Championship race

Analyzing the final four championship contenders in the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

Phoenix results

Kevin Harvick dominated a race he had to win to advance to the final round of NASCAR's playoffs, while Jeff Gordon was knocked out when Ryan Newman completed a last-lap pass.

Ryan Newman

Ryan Newman was in a desperate position, so he made a desperate move, bumping rookie Kyle Larson out of his way to advance to the championship round.

Final four set

Kevin Harvick needed to win at Phoenix to advance to NASCAR's version of the Final Four. He did just that, joining three other drivers in a tension-filled finish.

Kurt Busch

Team co-owner Gene Haas says he won't pull Kurt Busch from his car while police are investigating allegations of domestic assault.

Chase Elliott becomes NASCAR's youngest champion at 18

Report: Kurt Busch's ex-girlfriend custody battle delayed reporting of assault allegation

Patricia Driscoll's lawyer explains six-week wait before Dover police were contacted.

Kevin Harvick stout in final practice at Phoenix

Fight club: Crews remain permitted around cars after race

NASCAR currently has no plans to remove crew members from post-race process.

Did flared side skirt cause Texas brawl? NASCAR still not policing it

Side skirts might have caused Jeff Gordon's wreck at Texas Motor Speedway.

Lights out

Power problems halt the race 24 laps from completion.

Jeff Gordon

Jeff Gordon questions the move Brad Keselowski made on the track last week, but also is not happy with Keselowski's reaction after the race.

Kurt Busch

Kurt Busch already has a troubled past. Now he's facing another career crossroads after domestic abuse allegations.

Kurt Busch

Kurt Busch's ex-girlfriend says the NASCAR driver smashed her head against a wall and threatened to kill himself.

Kevin Harvick

Kevin Harvick says he doesn't regret shoving Brad Keselowski after last week's race at Texas, but didn't expect it to ignite a brawl.

Kurt Busch

Police in Delaware confirm they are pursuing allegations involving the NASCAR driver and his ex-girlfriend.

Kyle Larson

Despite Tony Stewart's injury last year and the tragic accident he was involved in this summer, Kyle Larson has no concerns about going sprint-car racing this summer.

Real Guys in Sports: Five greatest NASCAR hairstyles

We look at the greatest hairstyles to ever grace NASCAR.

Chase Elliott

Chase Elliott is just 18 years old, but he has a very simple and mature approach to clinching the Nationwide Series championship.

Denny Hamlin

Thanks to circumstances, Denny Hamlin is in the surprising position of competing for the Sprint Cup championship. But he knows he can't race conservatively Sunday at Phoenix.

Brad Keselowski

NASCAR longed for more than a decade for the next Dale Earnhardt. Brad Keselowski just might be that guy.

NBC team

NBC has added pit reporters Dave Burns and Mike Massaro to its NASCAR broadcast team.

Crew suspensions

NASCAR appears to have gotten it right when it suspended four crewmen for the fight at Texas. But where's the evidence to support those penalties?

NASCAR suspends four crewmen for brawl, no sanctions for drivers

Four Hendrick Motorsports crewmen were suspended for throwing punches during a postrace brawl Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway that followed contact between HMS driver Jeff Gordon and Penske driver Brad Keselowski in the waning laps.

Keselowski's bold move: Drivers hate it, NASCAR 'expects' it

In a conference call with reporters Tuesday, Denny Hamlin said Keselowski is losing the respect of the garage with the way he is driving, but NASCAR Chairman Brian France said Keselowski did what's expected of drivers.

How the 2015 testing ban helped Jimmie Johnson win at Texas

Because Johnson already was eliminated from Chase contention and because NASCAR’s new testing ban goes into effect Nov. 16, Johnson’s team decided to spend at least a full day working on the 2015 package.

Hendrick once vowed to re-hire Keselowski, but would it ever happen now?

As Keselowski continues through his career, it will be interesting to see a possible bidding war. If he keeps winning six races a year, would there be anyone who wouldn't want him? As a great talent, wouldn't any team rather have him than compete against him?

Phoenix schedule

Brad Keselowski

Roger Penske is unwavering in his support for driver Brad Keselowski after his team was involved in a big fight at Texas.

Monday Teardown

Thanks to a wild race at Texas, the Chase field is now closer than ever with one race remaining in Round 3.

Jeff Gordon fights

When Jeff Gordon confronted Brad Keselowski at Texas, setting off a wild brawl on pit road, it wasn't Gordon's first fight. Far from it.

