Franchitti was 41st in points without a top-10 in 10 starts. His best finish was a 22nd-place result at Martinsville in March. The Edinburgh, Scotland native, married to Ashley Judd and now living in Nashville, TN, was the 2007 IndyCar Series champion and Indianapolis 500 winner.

"This is a difficult decision for Felix and I that did not come without its share of anguish," said Ganassi in the team's release. "In this tough business environment continuing to run the car without proper funding has become increasingly difficult." Ganassi has two other cars which will still compete in Sprint Cup racing - the No.41 with driver Reed Sorenson and the No.42 Dodge with Juan Pablo Montoya behind the wheel.

NASCAR Coke Zero 400 - Daytona International Speedway - Daytona Beach, FL When the Sprint Cup Series returns to the Daytona International Speedway for their "mid-summer classic" this weekend, it's a good bet we could see the resurgence of Tony Stewart. Currently ninth in the championship standings, the No.20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota driver has not won a Sprint Cup event since 31 races ago at Watkins Glen in August 2007. But don't be surprised if that streak comes to an end very soon.

"Smoke" has been known for his hot streaks during the summer months. During his second championship season in 2005, all five of his victories for the year came in a seven-race stretch from June to August. Last season, he picked up back-to-back wins at Chicagoland and Indianapolis in July before his mo

Montoya later admitted during a post-race television interview that he had intentionally hit the current Sprint Cup Series points leader. NASCAR assessed a two-lap penalty to Montoya resulting in a 32nd-place finish. No further penalties will be forthcoming.

Busch claimed he had no idea what caused the altercation with Montoya. Montoya had a different view. He said that Busch hit him on the backstretch and then during the caution did not give him enough room.

Busch was declared the winner as NASCAR officials called the race at lap 284.

The victory was Busch's first of the season and the 18th of his Sprint Cup career.

The No.10 Gillett Evernham Dodge driver circled the 1.058-mile oval in 29.349 seconds (129.776 m.p.h.). The pole victory was the first of the former road racer's career.

"The car was good this morning, but the guys made a few changes...and really hooked it up," said Carpentier.

He is 484 points behind leader Kyle Busch. Bowyer finished third in last year's championship. For his career Bowyer has earned two wins and 36 top-10s in 89 starts.

Bowyer is leading the Nationwide Series standings, 188 points ahead of Brad Keselowski and 205 points ahead of defending series champion Carl Edwards.

"I'm extremely happy and relieved to have this contract complete," said Biffle.

"I have a team that can contend for the championship this season and for future seasons as well.

"We've put a ton of emphasis on the No. 5 program," said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. "It's been a total team effort, and Casey has worked as hard as anyone to help us improve. We've tested more than we ever have, but the results just haven't come.

"None of us, Casey included, have been satisfied with the situation this season.

By Steve Schwarz, Motorsports Editor Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - NASCAR's Sprint Cup race highlights this week's schedule as they head down to the final 10 races before the "Chase for the Sprint Cup" begins.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Lenox Industrials Tool 301 - New Hampshire International Speedway - Loudon, NH It was just six weeks ago that Matt Kenseth was seemingly out of the "Chase for the Sprint Cup." Just after the race at Richmond in early May, the No.17 Roush Fenway Racing driver was mired in 22nd place more than 200 points behind the 12th and final position in the "playoffs." But Kenseth, who along with Jimmie Johnson are the only drivers to make the "Chase" in each of the first four years, began his push with a sixth-place finish at Darlington and since then has posted seven consecutive top-10s. After his eighth-place result last Sunday in Sonoma, Kenseth finds himself in 12th place and in the "Chase." For Kenseth, the eighth-place finish at Sonoma, a place he

Drivers like Denny Hamlin have complained to NASCAR of heat and carbon monoxide issues with the COT. That prompted the sanctioning body to begin monitoring both problems last week at Michigan International Speedway.

NASCAR continues to check for unsafe carbon monoxide levels, but they haven't found anything yet.

The victory was Busch's fifth of the season and ninth of his Sprint Cup career.

Twice Busch made pit stops just before a caution flag and it set him up with the lead on the final run to the checkered flag.

