Denny Hamlin won the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, while Jimmy Johnson secured his fourth consecutive Sprint Cup championship. Hendrick Motorsports also swept the top three positions in the final standings.
Kyle Busch took the Nationwide Series championship when the green flag flew. Then, he held off a hard-charging Carl Edwards to win the Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Denny Hamlin also made good on his threat to spin Brad Keselowski.
Lowe’s Companies has signed a three-year extension to remain as primary sponsor of Hendrick Motorsports’ No 48 team. Jimmie Johnson has also signed an extension with Hendrick to remain with the team until 2015.
Rusty Wallace Racing and Toyota Racing Development announced that RWR is switching from Chevy to Toyota in the 2010 Nationwide Series season. Drivers Steve Wallace and Brendan Gaughan will return to the team full time in 2010, as well.
Earnhardt Ganassi Racing announced that Jamie McMurray has signed on to drive the No. 1 Chevy in the Sprint Cup Series next season. Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats will also return as primary sponsor next season.
TRG Motorsports has announced that Bobby Labonte will return with the team’s No. 71 in the Sprint Cup Series in 2010. TaxSlayer.com will also return as a primary sponsor for 12 races. The team is also considering a switch to a different manufacturer. They fielded Chevys in 2009.
Jimmy Johnson followed up his Texas stumble with a victory in Phoenix. He currently has a 108-point lead over Mark Martin, meaning that Johnson needs to finish 25th or better at Homestead-Miami Speedway to clinch the championship.
Tornado Foods will sponsor Stewart Haas Racing’s No. 39 Chevy and driver Ryan Newman for five races next season.
Carl Edwards delayed the inevitable for one week with his victory in the Nationwide Series’ Able Body Labor 200 at Phoenix International Raceway. All Kyle Busch has to do to clinc the championship is start next weekend’s race.
Kevin Harvick won the Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix International Raceway, while Ron Hornaday clinched his fourth Camping World Truck Series championship with a fourth place finish in Harvick’s No. 33 truck.
