... drought," he said, trying to hold back laughter. "It feels good to be back." Counting the final race of the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season in 2003 and last week's Daytona 500, it had been two races since Newman won his last pole. He ...

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (AP) - Mark Martin doesn't expect much to change Sunday when NASCAR's new softer tires and rear spoiler combination gets its first real test at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

LAS VEGAS - All the controversy and rule changes that followed Matt Kenseth a year ago continued to be a driving force for the defending stock car champion during the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

LAS VEGAS - NASCAR responded to a lot of confusion concerning its scoring procedures Sunday by warning drivers to slow down as soon as the caution flag waves during a race.

BRISTOL, Tenn. - Jamie McMurray will start Sunday afternoon's Food City 500 as the 19th-ranked driver in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series standings. And since the top 10 drivers after 26 races move into the "Chase for the Championship," McMurray is starting to look for a loophole into the championship race.

TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) - Ricky Rudd gave the Wood Brothers team its first pole in 20 years, taking the top spot Friday in qualifying for the NASCAR Nextel Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway.

CONCORD, N.C. - Brian Vickers is short on experience in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series.

JOLIET, Ill. - Tony Stewart's act apparently is wearing thin on some of the teams on the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. Following his run-in with race leader Kasey Kahne during Sunday's Tropicana 400 at the Chicagoland Speedway, car ...

FONTANA, Calif. (AP) - Jeremy Mayfield and Kasey Kahne need a good race weekend at California Speedway.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Mark Martin didn't come to his final Daytona 500 expecting much, and so far, he hasn't been disappointed. A crash in Thursday's qualifying race forced his team to change just about everything on his Ford except the steering wheel.