Dale Earnhardt
FILE - Team owner Rick Hendrick laughs on pit road during qualifying for the Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, in Daytona Beach, Fla., Feb. 10, 2019. The NASCAR championship will pit Rick Hendrick against Joe Gibbs as both team owners put a pair of drivers in the final four. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
Rick Hendrick to collect Cup for 14th NASCAR championship

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 30, 2021 11:53 AM EST

Ben Rhodes (99) lifts the cup after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway, Friday, Nov. 5, 2021, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
In The Pits: NASCAR caps 2021 looking ahead to future growth

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 29, 2021 02:50 PM EST

Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson stands in the doorway of the team hauler at Road Atlanta Raceway in Braselton, Georgia, Friday, Nov. 12, 2021, talking with Chad Knaus, right, his former crew chief, and Gary Nelson, team manager of the IMSA sports car Action Express Racing team. Johnson and Knaus have long had an on-and-off relationship that ended in 2019 after 17 seasons together. The two have been reunited by work four times this season as Knaus has run a sports car team that Johnson and Hendrick Motorsports put together in partnership with Action Express for four IMSA endurance sports car races this year. Both say their relationship is currently in a good place. (AP Photo/Jenna Fryer)
On again, off again: Johnson & Knaus relationship now solid

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 15, 2021 02:13 AM EST

AP Sportlight

By The Associated Press Nov. 14, 2021 10:00 AM EST
Nov. 15 1879 — Princeton beats Harvard 1-0 in a college football game held in New Jersey. The Tigers unveil the concept of using blockers...

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Nov. 11, 2021 10:00 AM EST
Nov. 12 1892 — William “Pudge” Heffelfinger becomes the first pro football player by getting $500 to play for the Allegheny Athletic...

Kyle Larson, right, and his son Owen celebrate after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race and championship on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Larson shares NASCAR title with supportive race school

By Dan Gelston Nov. 08, 2021 03:03 AM EST

Daniel Hemric celebrates after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, in Avondale, Ariz. Hemric won the season title. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Hemric snatches Xfinity Series title as Gibbs wins a title

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 06, 2021 11:45 PM EDT

FILE - Kyle Larson (5) poses in victory lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Nashville Superspeedway, Sunday, June 20, 2021, in Lebanon, Tenn. Rick Hendrick, the winningest team owner in NASCAR history, is sending Kyle Larson and reigning Cup champion Chase Elliott to Phoenix Raceway next Sunday in search of a 14th title for mighty Hendrick Motorsports. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)
Larson seeks to cap comeback season with NASCAR championship

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 04, 2021 02:24 AM EDT

FILE - Kyle Larson (5) poses in victory lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Nashville Superspeedway, Sunday, June 20, 2021, in Lebanon, Tenn. Rick Hendrick, the winningest team owner in NASCAR history, is sending Kyle Larson and reigning Cup champion Chase Elliott to Phoenix Raceway next Sunday in search of a 14th title for mighty Hendrick Motorsports. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)
Larson seeks to cap comeback season with NASCAR championship

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 04, 2021 02:23 AM EDT

FILE - NASCAR team owner Chip Ganassi walks near the garages during auto racing practice at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., on Feb. 8, 2020. Chip Ganassi will close his 20-year run in NASCAR in Sunday’s, Nov. 7, 2021, season finale. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
Chip Ganassi hits brakes on 20 years of NASCAR racing

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 03, 2021 05:04 PM EDT

Alex Bowman (48) celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, in Martinsville, Va. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
NASCAR's Bowman drives on, shrugs off Hamlin 'hack' label

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 02, 2021 05:02 PM EDT

Kyle Larson celebrates in victory lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
AUTO RACING: NASCAR finale field to be set at Martinsville

By The Associated Press Oct. 27, 2021 04:28 PM EDT

Fans watch as cars approach turn one during the F1 U.S. Grand Prix auto race at Circuit of the Americas, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, Pool)
Column: NASCAR plays a glum, frustrated second fiddle to F1

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 25, 2021 04:01 PM EDT

Kyle Larson celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
Kyle Larson wins on 17th anniversary of Hendrick plane crash

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 24, 2021 06:56 PM EDT

McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo, of Australia, smiles after driving the late NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt's iconic 1984 No. 3 Wrangler Chevrolet Monte Carlo before an open practice for the Formula One U.S. Grand Prix auto race at the Circuit of the Americas, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Austin, Texas. Ricciardo was allowed to drive the car as a reward from his McLaren boss, Zak Brown, for winning his first race with the team. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Ricciardo rips laps in "hero" Earnhardt's classic No. 3

By Jim Vertuno Oct. 23, 2021 02:42 PM EDT

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, of Britain, walks to a news conference before the Formula One U.S. Grand Prix auto race at the Circuit of the Americas, Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
F1 title fight could take big swing in U.S and Mexico

By Jim Vertuno Oct. 21, 2021 06:01 PM EDT

FILE - In this Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, file photo, Kevin Harvick waits in his garage before practice for a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, in Indianapolis. Chase Elliott, according to Harvick, doesn't race very smart. In fact, moving forward in NASCAR's playoffs, Harvick plans to run all over the reigning Cup champion. Those were the angry words Harvick had for Elliott after the race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Saturday, Sept. 18, where a feud no one saw coming took center stage. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
Harvick out to stop earliest playoff elimination of career

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 09, 2021 10:14 AM EDT

Josh Berry beats teammate Allgaier in JRM sweep at Las Vegas

Sep. 25, 2021 10:28 PM EDT
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Josh Berry moved teammate Justin Allgaier out of the way with 42 laps remaining Saturday night to win the Xfinity Series race at Las Vegas...

Mclaren driver Daniel Ricciardo of Australia celebrates after winning the Italian Formula One Grand Prix, at Monza racetrack, in Monza, Italy, Sunday, Sept.12, 2021. (Lars Baron/Pool via AP)
Column: Zak Brown savoring McLaren's slow return to glory

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 20, 2021 01:51 PM EDT

Dale Earnhardt Jr., holds his daughter Isla, 3, during driver introductions prior to the start of the NASCAR Xfinity auto race in Richmond, Va., Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Gragson hold off Haley for emotional Xfinity win at Richmond

By Hank Kurz Jr. Sep. 11, 2021 05:51 PM EDT