Johnson, who placed 21st in the only practice of the day , turned a blistering lap around the 1.5-mile oval at 173.919 m.p.h. (31.049 seconds) for his fourth pole of the season and the 23rd of his Sprint Cup Series career. He also claimed his second pole at Homestead, with his first one here coming in 2007.

"Great effort, obviously," Johnson said. "I'm very proud of what we did today. To bounce back from 21st [in practice], I knew we were going to be better than 21st." Johnson holds a comfortable 108-point lead over Hendrick Motorsports teammate Mark Martin heading into the season-ending race. If Johnson finishes 25th or better, he will clinch his unprecedented fourth straight Cup championship, regardless of Martin's performance.

"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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Gordon, currently third in points, lapped the 1.5-mile oval at 191.117 m.p.h. (28.255 seconds) for his 68th career Sprint Cup Series pole, but his first since last year's fall race at Texas.

"We've been so close this year, and have been getting beat on these poles by Mark Martin, Ryan Newman, Jimmie Johnson and a bunch of them, so that was a great lap," said Gordon, who has won a pole in 17 consecutive seasons.

Jimmie Johnson got a huge boost in his quest for an unprecedented fourth straight Sprint Cup Series championship after surviving last Sunday's "wild- card" race in the Chase at Talladega. Johnson avoided the big one -- a 13-car pileup -- on the second to last lap and finished sixth, allowing him to take a 184-point lead over Mark Martin and a 192-point advantage over Jeff Gordon with three races remaining.

Martin was caught up in the big wreck at Talladega, as his car went airborne and then flipped on the track. He wound up finishing 28th. Gordon ran out of fuel during a late-race caution that led to a 20th-place run.

The Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series also run at the high-speed 1.5-mile track.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Dickies 500 - Texas Motor Speedway - Fort Worth, TX Jimmie Johnson got a huge boost in his quest for an unprecedented fourth straight Sprint Cup Series championship after surviving last Sunday's "wild- card" race in the Chase at Talladega. Johnson avoided the big one -- a 13-car pileup -- on the second to last lap and finished sixth, allowing him to take a 184-point lead over Mark Martin and a 192-point advantage over Jeff Gordon with three races remaining.

Two months ago, Penske named Keselowski the full-time driver of the No.12 car for the 2010 Sprint Cup campaign. The 25-year-old driver already has run a limited Cup schedule this year with Hendrick Motorsports and Phoenix Racing. He is currently third in Nationwide Series points, driving the No.88 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports, which is co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Rick Hendrick.

"Penske Racing wants to give Brad an opportunity to work with the team and get to know the race car as we prepare for the 2010 season," team owner Roger Penske said in a statement. "These three races will provide a good base for both Brad and the team as we head into next year. Penske Racing also thanks David Stremme for his contributions to the team th

During Sunday's pre-race drivers' meeting for the Amp Energy 500, NASCAR announced to teams that there would be a ban on bump-drafting through the high 33-degree banking turns at Talladega. Officials warned drivers an aggressive driving penalty would be assessed for anyone caught bumping in the turns. NASCAR tinkered with the rules change throughout the weekend after Michael Waltrip was parked for the last 30 minutes of final practice due to aggressive driving. Waltrip bump-drafted behind Jimmie Johnson's car throughout the 2.66- mile track.

Hours after NASCAR gave their stern warning on bump-drafting, drivers responded in a way that made for a boring race at Talladega, instead of the excitin

McMurray crossed the finish line in the lead when the caution flag was displayed for a multi-car crash that featured Mark Martin's car flipping on the track during a green-white-checkered finish.

McMurray scored his third career Cup victory, but his first since July 2008 at Daytona.

McMurray held the lead in the Amp Energy 500 when it ended under caution for a multi-car crash that featured Mark Martin's car sliding upside down on the track one lap away from the finish.

A horrifying accident involving Ryan Newman set up a green-white-checkered finish. Newman's car turned upside down on Kevin Harvick's car and then hit the outside wall before it slid down the track and barrel-rolled on the infield grass. He was not injured, but had to be cut out of the car.

Jimmie Johnson will start on the pole since he is currently atop the standings. Johnson, who is attempting to win his unprecedented fourth straight SprintCup Series championship, holds a 118-point lead over Hendrick Motorsports teammate and closest competitor Mark Martin.

Johnson last started on the pole at Talladega in October 2002, when qualifying here also was canceled due to bad weather.

McGrew, 41, took over crew chief duties for Earnhardt Jr. on an interim basis May 28 when Tony Eury Jr.

was reassigned to another position within the racing organization.

The probation lasts until December 31, about two weeks after his scheduled trial date of December 18.

Allmendinger's blood-alcohol content was .08 when he was stopped by police. He was released from custody just before 4 a.m. (et).

Allmendinger's blood-alcohol content was .08 when he was stopped by police. He was released from custody just before 4 a.m. (et).

The No. 44 driver for Richard Petty Motorsports, Allmendinger missed the Chase for the Sprint Cup and is currently 25th in the points standings. He has yet to win a race in his three years in the Sprint Cup Series.