NASCAR

Persistent rain forced NASCAR to cancel Thursday night's qualifying for the Bank of America 500 at the Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Stewart-Haas Racing announced Thursday that the U.S. Army will serve as primary sponsor of Ryan Newman's No.39 Chevrolet team in 22 points-paying NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races during the 2009 season, along with the Sprint All-Star Race next May at the Lowe's Motor Speedway. The U.S. Army will also serve as an associate sponsor of Newman's team for the remaining 14 races of the season.

Canadian Patrick Carpentier has been released from his driving duties of the No.10 Dodge in the Sprint Cup Series, Gillett Evernham Motorsports officials announced Tuesday. Mike Wallace will drive the No.10 car this weekend at the Lowe's Motor Speedway, and AJ Allmendinger will take over for the remainder of the season.

Race five in the "Chase for the Sprint Cup" runs under the lights Saturday night at the Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte. The Nationwide Series will also be in Charlotte this weekend. Meanwhile, Formula One travels to the "Land of the Rising Sun" for the Japanese Grand Prix.

Sunday's wild but confusing finish in the Amp Energy 500 at the Talladega Superspeedway has sparked debate about NASCAR's rule that makes it illegal for a driver to advance his position below the yellow-line, or "out-of-bounds" line, at restrictor-plate tracks (Daytona and Talladega).

Sprint Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin was released from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital Monday morning after being held overnight for observation.

Tony Stewart will end his final year with Joe Gibbs Racing with at least one victory before he moves on to start his own Sprint Cup Series team next year. Stewart ended a 43-race winless streak with a thrilling victory in Sunday's Amp Energy 500 at the Talladega Superspeedway.

Travis Kvapil won his first career pole in the Sprint Cup Series on Saturday, taking the top starting spot for the Amp Energy 500 at the Talladega Superspeedway. The No.28 Yates Racing Ford driver rounded the 2.66-mile oval in 51.109 seconds (187.364 m.p.h.).

A crash during Friday afternoon's final practice at the Talladega Superspeedway will force five teams to use their backup cars for Sunday's Amp Energy 500. Less than 10 minutes into the practice, championship "Chase" contender and five-time Talladega winner Dale Earnhardt, Jr. blew a right-rear tire, triggering a six-car pileup on the backstretch.

It should be an exciting and wild weekend of racing as the Sprint Cup Series heads to the 2.66-mile, high-banked Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama for round four in the "Chase for the Sprint Cup." The Craftsman Truck Series will also be at Talladega.