It’s back to work for NASCAR’s elite, as drivers ramp up for the “Great American Race,” the Daytona 500.  Danica Patrick will make her debut in the race, while big changes are coming at Kansas Speedway.

FOX News Radio’s Marghiee Teshineh has this week’s “FOX in the Fast Lane”:

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FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FIVE YEARS, JIMMIE JOHNSON WON’T BE THE DEFENDING CHAMP WHEN THE SEASON OPENS AT THE DAYTONA 500.  BUT JOHNSON SAYS THE NEW CHAMP, TONY STEWART, BETTER WATCH HIS BACK.

(JOHNSON) “WE’LL GO OUT THERE AND DO WHAT WE CAN TO BEAT TONY.”

DURING THE OFF SEASON, DANICA PATRICK FANS CELEBRATED THE NEWS: SHE WILL BE RACING AT DAYTONA.  BUT IS SHE READY?

(FRANCE) “SHE’S PROVEN WEEK IN AND WEEK OUT SHE’S GETTING BETTER.”

…NASCAR CEO AND CHAIRMAN, BRIAN FRANCE.  THIS YEAR’S  DAYTONA 500 IS BOASTING A RECORD $19 MILLION PURSE, WITH A GUARANTEED TOP PRIZE OF AT LEAST$1.4 MILLION FOR THE WINNER.

AND AN EXTREME MAKEOVER FOR KANSAS SPEEDWAY.  THE  MILE AND A HALF TRACK WILL BE  RECONFIGURED AND REPAVED.  ALSO, OFFICIALS HAVE GOTTEN THE FINAL DESIGN PLANS TO ADD A ROAD COURSE THROUGH THE INFIELD.  CONSTRUCTION SET TO START AFTER THE APRIL CUP RACE.

FOX IN THE FAST LANE, I’M MARGHIEE TESHINEH, FOX NEWS RADIO

It’s back to work for NASCAR’s elite, as drivers ramp up for the Great American Race: the Daytona 500.  Team Harvick, meanwhile is getting a new addition, but NASCAR has lost a pioneer.

FOX News Radio’s Marghiee “Trackside” Teshineh has this week’s “FOX in the Fast Lane”:

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DRIVER CLINT BOWYER HAS GOT A NEW HOME AT MICHAEL WALTRIP RACING, PARTING COMPANY WITH  RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING.  AND WITH A NEW TEAM, CLINT SAYS HE’S GOT A LOT TO REMEMBER

(BOWYER) “NEW SPONSOR, NEW NUMBER, NEW ORGANIZATION, NEW MANUFACTURES…JUST A LOT OF NEW, AND A LOT OF GETTING TO KNOW EVERYBODY AND THE SWING OF THINGS.”

KASEY KAHNE, TAKING OVER FOR MARK MARTIN AT HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS, IS HOPING TO START WINNING SOON FOR HIS NEW BOSSES.

(KAHNE) “YOU KNOW WITH THE NEW TEAM AND BEING IN THE #5 CAR, AND THINGS HOPEFULLY WE GET ONE PRETTY QUICK ONCE THE SEASON GETS STARTED. “

THIS WEEK, FRIENDS AND FAMILY PAID TRIBUTE TO DOCTOR JOSEPH “DOC’ MATTIOLI, WHO DIED  AT AGE 86.  ONE OF NASCAR’S PIONEERS, MATTIOLI AND WIFE, ROSE, FOUNDED THE  POCONO RACEWAY IN THE 1960′S AND RAN THE FAMILY-OWNED RACEWAY UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT LAST YEAR.

AND KEVIN HARVICK IS ON THE FAST TRACK TO FATHERHOOD!  HE AND WIFE DELANA ARE EXPECTING THEIR FIRST BABY THIS SUMMER.

FOX IN THE FAST LANE, I’M MARGHIEE TESHINEH, FOX NEWS RADIO.

Kyle Busch lost his primary sponsor, M&M’s, after an on-track incident late in the NASCAR season.  But it’s some off-the-track antics that have cost Kyle’s brother his ride.

FOX News Radio’s Chris Hoenig reports:

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Kurt Busch and Penske Racing are parting ways.  The ’04 NASCAR champ had an embarrassing 2011, sparring with reporters multiple times, including the season finale at Homestead.

(Busch) “Can you get this (bleep) out of my face?”

He continued his verbal assault until the reporter cancelled the live interview.

(Busch) “Why can’t we tape this (bleep)?  Well, I’d like to do it live, too, (bleep) 10 minutes ago.”