The pole victory was Kahne's second of the season, first on a road course and 16th of his "Cup" career. He is the hottest driver in NASCAR with three wins in the last five races. Kahne finished second to Dale Earnhardt Jr. last week in Michigan.

"The guys gave me a great car and we were able to make a smooth lap," said Kahne. "I'm really looking forward to the race." Starting alongside Kahne on the front row will be two-time series champion Jimmie Johnson who posted a time of 1:17.836 seconds.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Toyota/Save Mart 350 - Infineon Raceway - Sonoma, CA The NASCAR marathon season heads to California for a change of pace - a road course race. It is the first of two such races - the second is scheduled for August 10th in Watkins Glen, NY.

It was just one year ago that Juan Pablo Montoya stunned the NASCAR regulars and "road-course ringers" with his victory at Infineon.

It began on Wednesday with the announcement of a lawsuit against NASCAR by a former employee. Former Nationwide Series official Mauricia Grant sued NASCAR for $225 million, claiming 23 incidents of sexual harassment and 34 incidents of racial and gender discrimination.

Does Grant have a case? I will leave that for the courts to decide.

"I didn't think we had enough fuel when the caution came out," said Earnhardt Jr. "We had it set up for the win if we didn't have a caution.

"Great job, I'm proud of you," said owner Rick Hendrick." The race came down to saving fuel and Earnhardt Jr. did it better than anyone else.

Eleven drivers had made their qualifying runs when the rains came, but by NASCAR rule, if all drivers have not completed their laps the starting grid is based on owner points.

Greg Biffle was the fastest of the 11 that had taken to the track, with a fastest lap of 38.545 seconds (186.795 m.p.h.).

Busch raced in the truck series on Friday night, the Nationwide Series on Saturday and the Sprint Cup Series at Pocono on Sunday. He finished 2nd on Friday, 20th on Saturday and a disappointing 43rd (last) on Sunday in the most important race of the weekend.

The Pocono 500 cost him 121 of his 142-point lead leaving him with just a 21 point edge over Jeff Burton. But in truth, winning the Sprint Cup "regular" season means nothing. Only qualifying for the 10-race "Chase for the Sprint Cup" is of importance and Busch still

The victory was Kahne's second of the regular season and ninth of his "Cup" career.

The key to winning the race was how Kahne calmly rebounded when his team stumbled on an early pit stop.

The No.9 Budweiser Dodge circled the 2.5- mile tri-oval in 52.873 seconds (170.219 m.p.h.).

The pole victory was Kahne's first of the season and 15th of his Sprint Cup career. The last time he started on the front row, Kahne won the Coca-Cola 600 from the second starting position.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Pocono 500 - Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, PA Kyle Busch is showing the world he is a great race car driver, but this week he may be biting off more than he can chew.

Busch will attempt to drive in three different races at three different sites.

Kyle Busch dominated the Best Buy 400 for his fourth win of the season, and 10th if you combine his wins in the Nationwide and Craftsman Series. Busch has been the best driver on the track this season and watching him slice through traffic is worth the price of admission.

Busch now leads the Sprint Cup Series by 142 points and can coast into the "Chase for the Sprint Cup." Of course, those who have seen him race know he will never coast, as Busch drives his car at 110 percent at all times. He is also second in the Nationwide standings and has a great shot at becoming the first driver to win NASCAR's

The victory was Busch's fourth of the season and eighth of his Sprint Cup career.

On the second-to-last pit stop, a green-flag stop, Busch was running second to Edwards.

The No.16 Roush Fenway Racing driver circled the one-mile cement oval, known as the "Monster Mile" in 23.193 seconds (155.219 m.p.h.).

The pole victory was Biffle's second of the season and sixth of his Sprint Cup career.

Bootie Barker and Derick Jennings of Riggs' team, and Dave Skog and Thomas Harris of Sauter's squad were not only given a six-race suspension until July 9, but they were also placed on probation until the end of the year.

The cars of both Riggs and Sauter were in violation because the rear wings for their cars were both altered.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Best Buy 400 - Dover International Speedway - Dover, DE Kyle Busch is currently the best driver in NASCAR, whether you pick the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series or Craftsman Truck Series.

All told, Busch has made 30 starts in NASCAR's three major series' in 2008 and has earned nine wins (30%), finished in the top-10 20 times (67%) and led a total of 1607 laps.