassed over Talladega finish

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - It had been 31 years since a driver won both Daytona races in the same season when Jimmie Johnson pulled off the Sprint Cup Series sweep. A year later, his teammate wants to complete the feat.