Texas fight

Jeff Gordon took a swing at Brad Keselowski on pit road at Texas, setting off a brawl between several teams. SN's Bob Pockrass says crewmen should not have been involved.

Chad Knaus

Rumors have spread that crew chief Chad Knaus might be exploring other options. But Knaus says he plans to stick with Jimmie Johnson.

Winners & Losers

Who won at Texas? Who cares? A big fight on pit road stole the show and put NASCAR on center stage.

Kevin Harvick

Kevin Harvick likes a good fight, and he tried to stir one up when Jeff Gordon and Brad Keselowski went at it at Texas.

Gordon-Keselowski fight

Jeff Gordon was furious at Brad Keselowski and intended to send him a message when a brawl erupted at Texas Motor Speedway.

Texas results

Complete results from the AAA Texas 500 Sprint Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway.

Wild Texas finish

Jimmie Johnson won the AAA Texas 500 but all the action came after as Jeff Gordon and Brad Keselowski duked it out in the pits.

Nationwide results

Results of the O'Reilly Auto Parts Challenge Nationwide Race at Texas Motor Speedway.

Stomach virus forces Elliott Sadler out of car during Texas race

Jimmie Johnson leads final Sprint Cup practice at Texas

Texas Motor Speedway president hopes NASCAR, IndyCar will not race at COTA

Kyle Busch talks Talladega wreck, elimination from Chase

Busch laments exit from the Chase thanks to "The Big One" at Talladega.

Earnhardt Jr. enjoying grandfather clock from Martinsville win

.With little time to rest between races, Earnhardt enjoying trophy

Brad Keselowski digging deeper hole with poor qualifying at Texas

The 2012 Cup champion will start 26th Sunday.

Starting lineup breakdown for NASCAR Chase Eliminator round race at Texas

Matt Kenseth is the only Toyota driver among the top eight qualifiers; everyone else is in a Chevy.

Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup: Stewart hits 200 mph, Kenseth takes Texas pole

Tony Stewart sets a record for an intermediate track, but Matt Kenseth is fastest when it counts.

Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup: Texas qualifying results

Matt Kenseth and Jeff Gordon will start on the front row Sunday.

Earnhardt win

Dale Earnhardt Jr. always coveted Martinsville's grandfather clocks. Now he has his own. He just doesn't know where he's going to put it.

Hendrick tragedy

Dale Earnhardt Jr. thought he understood grief until he joined Hendrick Motorsports.

Winners & Losers

No one can celebrate like Dale Earnhardt Jr., and he threw a big party in victory lane at Martinsville to top our Winners & Losers.

Vickers-Kahne

Brian Vickers and Kasey Kahne saw retaliation at Martinsville differently.

Tony Stewart

It had been a long time since Tony Stewart had run up front. He did Sunday, and it was a big relief.

Harvick mad

Kevin Harvick may not win the championship after a wreck Sunday, but he vowed that Matt Kenseth won't either.

Martinsville resutls

Results from the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500.

Earnhardt wins

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is out of the Chase, but he's not done building on his big season. It's his fourth victory.

Brad Keselowski wreck

Keselowski joins Kevin Harvick as Chase drivers in trouble after his transmission breaks and causes a big wreck at Martinsville.

Kevin Harvick wreck

Kevin Harvick took a big hit in the Chase Sunday when he and Matt Kenseth wrecked at Martinsville.

Brian Vickers

As expected, there was some payback at Martinsville Speedway, with Brian Vickers spinning Kasey Kahne.

Earnhardt's Goody's video

Using hidden cameras and a new Goody's-sponsored racecar, Dale Earnahrdt Jr. surprises fans in the streets of Davidson, N.C.

Martinsville preview

By the time the Sprint Cup Series typically gets to Martinsville Speedway, only a few drivers usually have a shot at the title.

Darrell Wallace Jr. wins at Martinsville again

Austin Dillon feels bad about contact with Kyle Busch at Talladega

RCR driver calls Busch's Chase ending spin 'racing incident.'

Harvick, Gordon fast in final Martinsville practice

Harvick's test

Struggles in practice and qualifying put Harvick, who was fast all season, far back in the pack.

Jimmy-Chad

A winning combination for 13 years, Johnson and Knaus bet the odds. How much longer will they be driver and chief?

Danica-Ricky

Patrick benefited from Ricky Stenhouse Jr. missing the race but she wasn’t happy about it.

Martinsville lineup

For the second consecutive race, a driver who didn’t even make it into the Chase for the Sprint Cup will lead the field to green.

