NASCAR News
NASCAR news and updates. Read the latest NASCAR news, stories and highlights.

`Slow start, strong finish` for Harvick.
One day removed from hoisting the 2006 NASCAR Busch Series championship trophy, Kevin Harvick battled a tight condition on their race car for the majority of the season-finale Miami 400 on their way to a fifth-place finish, the team's third top-five result in as many weeks.

MB2 Motorsports renamed Ginn Racing.
MB2 Motorsports has changed its name to Ginn Racing, effective immediately. MB2 Motorsports began operations in July 1996 and the name change is a result of the team's new owner, Bobby Ginn, who recently purchased a majority interest.

TRUCKS: Skinner signs Toyota deal to `09.
Bill Davis Racing has announced that 1995 Craftsman Truck Series Champion Mike Skinner will return to the organisation in a Toyota Tundra in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series through to the 2009 season.
France OK after minor scrape.
NASCAR supremo Brian France was the subject of a minor police investigation this week after crashing his car near his Florida base on Monday.
Chevy poised for win record at Phoenix.
Tony Stewart's victory at Texas Motor Speedway last Sunday tied Chevrolet's modern era single-season win record in NASCAR's top flight at 22 and, with the 'Bowtie brand' on a roll at present, this weekend's trip to Phoenix could see a new mark established.
Principal Financial to back MB2 duo in Phoenix.
The Principal Financial Group will be the primary sponsor on Sterling Marlin and Joe Nemechek's MB2 Motorsports' Chevrolets in this weekend's NASCAR Nextel Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway.
BUSCH: Harvick wins...again.
Kevin Harvick won his ninth NASCAR Busch race of the season on Saturday at the Texas Motor Speedway, beating off-track friend Tony Stewart even though he ran out of fuel on the final lap.
Vickers leaves it late for Texas pole.
Brian Vickers took pole position for the Dickies 500 at the Texas Motor Speedway despite being the 50h and final car to make a qualifying attempt.
Mayfield returns for final two rounds.
Jeremy Mayfield will return to the Nextel Cup Series for the final two races of the 2006 season for James Finch's Phoenix Racing team.
Atlanta unveil Bill Elliott grandstand.
Bill Elliott's name already fills the Atlanta Motor Speedway and NASCAR record books, and on a wet Friday at AMS, speedway officials made Elliott a more permanent fixture at the track he calls his 'home' circuit.

Atwood to make Cup comeback.
Casey Atwood, a driver once touted as the future of Evernham Motorsports before finding himself virtually out of the spot whilst still in his mid 20's, will attempt to qualify for the season ending Ford 400 with the Brewco Motorsports team.
Cup series to go green in `07.
The NASCAR Nextel Cup Series will use unleaded fuel in every race bar the Daytona 500 next season, one year earlier than planned.
Red Bull falter in Cup debut.
Brand new Nextel Cup team Red Bull Racing didn't make the NASCAR debut they had hoped for when ex-Cup Series Champion Bill Elliott couldn't get the #83 Dodge past Bud Pole qualifying at the Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Shell to replace GM Goodwrench at RCR.
Richard Childress has confirmed that GM Goodwrench, a company synonymous with his team and specifically the late Dale Earnhardt, will end its role as the primary sponsor for RCR's #29 team at the end of the year.

BUSCH: Ambrose to step up to Busch in 07.
The US racing career of Australian motorsport ace Marcos Ambrose has taken another dramatic step with the Tasmanian being confirmed as a full-time NASCAR Busch driver in 2007.
Busch: Montreal confirmed on 2007 schedule.
The 26th season of NASCAR Busch Series competition will begin on Saturday 17 February, but it is the inclusion of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve that will attract most attention.
Montoya to debut in ARCA series.
Chip Ganassi has confirmed that Juan Pablo Montoya will make his NASCAR debut in next month's ARCA RE/MAX Food World 250 at Talladega Superspeedway as he prepares for a full stock car campaign in 2007.
Rudd to test CoT.
Ricky Rudd will test one of the Toyota Camry Car of Tomorrow chassis at Talladega Superspeedway later this year, giving hope to his fans that they haven't seen the last of him in Nextel Cup Series action just yet.
Team boss Donlavey admits 'it`s over.`
One of NASCAR's most enduring team principals Junie Donlavey has admitted that his team will not return to NASCAR and that at the age of 81 his career as a team boss is over.
Crew chief shuffles at Petty.
Both Petty Enterprises entries will be led by new crew chiefs from this weekend's race in New Hampshire onwards with Bill Wilburn joining the team as Kyle Petty's crew chief with Paul Andrews moving across from the #45 to Bobby Labonte's #43 team.
Lester back for California.
Bill Lester will attempt to make it three starts from three attempts in the Nextel Cup Series this weekend at the California Speedway, a track he calls his 'home' circuit.
Pit stop challenge win for Gordon.
Jeff Gordon's night at Bristol last Saturday may have ended with the four time Nextel Cup Champion having stern words with Scott Riggs over their last lap tussle for fourth place but at least his #24 Hendrick Motorsports pit crew gave him something to smile about.
MB2 hires Slugger.
Noted Nextel Cup crew chief Richard 'Slugger' Labbe has joined the struggling MB2 Motorsports outfit ahead of their planned expansion in 2007.

Pit crew gives Nemechek rare reason to smile.
Joe Nemechek may be having a turgid season in 2006 but his #01 MB2 Motorsports team had something to smile about at Michigan last weekend when they claimed the honours in NASCAR's weekly pitstop competition.