"Jimmie is charting new territory in our sport, and that's due to a combination of natural talent and unsurpassed work ethic," said team owner Rick Hendrick. "How he's committed himself is just incredible, and it shows in everything that he does -- not just on the racetrack. There's no question that he's one of the great champions in all of sports, and he's not done yet." The new deal comes two days before Johnson aims to lock up an unprecedented fourth consecutive Sprint Cup championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He boasts a 108-point lead over Mark Martin entering Sunday's finale, needing to cross the finish line in 25th place or better to win the title.

It was also announced Friday that Lowe's signed an extension through 2013 to be the primary sponsor of Johnson's No. 48

The Camping World Truck Series kicks off "championship weekend" at Homestead on Friday. Ron Hornaday clinched the title -- his series-record fourth -- last weekend at Phoenix.

Hornaday holds an insurmountable 215-point lead over second-place Matt Crafton.

Although Kyle Busch was unable to clinch the Nationwide championship last weekend at Phoenix, he will secure the title once he takes the green flag in Saturday's season-ending race at Homestead.

Carl Edwards postponed Busch's inevitable championship by leading the most laps and winning at Phoenix. Busch, who finished ninth and surprisingly did not lead a lap, left Phoenix with a 190-point lead over Edwards. If Busch would have held an advantage of 195 points or higher, he would have clinched the title there.

One thing is for sure in Sunday's Sprint Cup season-finale at Homestead. Hendrick Motorsports will capture its ninth championship in NASCAR's top-tier series.

Which driver -- Jimmie Johnson or Mark Martin -- has yet to be decided.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford 400 - Homestead-Miami Speedway - Homestead, FL One thing is for sure in Sunday's Sprint Cup season-finale at Homestead. Hendrick Motorsports will capture its ninth championship in NASCAR's top-tier series. Which driver -- Jimmie Johnson or Mark Martin -- has yet to be decided.

Johnson rebounded from his Texas setback by winning last weekend's race at Phoenix. He now leads second-place Martin by 108 points. Johnson will lock up his unprecedented fourth consecutive title with a 25th-place finish or better at Homestead. Jeff Gordon, currently third in points (-169), officially will be eliminated from championship contention when Jo

The German car maker also will end its shareholding with McLaren.

Mercedes' parent company, Daimler AG, along with Aabar Investments PJSC, will take over 75.1 percent of Brawn GP, which captured the constructors' title and drivers' championship with Jenson Button in the team's maiden F1 season. The remaining 24.9 percent will remain with current stakeholders Ross Brawn and Nick Fry. Brawn will remain as team principal.

Hamlin and Keselowski's latest on-track altercation occurred on lap 158, when Keselowski spun Hamlin while the two were battling for a top-five position.

After the race, Keselowski claimed that Hamlin got into the back of him and pushed him up the track the lap prior to their incident. Hamlin saw things differently and promised retaliation at Homestead. When ESPN pit reporter Dave Burns asked Hamlin if NASCAR should intervene, he replied, "Nah, nah, I'll take care of him, it's no biggie. I got him. He'll learn the hard way." Hamlin later called Keselowski a "complete moron" and said he lacks respect from fellow drivers.

Johnson led 238 of 312 laps for his fourth win in the last five races at Phoenix, including the last three fall events. He also recorded his Sprint Cup Series-leading seventh win of the season.

With the victory, Johnson padded his lead to 108 points over Mark Martin, who finished fourth.

Edwards led the most laps with 109 and easily beat second-place Kevin Harvick at the finish by 2.415 seconds to cut Busch's lead to 190 points.

Busch was involved in an early-race crash when he got loose and made contact with Clint Bowyer. He spun around and tapped the wall, sustaining damage to the front and rear left panels of his car. Busch pitted several times during cautions for repairs and then knifed his way through the field to move up to the third spot with fewer than 40 laps to go. He experienced motor problems shortly after and faded from there to finish ninth.

Labonte, the 2000 Cup Series champion, and team owner Kevin Buckler made the announcement Saturday at Phoenix International Raceway.

"Each time I've run with the team this year, I've enjoyed the experience and I'm looking forward to filling the seat full time next year and really building on what we've started," Labonte said.

Hamlin lapped the one-mile oval at 133.968 m.p.h. (26.872 seconds), which surpassed Kyle Busch's 2004 track record. The pole victory was Hamlin's second this year and the 14th of his Nationwide career. He also won the pole in last year's fall race at Phoenix.

Carl Edwards, the defending race winner, qualified 0.13 seconds behind Hamlin to claim the outside pole.

Matt Crafton's eighth-place run allowed Hornaday to take a 215-point lead over Crafton with next week's race at Homestead the only race remaining. Hornaday needed at least a 195-point advantage over the second-place driver after Phoenix to clinch the title before the season-finale.

Hornaday had to overcome a pit-road mishap early in the race when he was penalized after his pit crew did not sufficiently refuel the truck on the first round of stops. He had to restart from the tail end of the lead lap, but charged through the field to finish far enough ahead of Crafton.

shrugged off a penalty assessed by NASCAR to his team earlier this week by winning the pole for Sunday's Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.

Truex turned a lap at 135.120 m.p.h.

Sauter, a rookie contender in the series this year, lapped the one-mile oval at 131.019 m.p.h. (27.477 seconds) for his second career pole. His first pole came in June at Texas.

Kevin Harvick, the defending race winner, will start on the outside pole, while his teammate, Ron Hornaday, Jr., will roll off third. Hornaday can clinch his record fourth series championship if he leaves Phoenix with at least a 195-point lead over the second-place driver, Matt Crafton.