Martinsville lineup

Non-Chaser Jamie McMurray will be on the pole for Sunday's race. Joey Logano will be next to him.

Martinsville qualifying

Jamie McMurray won the pole Friday at Martinsville Speedway, but he is surrounded by drivers in the Chase.

Danica Patrick

Danica Patrick has had old-school crew chiefs throughout her career. She's hoping one with an engineering approach can help her succeed.

Kurt Busch

Tony Gibson knows Kurt Busch is an intense, passionate competitor. The veteran crew chief knows how to handle the fiery driver.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. girlfriend

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and girlfriend Amy Reimann can't even share a kiss in public without the cameras catching them.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Where did Ricky Stenhouse Jr. watch the race after failing to qualify last week at Talladega?

Martisville practice

Chase drivers Jeff Gordon and Joey Logano are the early favorites at Martinsville after the first Sprint Cup practice.

Danica Patrick

Stewart-Haas Racing has a lot of issues and priorities heading into 2015. Helping Danica Patrick improve should be a big one.

Hendrick plane crash

Jimmie Johnson wants to win again at Martinsville Speedway, but for a very special reason. Johnson wants to win for the families affected by the 2004 Hendrick plane crash.

Missing woman

Police are searching for a missing woman last seen near the NASCAR race at Talladega Sunday.

Fan favorites

With Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson eliminated from the Chase, who do fans pull for now?

Chase long shots

Four of the remaining eight Chase drivers have been up front all year. The other four have not. But they still have hope under the new system.

Danica crew chief

Danica Patrick didn't need a new crew chief. Kurt Busch did. The moves by Stewart-Haas Racing could determine the future for both drivers.

Danica's new team

Danica Patrick and Kurt Busch will have new crew chiefs in 2015. While Busch will work with veteran Tony Gibson, Danica is waiting to see who her pit boss will be.

Earnhardt concussion

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was treated by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center when he suffered a concussion in 2012. Now he is working with the school's concussion program.

Truck Series field

NASCAR is reducing the size of its Truck Series fields and making changes to the qualifying formats for trucks and the Xfinity Series.

Martinsville

If drivers are holding a grudge and looking for payback, Martinsville Speedway is a track where they could enact revenge. Chase drivers will be on the lookout.

Brad Keselowski

Brad Keselowski refuses to be intimidated, but he insists he's not like The Intimidator.

SHR shakeup

The 10 and 41 teams are trading places.

Jealous? Drivers say jealousy not part of rift with Brad Keselowski

Keselowski's pursuit of championships might ruffle some feathers, but his fellow drivers say they're not jealous. Instead, they respect his hustle.

Logano clears air with Patrick over Charlotte wreck

Joey Logano hopes that he has cleared the air enough with Danica Patrick that she won’t take matters into her own hands in the next four weeks as he competes for a Sprint Cup title.

NASCAR won't penalize Newman, rules race damage cause for height violation

Ryan Newman was not penalized for his car being too low following the race Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway.

Ned Yost and Dale Earnhardt

When Ned Yost makes his first appearance as a major league manager in the World Series, he will take the memory of longtime friend Dale Earnhardt with him.

Opening Chase round at Talladega a better option

Talladega belongs in the Chase. But as an elimination race in the second round? It still leaves a little bit of a bad taste in the mouth, especially for fans whose drivers were eliminated.

Martinsville schedule

The weekend schedule and TV coverage for the Chase race at Martinsville Speedway

Brad Keselowski

Brad Keselowski may lose his temper and get himself in trouble sometimes, but that's just fine with team owner Roger Penske.

Raymond Beadle

Raymond Beadle, who owned the car Rusty Wallace drove to the 1989 Cup championship, died at age 70.

Kenseth-Keselowski

At Charlotte, Matt Kenseth shoved Brad Keselowski in anger. A week later, he pushed him to the win at Talladega.

Kyle Busch

Kyle Busch's good luck in the Chase for the Sprint Cup finally ran out at Talladega.

Jimmie Johnson

Jimmie Johnson didn't get the breaks he needed at Talladega as three Hendrick drivers fail to advance.

Winners & Losers

Hendrick Motorsports corned the market on disappointment at Talladega, with three of its four drivers failing to advance to the third round of the Chase. Our Winners & Losers.

Ryan Newman car

Ryan Newman's car failed postrace inspection at Talladega Sunday night, and a points penalty could impact whether he advances to Round 3 of the Chase.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was eliminated from the Chase after a late wreck at Talladega. But he was in trouble even before that.