That incident cost him $50,000 and proved the final straw for Penske and primary sponsor, Shell Pennzoil.  Shell says they’ll stand behind Penske as they choose a new driver for the #22.

Chris Hoenig, FOX News Radio.

Tony Stewart returns to the winner’s circle as the 2011 Sprint Cup Champ… Carl Edwards plans for the future… layoffs at Roush Fenway… and Kurt Busch loses a crew chief.

FOX News Radio’s Marghiee Teshineh has it all, with “Fox in the Fast Lane:”

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Tony Stewart came into the Chase having not won a race all season.  But the season’s final race – the Ford 400 at Homestead – turns out to the be biggest win of all.

FOX News Radio’s Eben Brown reports from Homestead-Miami Speedway:

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After running neck-and-neck and toe-to-toe, causing even the most casual racing fan to bite nails to stumps, Tony Stewart wins at Homestead and wins the 2011 Cup title.

It was actually a points tie with Carl Edwards, but as Stewart has more track victories, he wins.  This was a race decided in the final laps, as the two gunned each other the entire time, even coming out of many pauses for rain and crashes.

At Homestead-Miami Speedway, Eben Brown, FOX News Radio.

The 2011 Chase wraps up with the Ford 400 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, where Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart size each other up.  Kevin Harvick is still looking to win though and the White House is sending two special ladies to the season finale.

FOX News Radio’s Marghiee “Trackside” Teshineh has it all in this week’s “FOX in the Fast Lane”:

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The Chase for the Sprint Cup is now a two man race; Carl Edwards vs Tony Stewart.

For Edwards the pressure is on.

“WE KNOW GOING TO HOMESTEAD THAT WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO PERFORM VERY, VERY WELL.”

And Edwards admits Tony Stewart is at the top of his game.

“TONY AND THOSE GUYS, THEY’VE BEEN AT A LEVEL THAT IS UNPRECEDENTED IN THE CHASE.”

Tony Stewart, a two-time champion is confident going into Homestead, with so few points between himself and Edwards, but:

“THREE POINTS ISN’T MUCH, SO ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN… WE SAW THAT LAST YEAR WITH DENNY HAMLIN. SO WE’RE CLOSE ENOUGH TO KEEP HIM (EDWARDS) HONEST RIGHT NOW.”

Kevin Harvick, in third place is out of cup contention, but feels:

“WE’VE BEEN VERY GOOD AT HOMESTEAD AND HOPEFULLY WE’LL GO DOWN THERE AND CLOSE THE SEASON OUT STRONG.”

And, First Lady Michelle Obama & Dr. Jill Biden will be at Homestead to help NASCAR honor U.S. Troops and Military Families and act as this year’s Grand Marshals.

FOX in the Fast Lane.  I’m Marghiee Teshineh, FOX News Radio.

Jimmie Johnson’s 14th-place finish at Phoenix on Sunday officially eliminated him from a shot at his 6th-straight Sprint Cup, meaning that the one remaining race – Sunday afternoon at Homestead-Miami Speedway – will crown a new champ.  And the two-man race atop the standings is the closest it’s ever been this late in the Chase.

FOX News Radio’s Sal Giangrasso reports:

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Three points is all that separates drivers Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart as the “Chase for the Title” heads to Homestead, Florida for the final checkered flag of the season.

On Sunday, the pair finished 2nd and 3rd at Phoenix, and despite Stewart leading 160 laps of the race, it wasn’t enough…

“We had an awesome day.  I mean, we just came up 2 spots shy.  But, um, I don’t know how you could have asked for a better day, really.”

As for the overall points leader, Carl Edwards…

“Couldn’t ask for anything more.  It’s gonna be fun.  And it’s neat to be able to go to Homestead and race it out.”

Both drivers have won twice at the track in their careers.

Sal Giangrasso, FOX News Radio.

NASCAR gets closer to crowning a new champion as the chase rolls into the Phoenix International Raceway for the Kobalt Tools 500.  And, sponsors not happy with bad boy Kyle Busch.

FOX News Radio’s Marghiee “Trackside” Teshineh has more in this edition of “FOX In The Fast Lane”:

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With just two races left in the chase, Kevin Harvick holding on to 3rd place compares Phoenix to other oval tracks that give him trouble:

“I look at Phoenix a lot like Martinsville, the Roush cars didn’t run very well there and we have to run well there.  So we’re looking forward to it.”

Brad Keselowski thinks it’s Tony Stewart’s year to take back the cup:

“I think he’s the guy to beat as this championship unfolds.”

