Joey Logano Nears Raybestos Rookie Of The Year Title

Points remain to be totaled but Joey Logano (No. 20 Home Depot Toyota) is the prohibitive favorite to claim 2009 Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors with only Sunday’s Ford 400 left on the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule.

Logano, who grabbed his 25th rookie of the race award at Phoenix, leads rivals Scott Speed (No. 82 Red Bull Toyota) and Max Papis (No. 13 GEICO Toyota) by 36 and 88 points, respectively.

Logano won in mid-summer at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

The Connecticut native at age 19 years, five months, 29 days would become the youngest rookie of the year in the history of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&Ms Toyota) was age 20 years, six months, 13 days when he won the title in 2005.

Winning the rookie of the year title is a good indication of things to come. NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee Richard Petty won the award in 1959; David Pearson was top rookie in 1960.

Continue reading “Joey Logano almost rookie of the year”

Hendrick Nears Owner Record

Based upon owner championships won, Hendrick Motorsports is the New York Yankees of NASCAR.

Drivers in Rick Hendrick-owned cars and trucks have won 11 NASCAR national series titles. Either Jimmie Johnson or Mark Martin will add a record 12th championship on Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The record currently is shared by Hendrick and Richard Childress Racing.

Four drivers — Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Terry Labonte and Jack Sprague — have won NASCAR national owner championships for Hendrick. Gordon, Johnson and Labonte won NASCAR Sprint Cup titles. Sprague is a three-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion.

Continue reading “The Hendrick Motorsports Dynasty”

NSCS Recap: Johnson Widens Chase Lead With Win At Phoenix

Jimmie Johnson celebrates winning the Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil at Phoenix International Raceway, his seventh victory of 2009. (Photo credit: CIA STOCK PHOTO)
By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

AVONDALE, Ariz.—From his fiasco in Forth Worth, Jimmie Johnson rose like a phoenix in—where else?—Phoenix.

A week after teasing his Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup competitors with a 38th-place finish at Texas Motor Speedway—his worst of the season—Johnson regained control of his championship run by winning Sunday’s Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.

Continue reading “Jimmie Johnson on doorstep of 4th title”

RACE RECAP | PHOENIX
10 David Reutimann
9 Jeff Gordon
8 Juan Pablo Montoya
7 Clint Bowyer
6 Kurt Busch
5 Martin Truex Jr. (pole sitter) first top 5 this season
4 Mark Martin
3 Denny Hamlin
2 Jeff Burton best finish of the season

VICTORY LANE

1 A week after wrecking at Texas, Jimmie Johnson went out and led the most laps (238) on his way to winning the race. Jimmie now leads the points by 108 and needs to finish 25th or better next week regardless of how Mark Martin does.

OTHER STORIES ON THE DAY

-A big wreck when Dale Earnhardt Jr. spun his 88 machine, collecting Bobby Labonte, Brian Vickers, Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth, Michael Waltrip and others.

-So we’ve got two points battles heading into Homestead / Miami. Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin, and Jeff Gordon and Kurt Busch for that 3rd spot and a possible Hendrick Motorsports 1-2-3 points finish for the season.

PHOTO: CIA STOCK PHOTO