Talladega results

Results from the Sprint Cup Geico 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.

Talladega

Brad Keselowski needed to win to advance to the third round of the Chase. And despite a drama-filled week, he scored one of the biggest wins of his career.

Busch wreck

Kyle Busch's hopes of advancing to the third round of the Chase suffered a big blow when Busch was caught up in a big wreck at Talladega.

Talladega wreck

Four Chase drivers were involved in the first big wreck at Talladega.

NASCAR 2004

It's been 10 years since Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s last win at Talladega. A lot has changed in the sport since then. Take a look.

Tony Gibson

Crew Tony Gibson has signed a contract extension to remain with Stewart-Haas Racing, but there is no guarantee he will remain with driver Danica Patrick.

Weird qualifying

The new qualifying format at Talladega was supposed to make things better. Instead, drivers like Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Justin Allgaier were both confused and left out of the race.

Geico 500 lineup

If Sunday's Geico 500 is anything like Saturday's qualifying, won by Brian Vickers, the elimination race of the second round of the Chase won't lack any drama.

Brian Vickers wins first pole since 2009 after confusing qualifying session

Two drivers, including Ricky Stenhouse Jr., failed to qualify for the Geico 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.

Timothy Peters wins Truck Series race at Talladega

Dale Earnhardt Jr. not sweating shifter, tires as being up front only worry at Talladega

Dale Earnhardt Jr. only has to worry about finishing first Sunday at Talladega.

NASCAR won't OK tribute paint scheme for Terry Labonte

NASCAR won't approve a paint scheme combining two of Labonte's old cars.

Kyle Busch, wife expecting first child

Season on the brink at Talladega for some of the best in NASCAR this season

Kenseth, Keselowski, Johnson, Earnhardt Jr.: They’re all on the outside looking in, either needing to win or having a good finish combined with help to advance to the next round of the new Chase for the Sprint Cup.

Terry Labonte ready to call Talladega his last Cup race

Labonte, or the "Iceman," has two Cup titles (1984 and 1996) and 22 victories in 889 career starts.

Why Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano won't start-and-park at Talladega

The drivers will be locked into the next round of the Chase by Sunday, but professionalism and strategy will keep them on the track.

Drivers learning new qualifying format at Talladega

Drivers must get their heads around new qualifying format for Saturday.

Matt Kenseth has no regrets while Keselowski says race wasn't time to be making friends

Neither Matt Kenseth or Brad Keselowksi made apologies for their scuffle in Charlotte last Saturday.

Hamlin

Hamlin was in a joking mood when talking about his feud with Brad Keselowski.

Clint Bowyer leads Friday practice at Talladega

Johnson admits 'frustration is high' going into Talladega

Jimmie Johnson is 11th in the Chase for the Sprint Cup points after postseason setbacks.

SportsCenter incorrectly reports Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s mood

NASCAR TV ratings

Most people assume that NASCAR TV ratings would plummet if Dale Earnhardt Jr. were eliminated from the Chase. Earnhardt doesn't buy that theory.

Matt Kenseth

Matt Kenseth is known as a mild-mannered guy, but he showed last week he won't be pushed around. Dale Earnhardt Jr. even says Kenseth has an old nickname.

Dale Call

You can now buy Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s popular "Dale Call," but that doesn't mean he'll come racing through the woods in his car.

John Force

At 65, NHRA legend John Force is racing for a 17th championship. But he's also making up for lost time and paving the way for his drag-racing daughters.

Tony Stewart

Tony Stewart has to pay a heavy fine for hitting another car on pit road at Charlotte. But he may pay an even higher price in the court of public opinion.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. faces a must-win situation this week at Talladega Superspeedway. Still, he says the new Chase has "served us well."

Talladega

The strategy is simple: don't wreck. But how do you avoid the 'big one' at a track where you know it's going to happen.

Keselowski fine

Brad Keselowski and Tony Stewart were both fined Tuesday for their roles in the wild postrace incidents at Charlotte Saturday.

Dangerous garage maneuver should mean points penalty for Brad Keselowski

Fines are at least expected for Keselowski and Matt Kenseth and the bigger question is whether NASCAR will issue points penalties or even suspend Keselowski.

What do they have to do? NASCAR clinch scenarios for Talladega

Eight of the 12 drivers advance to the third round following Talladega. Winners (as long as still in the Chase) automatically get one of those eight spots with the rest determined by points.

Kevin Harvick

Now that he has snapped a long winless streak, Kevin Harvick has his eye on more wins and the Sprint Cup championship.

