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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — AJ Allmendinger will not finish the season with Red Bull Racing, giving up his seat to Mike Skinner and Scott Speed for the final seven races of the year.

Allmendinger is not returning to the No. 84 Toyota next year, and the team is letting him go early to pursue another job. He finished a career-high ninth in his Red Bull finale Sunday at Kansas Speedway.

Skinner, who drove the car for five races earlier this season, will drive the car the next two weeks at Talladega and Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Skinner, Speed to finish season for Red Bull....

By JENNA FRYER

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Paul Menard is heading to Yates Racing at the end of the season in a switch certain to hurt Dale Earnhardt Inc. DEI is losing both a driver and a sponsor at a time when a bleak economic outlook has made funding difficult.

The decision was reported by The Associated Press on Monday night and was announced Tuesday.

Menard is winless through two Sprint Cup seasons driving the No. 15 for DEI. He's 28th in the standings with one pole and a season-best finish of 11th at Michigan in June.

He called it a "great opportunity" at Yates, where his sponsorship will come from his father's hardware chain. Menard pointed to the success of owner Doug Yates and the Ford Motor Company.

"They've created a lot of horsepower and hoisted quite a few trophies over the years," he said in a statement. "I'd like to help continue that for both of them."

He's joining a Yates team that was once among the best in NASCAR, but is now slowly rebuilding with help from Roush Fenway Racing. David Gilliland and Travis Kvapil currently drive for the two-car team, and former Roush executive Max Jones moved over to Yates as general manager.

Menard moves to Yates....

By MIKE HARRIS

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Jimmie Johnson barely held off a strong challenge from Carl Edwards on Sunday at Kansas Speedway, winning the race and vaulting into first place in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.

Edwards, who overcame a poor starting position and two pit lane incidents, to catch and pass Johnson for the lead, lost the top spot to Johnson on a pit stop with 47 laps to go. Edwards finally caught him again on the last lap, shooting past Johnson on the low side of the banked 1.5-mile oval in turn three — but just a little too fast.

Edwards slid up the track and bounced off the wall as Johnson drove back past and on to his fifth victory of the season, with Edwards holding on for second.

"That was cool," Johnson said moments after crossing the finish line. "Where'd he come from?

Johnson holds off Edwards, takes over points lead....

By JOHN MARSHALL

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Denny Hamlin's pit crew gave him the lead, rushing him out just ahead of Kevin Harvick near the race's halfway point.

Once out in front, Hamlin knew he'd be tough to catch. His car was just too good, even with the horsepower-sapping restrictions NASCAR aimed at Toyota teams.

Hamlin used a fast pit stop to get the lead and lost it only briefly over the final half of the race, holding off Nationwide Series points leader Clint Bowyer to win the Kansas Lottery 300 on Saturday.

Hamlin wins in Kansas....

SINGAPORE (AP) — In Formula One's first night race, Renault's Fernando Alonso captured the Singapore Grand Prix after starting 15th on the grid Sunday while McLaren's Lewis Hamilton extended his championship lead.

Alonso won for the 20th time in his career, his first victory since last year's Italian Grand Prix. Williams' Nico Rosberg was second, his best Grand Prix finish, and Hamilton was third.

Alonso takes checkered flag at Singapore Grand Prix....

By DAN GELSTON – 48 minutes ago

DOVER, Del. (AP) — Greg Biffle made it 2-for-2 in the Chase for the championship, making another late pass — this time with nine laps to go — and holding off Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards on Sunday.

Roush Fenway Racing teammates Biffle, Kenseth and Edwards engaged in a thrilling run over the final 20 laps at Dover International Speedway, but Biffle made another textbook move to the outside late to pull away.

"That was probably the best race I've seen in a long time," Kenseth said. "You hate to get beat when you're in those battles."

Biffle, the winner last week at New Hampshire after passing Jimmie Johnson with 12 laps left, is third in the Chase points standings. Biffle and Johnson are both 10 points behind Edwards for the lead, but Johnson holds the tiebreaker.

"I knew deep down inside the Roush cars had something special and were going to be tough to beat," Johnson said.

Biffle makes late pass for 2nd straight Chase win....

