SM Staff

89 days remain until they fire the engines at Daytona, so the focus today is on a number that has seen scarce use compared to others in NASCAR’s top series. Car no. 89 has only been used in 266 races.

As 2011 wraps up and Tony Stewart enjoys his third Sprint Cup title, many teams are already looking to Daytona and the 2012 season, hoping they’ll be the team seated at the champions’ table next year.

Steve Addington replaces Darian Grubb as the crew chief for the Stewart-Haas Racing's No. 14 team with driver Tony Stewart effective immediately.

The past two Sprint Cup Series seasons the driver entering the finale in Homestead-Miami as the championship point leader, as well as fan and driver favorite, left that Sunday night empty handed.

Over the course of the season it became evident that there was not a significant difference between the old points system and the new system, save for a stronger reliance on consistency over victories.

Rarely can you point to a singular moment and declare that history had been made. Even more rare is when said point can be recognized as transcending merely making history.

Dependent upon the precise set of circumstances, sometimes freedom of speech isn't necessarily free. Ask NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Kurt Busch who just recently found out that there's a significant rise in the cost of middle fingers and "F bombs."

Austin Dillon wasn’t even close to finishing his post race interviews or pictures following his 2011 Camping World Truck Series championship, but he was already talking about the potential for 2012.

David Gilliland not only finished up the 2011 NASCAR season at Homestead-Miami Speedway behind the wheel of the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford, but he also played the part of proud dad, watching son Todd do some racing of his own, all for charity.

When NASCAR revealed their new points distribution system at the start of the year, much fanfare was given to the fact that drivers could earn points in only one series.