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Nemechek, Furniture Row Racing agree to contract buyout

By Sports Network

Published: Nov 21, 2008

Furniture Row Racing announced Friday it has bought out the contract of driver Joe Nemechek. The racing organization recently made known it would field a Sprint Cup Series team on a limited schedule in 2009.

"Just like the reduced schedule announcement, this buyout of Joe's contract has nothing to do with his on-track performance," team president Joe Garone said in a statement. "But our contract with Joe for 2009 was for a full schedule, and we're not able to fulfill that part of the deal."

"This move is doing what is best for both Joe and our team. It doesn't require us to have him drive for Furniture Row in 2009, but it doesn't restrict him from doing what he loves -- and that's racing at the highest level every week of the season."

Nemechek qualified the team's No.78 Chevrolet for 32 out of 36 races this year, earning a pole position in April at Talladega Superspeedway. The team finished 42nd in owner points. More

Nov 20, 2008

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Nov 19, 2008

• Johnson enjoying his place in NASCAR history

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Nov 18, 2008

• Menard to drive No.98 for Yates in '09

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Nov 17, 2008

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After capturing his third-consecutive Sprint Cup Series championship Sunday at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, Jimmie Johnson and his No.48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet crew have not only established themselves as one of the greatest teams in NASCAR, but as the latest in a string of professional sports dynasties.

Nov 16, 2008

• Three-Peat: Johnson captures record-tying third-straight Cup title

Carl Edwards dominated Sunday's season-ending Ford 400, but Jimmie Johnson was the "tropic" of conversation at the Homestead-Miami Speedway as he drove into NASCAR's record books with his record-tying third consecutive Sprint Cup Series championship. Johnson finished 15th to join Cale Yarborough as the only drivers in NASCAR's 60-year history that have won three titles in a row. Yarborough accomplished the feat from 1976-78.

Nov 14, 2008

• Logano grabs pole for Nationwide race at Homestead

Joey Logano won the pole for Saturday's Nationwide Series season-ending Ford 300 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. The No.20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota driver rounded the 1.5-mile oval in 31.962 seconds (168.951 m.p.h.).

Nov 14, 2008

• NASCAR cancels 2009 testing at sanctioned tracks

In an effort to cut costs for teams, NASCAR announced it will suspend testing at its sanctioned tracks for its three national touring and two regional racing series during the 2009 season.

Nov 12, 2008

• NASCAR - Sprint Cup - Ford 400 Preview

Nov 11, 2008

• This Week in Auto Racing November 14 - 16

Sprint Cup Series

Nov 10, 2008

• Nothing "funny" about moving tail end of NASCAR race to ESPN2

With the second-to-last race in the "Chase for the Sprint Cup" reaching its climactic point and Jimmie Johnson on the verge of clinching his record-tying third consecutive series championship, viewers in the Eastern and Central time zones were stunned to see the remaining 34 laps of Sunday's Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway switched from ABC to ESPN2.

Nov 09, 2008

• Johnson on the brink of third-straight title with Phoenix win

Jimmie Johnson took a huge step closer towards capturing his record-tying third-consecutive Sprint Cup Series championship with a dominating victory in Sunday's Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. Johnson led 217 of 313 laps and held off Kurt Busch in a green-white-checkered finish.

Nov 07, 2008

• Hamlin takes pole for Nationwide race at Phoenix

Denny Hamlin won the pole for Saturday's Hefty Odor Block 200 Nationwide Series race at the Phoenix International Raceway. Hamlin, who went out 38th in the 50-driver qualifying order, turned in a lap around the one-mile track in 27.085 seconds (132.915 m.p.h.).

Nov 04, 2008

• NASCAR - Sprint Cup - Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 Preview

Nov 04, 2008

• This Week in Auto Racing November 7 - 9

Sprint Cup Series

Nov 03, 2008

• Edwards could make it an interesting Chase after all

Just when it looked like Jimmie Johnson was going to run away with this year's "Chase for the Sprint Cup" championship, here comes Carl Edwards with a late-season surge.

Nov 02, 2008

• Fuel strategy pays off for Edwards with Texas victory

Carl Edwards took a huge gamble in gaining ground on points leader Jimmie Johnson in the championship Chase standings as he drove the final 69 laps without pitting for fuel to win Sunday's Dickies 500 at the Texas Motor Speedway.

Oct 31, 2008

• Edwards grabs pole for Nationwide race at Texas

Ft. Worth, TX (Sports Network) - Carl Edwards continued his winning momentum in the Nationwide Series by capturing the pole for Saturday's O'Reilly Challenge at the Texas Motor Speedway. The No.60 Roush Fenway Racing Ford driver turned in a qualifying lap of 28.708 seconds (188.101 m.p.h.).

Oct 28, 2008

• This Week in Auto Racing October 31 - November 2

Sprint Cup Series

Oct 28, 2008

• NASCAR - Sprint Cup - Dickies 500 Preview

Oct 27, 2008

• Crew chief Knaus a hero for late-race pit call at Atlanta

Jimmie Johnson and his No.48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team can do no wrong in this year's "Chase for the Sprint Cup" championship, as evidenced by their remarkable comeback in Sunday's race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Oct 26, 2008

• Edwards wins at Atlanta, Johnson adds to points lead

Even though Carl Edwards won Sunday's Pep Boys Auto 500 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, Jimmie Johnson moved closer to capturing his third-consecutive Sprint Cup Series championship by extending his points lead to 183 with just three races to go in the season.

Oct 24, 2008

• Truck qualifying at Atlanta cancelled, Benson on pole

Inclement weather at the Atlanta Motor Speedway on Friday forced NASCAR officials to cancel qualifying for the E-Z Go 200 Craftsman Truck Series race.