And points leader Carl Edwards knows this week’s race is important:

“Phoenix has a larger opportunity by a landslide to change the outcome of this chase.”

Z-Line Designs, one of Kyle Busch’s sponsors is asking Busch be replaced for the final Nationwide race of the season at Homestead.  And Busch’s primary sponsor may ask him to sit out the last two Sprint Cup races as well.  This comes after Busch intentionally wrecked Ron Hornaday Junior at November 4th’s Camping World truck series race in Texas.

FOX In The Fast Lane.  I’m Marghiee Teshineh, FOX News Radio.

Driver Kyle Busch is feeling more heat.  This time from a major sponsor.

FOX News Radio’s Marghiee “Trackside” Teshineh has the story:

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It was a crash that may cost Kyle Busch a place at the season finale of this year’s chase.  One of his sponsors, Z-Line Designs, would like to see Busch yanked for the last Nationwide race at Homestead and replaced with another driver.  And whether Busch drives in the last two Sprint Cup races is now in question.  This comes after Busch was fined $50,000 and benched from the weekend Sprint Cup and Nationwide races at Texas after wrecking Ron Hornaday’s car during a Friday truck series race while under caution.  Busch had been a contender for the cup this year, but is now mathematically out of contention.

Marghiee Teshineh, FOX News Radio.

The chase heads back to the Texas Motor Speedway for the AAA Texas 500, team owner Rick Hendrick gets a scare in the air, and a former driver faces drug charges.

FOX News Radio’s Marghiee “Trackside” Teshineh has the latest in this week’s edition of “FOX in the Fast Lane”:

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Tony Stewart, closing in on points leader Carl Edwards.  But can Stewart win a 3rd championship?

“We’re right in the middle of this thing with three weeks to go. It’s um, it is obviously a great feeling and a great position to be in.”

Carl Edwards, not surprised that Stewart is doing so well in the chase and;

“Be a guy you’d have to beat for the championship and I think he’s proven that.”

And though 57 points back; Kyle Busch still in the hunt.

“We’ve got to pick up ten points per race, so that’s, that’s obviously a big challenge, but it’s just to the point where anything can happen.  You just got to play it lap by lap, race by race.”

Team owner Rick Hendrick in the hospital after his private plane crash landed in Key West, Florida.  Hendrick suffered four broken ribs and a broken collar bone.

And, former driver Jeremy Mayfield, arrested and charged with possession of methanphetamine. The 42 year-old former Sprint Cup driver was suspended from NASCAR in 2009 for failing a random drug test.

FOX In The Fast Lane.  I’m Marghiee Teshineh, FOX News Radio.

The race for the Chase is heating up, and – after plenty of slowing down for yellow flags – it was a sprint to the finish in the close quarters of Martinsville Sunday.

FOX News Radio’s Chris Hoenig has the results in this “FOX in the Fast Lane”:

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Tony Stewart passed Jimmie Johnson with three laps left, holding on in a furious finish at the Tums Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville.

“I don’t think we had the best race car today by any means, but we had the most determined pit crew.”

The race featured 17 cautions, costing 120 laps of green-flag racing…

“I was the only one, I think, that didn’t get in a wreck with somebody.  So I was kinda proud of that.”

Stewart jumps to 2nd in the Chase, eight points back of leader Carl Edwards…

“He better be worried, that’s all I’ve got to say.  He isn’t gonna have an easy 3 weeks.”

Kevin Harvick jumped to third in the Sprint Cup standings, 21 points back, after finishing fourth behind Jeff Gordon.  Brad Keselowski and Matt Kenseth dropped to fourth and fifth, respectively, Keselowski needing to make up a 27-point deficit, Kenseth is 36 back.

Three races are left, starting with Sunday’s trip to the Texas Motor Speedway.  Be sure to log on to foxnewsradio.com on Friday as FOX News Radio’s Marghiee “Trackside” Teshineh previews the AAA Texas 500.

FOX in the Fast Lane, I’m Chris Hoenig, FOX News Radio.

With just a few races left until a new Sprint Cup champ is crowned, NASCAR rolls into one of the oldest tracks on the circuit; Martinsville Speedway for the Tums Fast Relief 500.  And, Kraft Foods, Stewart Haas Racing, and NASCAR are sticking together.

FOX News Radio’s Marghiee “Trackside” Teshineh has the latest in this edition of “FOX in the Fast Lane”:

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Denny Hamlin feels headed into Martinsville, his best races are still ahead of him at this point in the chase:

“The last really five race, chase races are all good race tracks for us.”