Monday Teardown

Drivers were shocked to see Matt Kenseth's anger and emotional reaction after Saturday's race at Charlotte. They were not so surprised at Brad Keselowski.

Talladega schedule

The weekend schedule and TV coverage for the Chase race at Talladega Superspeedway.

Winners & Losers

Talladega was supposed to be the wildest race of the Chase. But it will be hard to top the mayhem at Charlotte.

Chase troubles

Drivers who dominated the regular season are one race away from being eliminated from the Chase.

Charlotte drama

Why none of the participants in Saturday night's mayhem should be penalized.

Matt Kenseth goes after 'idiot' Keselowski as tempers flare following Charlotte

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was looking for a win at Charlotte to advance in the Chase, but a broken shifter ruined those plans.

Kenseth-Keselowski fight

Several people were mad at Brad Keselowski after the race at Charlotte, and Matt Kenseth and Denny Hamlin went after him.

Kenseth-Keselowski fight

Several people were mad at Brad Keselowski after the race at Charlotte, and Matt Kenseth and Denny Hamlin went after him.

Harvick wins

Kevin Harvick punches his ticket into the next round of the Chase with Saturday's win in the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Rain

Officials likely will have until 10 p.m. local time to start before postponing.

Camry debut

Five weeks remain before NASCAR bans testing, but it's not certain how much time Clint Bowyer, Kyle Busch and others will get on the track.

Tire issues in Nationwide race raise concerns for Cup at Charlotte

Nationwide race winner Brad Keselowski was highly critical of Goodyear

Brad Keselowski dominates late for fourth Nationwide win

The Penske driver's tires hold up long enough for him to take the checkered flag at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Brett Favre poem

The retired quarterback writes a birthday poem for the NASCAR driver's 40th birthday.

Tire problems

The teams for Brad Keselowski and Dale Earnhardt Jr. still want answers for the tire problems that caused them to wreck at Kansas. But so far, Goodyear has none.

Bank of America 500

The Coca-Cola 600 in May is a marathon. But the 500-mile race Saturday is no sprint. It's still one of NASCAR's most grueling and intense events.

Joey Logano

Joey Logano has never been on top of the Sprint Cup standings, especially during the Chase. He's enjoying the moment while trying not to look too far ahead.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. turned 40 Friday. His first 40 years were pretty spectacular. Bob Pockrass looks at what life after 40 might be like for NASCAR's biggest star.

Bank of America 500 lineup after Thursday qualifying

Starting lineup breakdown for Sprint Cup Chase race at Charlotte

Kyle Busch will lead the field Saturday night even though he didn't have the fastest car for most of Thursday night.

Kyle Busch earns third Sprint Cup pole of season

Kyle Busch won the pole for Saturday's race while brother Kurt set a record for fastest qualifying lap ever on a 1.5-mile track.

Charlotte qualifying

The driver of the 18 car

Jimmie Johnson

Jimmie Johnson has never been last in the Chase standings at this point in the season. But the six-time champion has a plan, and a glimmer of hope.

JR Motorsports

Dale Earnhardt Jr. loves watching Chase Elliott lead the Nationwide Series for JR Motorsports. Earnhardt sees some of himself in the young Elliott.

Ryan Newman

Ryan Newman has 51 career poles, nine of them at Charlotte Motor Speedway. But he has none this season, so he's not crazy about the new knockout qualifying format.

Cup practice

Kevin Harvick once again paced practice for the Sprint Cup race. What else is new?

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Despite a crash last week that hurt his Chase chances, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is having a good week, capped by a surprise party just before his 40th birthday.

Danica and Ricky

Racing boyfriend Ricky Stenhouse Jr. can be complicated and lead to problems, but Danica Patrick says her beau is also "cuddly."

Sam Hornish Jr.

After a failed attempt with Penske Racing and four years in the Nationwide Series, Sam Hornish Jr. is getting a second chance in Sprint Cup.

Charlotte Motor Speedway

Don't fret, hungry NASCAR fans, Charlotte Motor Speedway has you covered.

Car No. 9

Chase Elliott would like to have the No. 9 his father made famous. But Richard Petty Motorsports plans to keep the number for Sam Hornish Jr.

Sam Hornish Jr. expected to have new ride as RPM sets driver announcement

Jules Bianchi in 'critical but stable condition' after Sunday crash

Bianchi crashed on the 44th lap in Sunday's rain-shortened race at the Suzuka circuit. His car went off at Turn 7, where Sauber driver Adrian Sutil had crashed two laps earlier.