DOVER, Delaware — A black former technical inspector filed a complaint against NASCAR with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging racial discrimination, a hostile work environment and wrongful termination.

Dean Duckett said discrimination started in May 2001 and lasted until NASCAR fired him from his job in the Sprint Cup series on Nov. 14, 2007.

Duckett told The Associated Press on Saturday that he would consider a lawsuit if NASCAR offered him his old job back.

"I'm looking for something. Even if NASCAR was to offer me my job back, I would do that," he said. "If they wasn't going to offer me my job back, I'm shooting for a lawsuit."

Duckett said his problems started last Nov. 10 when he got into a heated argument with another official the night before the Phoenix race.

"I said to him, 'I ought to cut you.' I don't carry no blades or nothing like that," Duckett said. "It basically came out in the heat of the moment. We got into each other's faces but nothing happened. My roommate pulled me away and said, 'C'mon guys leave it alone,' and we left."

Duckett said he apologized, made up with the official and thought the incident was squashed. Instead, he said he was called the next day to NASCAR's at-track office and was sent home. Duckett said he was fired by Cup Series director John Darby and human resources director Star George.

"They took my life away," he said. "I loved my job. I put everything into my job. I feel they took away from my family."

NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said on Saturday the stock car series was aware of the complaint.

Former technical inspector issues discrimination complaint against NASCAR....

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

In the wake of a brawl following last Saturday's Camping World RV Rental 200 Craftsman Truck Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, NASCAR on Wednesday announced penalties to the teams involved.

Three crew members involved in the fight have been suspended for the next truck race, scheduled for Saturday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and from all NASCAR activities through Sept. 24: Mike Hillman Jr., crew chief for the No. 30 Toyota driven by Todd Bodine; Mark Hillman of the No. 30 team; and William Divel, a crew member of the No. 11 Toyota driven by David Starr.

Hillman Jr. was fined $2,500 and had his probation extended through Dec. 31; Mark Hillman and Divel were fined $1,500 each and placed on probation through the end of the year. The largest fine was assessed against Starr, who found himself in the middle of the melee after he climbed from his truck on pit road. Starr was fined $10,000 and placed on probation through Dec. 31.

Richard Gay, crew chief for the No. 11 truck, and Jason Overstreet, crew chief for the No. 9 truck driven by David Reutimann, have been fined $1,000 and placed on probation until Dec. 31. Germain Racing fields the No. 9 and No. 30 Toyota teams.

In addition, crew members Brandon Hopkins (No. 30) and Tony Jilson (No. 9) truck have been placed on probation through the end of the year. NASCAR also placed the entire teams of owners Steve Germain (No. 30), Bob Germain (No. 9) and Tom DeLoach (No. 11) on probation through Dec. 31.

NASCAR levies penalties for postrace fight....

By Seth Livingstone, USA TODAY

LOUDON, N.H. — Kyle Busch's season-long grip on the Sprint Cup lead vanished in the opening laps of NASCAR's first Chase race.
Busch finished 34th, plummeting to eighth in series points as Greg Biffle won Sunday's Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Biffle slipped past Jimmie Johnson after the race's final restart with 12 laps to go.

Johnson, who was seeking his third consecutive victory, ended the afternoon tied with Biffle's Roush Fenway teammate Carl Edwards (who finished third), for the points lead after the first of NASCAR's 10 races to determine a series champion.

Biffle won for the first time this season. He said he was holding back, conserving gas, until the final laps.

"I felt a little vulnerable and, sure enough, he got by," Johnson said.

Biffle ends drought at N.H.; Busch falters in Chase opener....

By PAUL LOGOTHETIS

MONZA, Italy (AP) — Sebastian Vettel became the youngest driver to win a Formula One race Sunday, finishing first in a wet Italian Grand Prix he started from the pole.

The 21-year-old German driver edged Heikki Kovalainen of McLaren by 12.5 seconds on the slick Monza circuit to give Torro Rosso its first ever win.

"For sure the best day of my life," Vettel said. "These pictures, these emotions — I will never forget."

BMW-Sauber's Robert Kubica was third ahead of Fernando Alonso of Renault, while Nick Heidfeld of BMW-Sauber was fifth.