With just two races to go, several drivers remain in contention to win the "Chase for the Sprint Cup" championship. Jimmie Johnson held a commanding 184- point lead prior to last Sunday's race at Texas, but after wrecking on the third lap, Johnson finished a season-worst 38th and saw his lead trimmed to 73 points over Mark Martin, who finished fourth.

The largest deficit ever overcome with two races remaining occurred in 1992 when Alan Kulwicki trailed by 85 points, but edged Bill Elliott for the Cup title by just 10 points, making it the second closest points battle in series history.

Kyle Busch is on the brink of winning his first NASCAR national touring series championship.

Busch won last Saturday's race at Texas and widened his lead to 272 points over Carl Edwards, who finished ninth. If he finishes 15th or better, 16th or higher with at least one lap led, or 18th and the most laps led this weekend at Phoenix, he will wrap up the Nationwide Series title.

While Kyle Busch attempts to clinch the Nationwide Series title at Phoenix, Ron Hornaday Jr. is looking to wrap up his record-setting fourth Camping World Truck Series championship. Hornaday currently holds a 197-point lead over Matt Crafton. If he leaves Phoenix with a 195-point advantage over the second-place driver, he takes the title.

Last year, Hornaday was engaged in a tight points battle with Johnny Benson heading into Phoenix. Benson held just a slim six-point lead over Hornaday with two races to go.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 - Phoenix International Raceway - Avondale, AZ With just two races to go, several drivers remain in contention to win the "Chase for the Sprint Cup" championship. Jimmie Johnson held a commanding 184- point lead prior to last Sunday's race at Texas, but after wrecking on the third lap, Johnson finished a season-worst 38th and saw his lead trimmed to 73 points over Mark Martin, who finished fourth.

The largest deficit ever overcome with two races remaining occurred in 1992 when Alan Kulwicki trailed by 85 points, but edged Bill Elliott for the Cup title by

During inspection, NASCAR officials discovered the front of Truex's car was too low and therefore did not meet the required height specification.

In July, the team was penalized after the right rear quarter panel on the No.1 car was found to be too high during post-race inspection at Chicagoland Speedway. Truex and Earnhardt sustained a 25-point loss each, while Manion was fined $25,000 and placed on probation until December 31. Manion remains on probation for the remainder of the year following the Texas violation.

HT Motorsports and Cook parted ways following last weekend's race at Texas Motor Speedway. Cook started in 23 truck events for the team this season. He is currently 12th in points, with four top-five finishes and nine top-10's for the year.

"We want to thank Terry for his hard work and efforts for this HT Motorsports Racing Team this year," team owner Jim Harris said in a statement. "We have worked with Terry on and off for a few years in the Camping World Truck Series, and see him as a key component in building HT Motorsports to what it is today. He is a huge advocate for the series, and we wish him the best in his racing career." Cook has recorded six victories in 313 career truck starts. His most recent win came in Jul

Johnson had been on cruise control for his unprecedented fourth straight Cup title until his Chase mulligan unexpectedly occurred with a lap three crash in the Dickies 500. He spent more than one hour in the garage for repairs, and then limped home to a 38th-place finish.

While Johnson held a commanding 184-point lead prior to Sunday's race, the topic of conversation had been his apparent opportunity to clinch the championship next weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. Now, the title scenario has changed with a major shakeup in points among the top-three drivers.

Busch drove the final 64 laps without pitting. Kyle Busch also gambled but ran out of fuel with three laps remaining, allowing brother Kurt to take the lead and capture his second victory of the season.

Johnson spent one hour and eight minutes behind the wall after crashing on the third lap and sustaining damage to the front end of his No.48 Chevrolet. On the third lap, David Reutimann made slight contact with Sam Hornish Jr., and Hornish then bumped Johnson, sending him into the inside retaining wall along the backstretch.

Johnson, who is attempting to win his unprecedented fourth straight Sprint Cup Series championship, sustained major damage to the front end of his No.48 Chevrolet.

David Reutimann made slight contact with Sam Hornish Jr., and Hornish then bumped Johnson, sending him into the inside retaining wall along the backstretch.

Busch started sixth, but blew by pole sitter Matt Kenseth for the lead after 10 laps. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver then led 179 laps in the 200-lap race to claim his series-high eighth victory of the season and the 29th of his career. Busch joined Brendan Gaughan as the only drivers to win four NASCAR races in a row at Texas. Gaughan picked up four straight Truck Series victories here from 2002-03.

"We out-wrestled all these guys today," Busch said. "This track is fun. It's fun when you have good cars of course." Busch is now two-for-two this weekend at Texas. He bumped Ron Hornaday Jr. out of the way for the lead with less than 50 laps to go, and then held off a hard-charging Matt Crafton at the finish to win Friday's truck race here. Busch will attempt to become the

The 24-year-old driver grabbed the lead from Ron Hornaday Jr. with less than 50 laps to go when he bumped Hornaday, causing him to wiggle. Busch finished one second ahead of Crafton to claim his series-leading seventh win of the season.

"It's an accomplishment to beat [Hornaday's] team here that's for sure, and we got it done today," said Busch, who won at Bristol, Chicagoland, New Hampshire and Talladega before Texas. "I hate seeing [Crafton] finish second to me. I really wish he could get a win." Busch has now scored 60 career wins combined in all three of NASCAR's national touring series, including 18 this year.