It's time to jump on the Joey Logano bandwagon

Logano is no longer a driver who might reach his potential someday nor a driver who was just not as good as advertised. He has five wins this year and appears poised to compete for a championship, writes SN's Bob Pockrass.

Michael Waltrip dances tribute to Dale Earnhardt

In a tribute to Dale Earnhardt, Waltrip talked emotionally about the 2001 Daytona 500, the race where Waltrip earned his first career Cup victory in 463 starts while his car owner and seven-time Cup champion died on the final lap.

Goodyear

As usual, Goodyear blamed tire failures at Kansas on the teams and drivers who wrecked. AP's Jenna Fyer says it's time for the tire manufacturer to stop passing the buck.

Charlotte schedule

Schedule and TV times for the Sprint Cup Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Team Penske

With Joey Logano's win Sunday and Brad Keselowski's wreck, the two Penkse teammates now have different agendas in Round 2 of the Chase.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

There's only one good thing about wrecking in a Chase race and falling to 11th in the standings — now the pressure is off, Dale Earnhardt Jr. says.

NASCAR: Kansas

Logano wins, but top Chase contenders leave in big trouble.

NASCAR: Kansas

Logano wins a pass into Round 3 of the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Major contenders are in big trouble.

Keselowski crash

Keselowski was running fifth on Lap 160 when his car suddenly veered right and hit the wall.

Junior crash

Earnhardt is leading when a tire problem sends him into the wall.

Jimmie' out

Johnson is collected in a crash on Lap 85.

F1 driver Jules Bianchi in critical condition after crash

Bianchi was unconscious when he was taken to a nearby hospital and is undergoing emergency surgery after a scan revealed a severe head injury.

Sprint Cup

Harvick will start in pole position and shows he's a danger to the Chase field with his best 10-lap speed.

Sprint Cup

Ryan Newman and Matt Kenseth will be like all drivers Sunday at Kansas: searching for grip and trying to avoid crashes.

Kansas lineup

Tell us if you’ve heard this before: Kevin Harvick will lead the field to green.

Happy lap

Considering what he’s done in recent visits to Kansas Speedway, his pole-winning run Friday is a sign he’s the prohibitive favorite Sunday for the Hollywood Casino 400.

NASCAR: Kansas qualifying results; Harvick, Vickers on front row

Kevin Harvick is on the pole (again).

Harvick on pole

Make it eight for Happy this season.

Kansas practice

Jeff Gordon, who won last week's race at Dover, is fast again.

Clint Bowyer baby

Clint Bowyer explains why he named his baby Cash, and the 'wild experience' watching his wife give birth.

Earnhardt girlfriend

Dale Earnhardt Jr. girlfriend Amy Reimann is feeling the pressure too. While Earnhardt is in the Chase, Reimann is preparing for a race of her own.

Earnhardt-Ned Yost

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a big fan of the Kansas City Royals these days. Earnhardt's dad was close friends with Royals manager Ned Yost.

Regan Smith

Regan Smith would still like to return to the Sprint Cup Series. But he has re-signed with JR Motorsports to return to the Nationwide Series next season.

Chase points

After a fast start, Brad Keselowski should be leading the Chase standings. Instead, he's tied with 11 other drivers. What's up with that?

Ryan Newman

Ryan Newman could be gloating after advancing to the second round of the Chase while Kurt Busch did not. But Newman holds no grudges against Stewart-Haas Racing.

Dale Jr.'s new role

Dale Jr. stars in a reimagined version of "Knight Rider" and the car is, well, kind of whiny.

Jeff Gordon

Jeff Gordon has won four NASCAR Cup championships, but that was so long ago Gordon says it almost doesn't matter. He wants to win his first Chase title.

Paul Menard

Paul Menard will get a new crew chief as Slugger Labbe moves into a new role at Richard Childress Racing.

Kevin Harvick

Kevin Harvick has had enough bad luck this season. He didn't need to see an Earnhardt fan with a monkey skull standing behind his car.

Clint Bowyer

What kind of father will the fun-loving Clint Bowyer be? His NASCAR peers can't imagine.

Danica

Danica Patrick will drive a pink racecar this month, and it's for a good cause — GoDaddy's “Put the Brakes on Breast Cancer” campaign.

Chase Round 2

Twelve drivers were relieved to make it out of Round 1 of the Chase last week. Now the real worrying begins as dangerous Round 2 looms.