Felipe Massa finished sixth and is one point back in the overall standings behind Lewis Hamilton of McLaren, who worked his way up from 15th on the grid to finish seventh. Their are four races left in the season.

Vettel 1st at Monza to become F1's youngest winner....

Monza, Italy (Sports Network) - Toro Rosso's Sebastian Vettel overcame rainy conditions to win Saturday's qualifying session for the Italian Grand Prix and became Formula One's youngest-ever pole sitter. The 21-year-old German recorded a lap time of one minute, 37.555 seconds during the third and final qualifying session to capture his first career pole in his 21st Grand Prix start.

"Unbelievable, incredible," Vettel said. "The conditions were so difficult today, a lot of water. You never knew how much water to expect. Sometimes you were lucky not to lose the car. What can I say, I never dreamed of being on the pole."

Vettel also gave Toro Rosso its first F1 pole.

Vettel surprise Italian GP pole winner at rainy Monza....

By JENNA FRYER

NEW YORK (AP) — Kyle Busch has been known to enjoy New York City and the ample opportunities it offers young, rich superstars.

And after a dream regular season, the kid who has seemingly won everything this year had plenty of reason to run wild during NASCAR's two-day tour through the city to promote the upcoming Chase for the championship.

Instead, the celebration seemed uncharacteristically subdued for Busch, the Las Vegas driver who usually has no trouble finding the latest hot spots. He did his media obligations and squeezed in shopping and sightseeing with his girlfriend, but bowed out when the party roared into the early morning hours.

"I've been low-key all season," he insisted.

Maybe. But isn't New York your kind of town?

All work, little play as Busch begins title hunt....

Lewis Hamilton has had his Belgian Grand Prix victory overturned by the stewards, handing the win to title rival Felipe Massa, who finished second on the road.

Hamilton was given a 25-second penalty for cutting the Bus Stop chicane during his wheel-to-wheel battle for the lead with Kimi Raikkonen during the closing laps.

Although the McLaren driver appeared to lift off and was repassed by Raikkonen on the exit of the corner, the stewards ruled that he had gained an advantage by short-cutting the circuit.

"The stewards, having received a report from the race director and having met with the drivers and team managers involved, have...determine a breach of the regulations has been committed by the competitor and impose the penalty referred to," said an FIA statement.

Stewards strip Hamilton of Spa victory....

By MIKE HARRIS

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) — Helio Castroneves won the race in the second closest finish in the history of the IndyCar Series, but it wasn't enough to stop Scott Dixon from taking his second championship.

Castroneves came from last place Sunday to win the PEAK Indy 300, but Dixon, who knew coming in he only had to finish eighth or better to win the title, took the lead with a perfect pit stop late in the race and nearly held off Castroneves for the victory, crossing the finish line inches behind the winner.

After nearly 30 minutes, official timing and scoring called the margin of victory 0.0033 seconds — slightly more than the 0.0024 margin Sam Hornish Jr. had over Al Unser Jr. on the 1.5-mile Joliet track in 2002.

It was sweet redemption for Dixon, who lost both the race and the championship to Dario Franchitti last year at Chicagoland Speedway when he ran out of fuel two turns from the finish.

Dixon, who came into the race with a 30-point lead, wound up winning the title and the $1 million bonus that goes with it by 17 points.

Castroneves wins IRL Chicago, but Dixon gets title....

By JENNA FRYER

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Jimmie Johnson has momentum on his side and history in sight.

Nevermind that Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards dominated the regular season, the Chase is Johnson's time of the year and the two-time defending NASCAR champion isn't turning his title over without a fight.

He won Sunday at Richmond International Raceway to grab his second consecutive win, fourth overall this season, to take a big boost into the Chase for the championship. Johnson is trying to become the first driver to win three straight titles since Cale Yarborough (1976-78).

"I do think about it," admitted Johnson, "but the less I think about it, the better I'm going to be. The less I can think about all this stuff the last 10 races, the better I am going to be. I just need to fall back to the confidence I have in my race team and my abilities.

"If you show up and you're swinging for the fences every time, you're going to make mistakes."

Johnson wins 2nd straight to charge into Chase....

