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Dale Earnhardt Jr. defended teammate Jimmie Johnson's decision last weekend to lap him under caution after Earnhardt spun on the track at Martinsville.

Jimmie Johnson is on his way to becoming the greatest NASCAR driver. He's already the most underappreciated. And while haters keep on hating, JJ keeps on winning.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has the points lead? Tempers are flaring everywhere? We'll see if NASCAR can up the immense momentum built in California at always-anticipated Martinsville.

What NASCAR needs most is a week when actual racing tops off-the-track controversy. If the Sprint Cup race in Las Vegas can deliver that Sunday, everyone wins.

Time to put all the off-the-track drama in the rearview. We've got a Cup race to run Sunday on the tricky 1-mile oval in the desert that separates the pretenders from the contenders.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. wants to show he can contend for the Cup title. Danica Patrick wants to show she can race competitively with NASCAR's best drivers. Mission accomplished.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Before NASCAR kicks off 2013 with the Daytona 500, here are a few interesting statistics that might surprise you: Bad news for bad Brad: If Brad Keselowski wins the Daytona 500 on Sunday, he'll be the first defending Cup champ...

Jeff Gordon is a three-time Daytona 500 champ and future Hall of Famer. How does he feel about sharing the front row with pole winner Danica Patrick? One word: Proud.

One lucky driver will win the Sprint Unlimited on Saturday night, but none of the 19 test pilots on the track will be the real star for this one. It's time to see how the new "Gen 6" car really races.

We've got a new car, a new couple and new chances for a few major stars as NASCAR draws the curtain on 2013. In other words: Bring it on, Daytona.

Old-school NASCAR collides with new-world technology. The result? Strap in, folks. With the arrival of the new Generation-6 Cup car, we're in for one wild ride.

From NASCAR's return to racing on dirt to Danica Patrick becoming the first woman to run a full Cup schedule in the modern era, 2013 will be a year to remember.

Brad Keselowski became a first-time Sprint Cup champion in 2012. Will another first-time champ be crowned in '13? Terry Blount looks at 10 drivers capable of winning it all.

Can Brad Keselowski repeat? Can Dale Earnhardt Jr. win it all? Can Kevin Harvick contend? The answer to these and other burning questions is a resounding "No!"

Penske Racing has the reigning Cup champion in Brad Keselowski. But Hendrick Motorsports, with five-time champ Jimmie Johnson, remains the top organization in NASCAR.

The Hendrick gang has nothing but praise for Brad Keselowski. What does that mean for BK in Sunday's Chase race at Texas? Diddly.