Carl Edwards
Jimmie Johnson (48) pulls up next to Chase Elliott (9) in Turn 4 following Elliott's season championship victory in the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Phoenix Raceway, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
Column: NASCAR closes stabilized, and energized by Elliott

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 09, 2020 01:45 PM EST

FILE - Daniel Suarez talks to the media before practice for a NASCAR Cup Series auto race on Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. Suarez, who landed his ride two weeks before the season-opening Daytona 500, will not return to Gaunt Brothers Racing next season. The team said Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, it was a mutual decision for the Mexican driver to leave the team. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
Suarez on the move again after parting with Gaunt Brothers

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 15, 2020 10:25 AM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 22, 2017, file photo, Matt Kenseth answers questions during NASCAR Daytona 500 media day at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Former NASCAR champion Matt Kenseth will once again come out of retirement to compete for Chip Ganassi Racing as the replacement for fired driver Kyle Larson. Larson lost his job two weeks ago for using a racial slur while competing in a virtual race. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)
Matt Kenseth back to NASCAR as Larson replacement at Ganassi

By Jenna Fryer Apr. 27, 2020 11:37 AM EDT

FILE - In this Monday, Feb. 17, 2020 file photo,Denny Hamlin celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. NASCAR eased off the brake in the real sports world brought to a sudden halt by the coronavirus and introduced the country to iRacing with some of the sports biggest stars. Hamlin, the three-time Daytona 500 winner, beat Dale Earnhardt Jr. off the final corner Sunday, March 22, 2020 at virtual Homestead-Miami Speedway to win the bizarre spectacle. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)
Burton, Earnhardt, Edwards headline Hall of Fame nominees

By Jenna Fryer Apr. 07, 2020 04:07 PM EDT

Ryan Newman (6) goes airborne after crashing into Corey LaJoie (32) during the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race Monday, Feb. 17, 2020, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Sunday's running of the race was postponed by rain. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Ryan Newman Daytona 500 crash shows racing never truly safe

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 18, 2020 06:49 PM EST

FILE - In this April 28, 2007, file photo, Bobby Labonte, left, and Tony Stewart, right, celebrate Labonte's win in the NASCAR Busch Series' Aaron's 312 auto race at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Ala. Joe Gibbs, already an NFL Hall of Famer, will be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame alongside Tony Stewart and Bobby Labonte, two drivers who helped him build one of NASCAR’s top teams while giving “Coach Joe” three of the organization’s five titles. (AP Photo/Rob Carr, File)
Stewart headlines celebratory night for Joe Gibbs Racing

By Jenna Fryer Jan. 31, 2020 08:49 PM EST

FILE - In this July 29, 2016, file photo, racing legend Richard Petty, right, stands with Jimmie Johnson (48) in the garage area of Pocono Raceway during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pennsylvania 400 auto race in Long Pond, Pa. Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson says 2020 will be his final season of full-time racing. The winningest driver of his era will have a 19th season in the No. 48 Chevrolet and once again chase a record eighth championship. Johnson made the announcement in a video posted on social media, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File)
7-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson to retire after 2020

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 20, 2019 01:01 PM EST

Kyle Busch, front left, celebrates with teammates in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto racing season championship on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. (AP Photo/David Graham)
Column: NASCAR bullish on future after promising rebound

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 18, 2019 05:57 PM EST

Kevin Harvick waits in the garage for a NASCAR Cup Series auto race practice to begin on Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. Harvick is one of four drivers racing for the series championship. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Last hurrah for Homestead: track hosts final title races

By Mark Long Nov. 16, 2019 02:26 AM EST

Cole Custer talks to the media before a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race practice on Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Suarez ousted at Stewart-Haas for Cole Custer promotion

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 15, 2019 11:47 AM EST

FILE - In this June 29, 2018, file photo, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., talks to media during a practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Roush Fenway Racing will split at the end of the season and Chris Buescher will replace him in 2020. Although his contract is believed to run through 2021, the team said Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019, it will part ways with the two-time Xfinity Series champion at the end of the year. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)
Stenhouse firing makes for frenzied NASCAR free agency

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 27, 2019 05:41 PM EDT

FILE - In this Wednesday, Oct. 6, 1999 file photo, Bobby Labonte, left, of Corpus Christi, Texas celebrates in victory lane with team owner Joe Gibbs after winning the pole position for Sunday's UAW-GM 500 race at the Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. Tony Stewart headlines a Joe Gibbs racing trio that has been elected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The three-time Cup Series champion will be inducted alongside car owner Joe Gibbs and former teammate Bobby Labonte. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)
Stewart, Gibbs, Labonte elected to NASCAR Hall of Fame

By Steve Reed May. 22, 2019 05:26 PM EDT

Daniel Suarez speaks to reporters after practice for a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, Friday, March 29, 2019. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Suarez more relaxed, happier with SHR, starting 4th at Texas

By Stephen Hawkins Mar. 29, 2019 08:53 PM EDT

Corey LaJoie leans over the hood of his car with a likeness of him painted on the front end before a practice session for the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Friday, Feb. 15, 2019, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
New-look Daytona 500 has a certain throwback feel

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 17, 2019 02:42 AM EST

Kevin Harvick holds up his trophy after winning the first of two qualifying auto races for the NASCAR Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Fresh faces and new sponsors give Daytona 500 throwback feel

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 16, 2019 07:13 PM EST

Corey LaJoie leans over the hood of his car with a likeness of him painted on the front end before a practice session for the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Friday, Feb. 15, 2019, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Fresh faces and new sponsors give Daytona 500 throwback feel

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 15, 2019 12:23 PM EST

FILE - In this July 5, 2018, file photo, Kyle Larson laughs with crew members as he gets ready for NASCAR auto racing practice at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. As Larsen enters his sixth season at NASCAR's top level it is clear that once he starts winning on a consistent basis he could become the biggest star in the country. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)
NASCAR needs new stars and Kyle Larson may save the sport

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 01, 2019 01:07 PM EST

File-This Mat 24, 2018, file photo shows Daniel Suarez looking down pit road before qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Aeries auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C. Suarez will hit a reset on his career, getting a second chance to prove he can win at NASCAR's top level. Pushed out of a ride with Joe Gibbs Racing, one of the top teams in the sport, Suarez found a soft landing at Stewart-Haas Racing. The SHR four-driver lineup combined for 12 victories last season and claimed half the spots in the round of eight in the playoffs. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)
Suarez gets 2nd shot to show he can ride with NASCAR's best

By Jenna Fryer Jan. 07, 2019 03:25 PM EST

FILE - In this July 20, 2018, file photo, Kurt Busch waits in his car before NASCAR Cup Series auto racing practice at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H. NASCAR's driver carousel will spin long after the season finale. Former Cup champions Busch and Matt Kenseth, and Daniel Suarez, AJ Allmendinger, Regan Smith and Jamie McMurray are among the drivers certain to start next season with new teams or new roles. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm, File)
Former NASCAR champs Busch, Kenseth set to move on in 2019

By Dan Gelston Nov. 18, 2018 10:51 AM EST