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium (AP) — Lewis Hamilton has won the Belgian Grand Prix in a rain-splashed finish to extend his lead in the championship standings.

Hamilton again proved he was the top wet-weather driver, keeping his cool in the last few laps Sunday when a sudden shower hit the course and race leader Kimi Raikkonen spun off during the penultimate lap. Hamilton beat Ferrari's Felipe Massa by 14.4 seconds. BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld was third.

Hamilton leads Massa 80 to 72 going into the last five races.

Lewis Hamilton wins rain-splashed Belgian GP....

RICHMOND, Va. — Darian Grubb never really loved being a crew chief during his two short stints atop the pit box at Hendrick Motorsports.

When the team moved him back to an engineering job this season, he vowed not to run a race team again. But when Tony Stewart offered him the chance to crew chief his new team next year, Grubb had a sudden change of heart. Grubb said Friday the opportunity to move to Stewart-Haas Racing in 2009 was so good, he simply couldn't turn it down.

"To have the chance to build a championship contending team, and go out and fight from the ground up, and build something around with all these people ... it's everything I've looked forward to in my life," Grubb said. "To be with Tony, with his capabilities as a driver and the past championships, the future heading forward is extremely bright."

Tony Stewart hires Darian Grubb as crew chief of new NASCAR team....

By Nancy Knapp Schilke - Motorsport.com

Roger Penske made his decision faster than many expected with several drivers searching for rides in 2009, David Stremme can rest easy as he was named as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racer in the No. 12 Penske Racing Dodge. The seat vacated by Ryan Newman when he and the team did not renew his contract and he elected to be the teammate for Tony Stewart's new Cup team.

"We're pleased to have David join Penske Racing as the driver of the No. 12 Alltel Dodge," said Penske. "His past accomplishments and current experience as our NASCAR test driver, as well as his character and desire for success, make him a good fit into our culture."

Stremme's return to a full-time Cup ride is not totally unexpected, the Indiana native started his career in the Nationwide series in 2003 and over the five years in NASCAR, he has paid his dues all the while learning and retaining his determination to prove he can run up-front with the best. This year, he found a ride with Rusty Wallace Inc. in the Nationwide series. In April of 2008, Stremme was announced as a test driver for the Penske organization in the Cup car.

Penske picks Stremme for 2009 ride....

Former IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500 champion Dario Franchitti is returning to the circuit.
Target Chip Ganassi Racing on Tuesday announced that Franchitti will replace Dan Wheldon in the No. 10 Target Honda for the upcoming season as a team-mate for Scott Dixon.
Terms of the multi-year deal were not disclosed.
Franchitti, who left the IndyCar Series after winning the title in 2007 to drive for Ganassi in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide series, has over 180 starts under his belt between the CART and IndyCar Series, resulting in 18 wins, 17 poles, 63 top-five and 95 top-10 finishes.

Franchitti headed back to IndyCar Series....

BY MIKE BRUDENELL • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

He blocked, but he didn't receive the mandatory warning he felt he deserved.

He got penalized, which left him bitterly disappointed.

But Brazilian Helio Castroneves departed Belle Isle with hope on Sunday. By finishing second to Englishman Justin Wilson in a controversial Detroit Indy Grand Prix, Castroneves kept his championship chances alive as he and IndyCar Series leader Scott Dixon head to Chicago next Sunday for the last race of the season.

Dixon, who finished fifth Sunday, leads Castroneves by 30 points after the Brazilian shaved the margin by 13 with his runner-up effort -- his eighth second-place finish of the year.

Wilson gets 1st series win; Helio stays in race for title....

Fontana, CA (Sports Network) - Jimmie Johnson won Sunday night's Pepsi 500 with a dominating performance at the Auto Club Speedway. The No.48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet driver and two-time defending Sprint Cup Series champion led 228 of 250 laps.

The victory was Johnson's third of the season and the 36th of his Sprint Cup career.

"It's amazing," Johnson said. "To have the fan base that I do here and the fans that support us, it means the world to me here in my home state. This was an awesome race."

Johnson knew his car was so good throughout the race that he quipped about it afterwards.

"The longest it took me to do anything tonight was to get out of the car, so I apologize for that," Johnson said.

Johnson dominant in California victory....