For Matt Kenseth, it’s a love-hate relationship with Martinsville:

“If I was a fan, it would be one of my top five or six I’d probably pick out to go watch.  I think the racing is really exciting.  It’s just a track for me personally that has been more frustrating than some other tracks.”

Jeff Gordon admits there are tracks he likes better, but:

“There are few tracks that I feel as confident in as I do going to Martinsville.”

And does Tony Stewart think he can win the chase?

“I think these last two weeks have helped us get back in contention where we feel we’ve got a shot at this thing again.”

And after 11 years, Kraft Foods says they’ll continue to partner with NASCAR, and Kraft Food brands Oreo and Ritz will continue to be associate sponsors for Stewart Haas Racing.

FOX in the Fast Lane. I’m Marghiee Teshineh, FOX News Radio.

The pack chasing the Sprint Cup leaders needed a slip-up from those at the top Sunday, and they got it!  They just didn’t take advantage.

FOX News Radio’s Chris Hoenig recaps the Good Sam Club 500 in this “FOX in the Fast Lane”:

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Sunday’s finish lived up to the Sprint Cup name, with Clint Bowyer and Jeff Burton dueling down the stretch…

“ Clint Bowyer gets the win!”

…Only by a nose on ESPN.  Burton thought Bowyer gave him the race…

“ I thought he made his move a little too early, and as it turns out, he did perfect.”

Those are two non-Chase drivers… so the day’s best Chase driver?  Brad Keselowski, in fourth, one of only three Chase cars in the Top 10.  Tony Stewart finished seventh, followed by Denny Hamlin in eighth.  Carl Edwards came in 11th, stretching his lead in the standings to 14 points over Matt Kenseth with just four races left.

Talladega is known for the “Big One,” and if you were watching, you got it…

“ Trouble! Allmendinger turned around, Kyle Busch makes contact, more cars involved…”

…including Kevin Harvick.  Harvick dropped to fifth in the Chase, 26 points back.  Busch is down in sixth, 40 points behind Edwards.  Keselowski and Stewart are in the three- and four-spots, both within 20 points of the lead.

FOX in the Fast Lane, I’m Chris Hoenig, FOX News Radio.

NASCAR returns to Talladega for week 6 of the Chase and the Good Sam Club 500.  Jimmie Johnson speaks about the death of IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon, as NASCAR pays tribute.

FOX News Radio’s Marghiee “Trackside” Teshineh has more in this edition of “FOX in the Fast Lane”:

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It’s back to Talladega, for another turn at tandem driving.

A challenge for Matt Kenseth:

“It’s kind of weird doing a team race kinda, because you can’t do it by yourself.  And you know if you win or finish second, you know the other guy was just as responsible for your finish as you were in a way.”

For Kurt Busch, it’s all about having a game plan, and:

“To draft with a teammate of course. I’ve always got my little brother to count on and there’s a couple of other guys that I’ve always buddied up with on the restrictor plate tracks.”

After the death of IndyCar and Indy 500 winner Dan Wheldon, Jimmie Johnson wants IndyCar to stop racing on oval tracks.  Wheldon died during the season finale at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and Johnson feels IndyCar cars are built for street circuits and road courses, and are too fast to race on ovals like Las Vegas.

NASCAR plans its own tributes to Wheldon this weekend at Talladega, including cars and trucks displaying a decal in his honor.

FOX in the Fast Lane. I’m Marghiee Teshineh, FOX News Radio.

Week Five of the Chase takes drivers to Charlotte Motor Speedway and the Bank of America 500, while Jimmie Johnson takes cover – in a good way.

FOX News Radio’s Marghiee “Trackside” Teshineh previews the race in this week’s “FOX in the Fast Lane”:

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CARL EDWARDS LOVES SITTING ON TOP OF THE CHASE POINTS STANDINGS, BUT

HE HATES FACING THE TRACK AT CHARLOTTE…

“THERE’S A LITTLE BIT OF ANXIETY FOR ME BECAUSE I KNOW HOW POORLY YOU CAN RUN THERE WITH JUST A SMALL PROBLEM WITH THE CAR.”

EDWARDS STILL SMARTING OVER A CRITICAL LOSS  DURING THE 2008 CHASE AT CHARLOTTE, SO THIS YEAR…

“ I FEEL WINNING A POINTS RACE THERE WOULD BE HUGE. IT WOULD BE A BIG HURDLE FOR ME TO GET OVER AS A DRIVER.”

FOR JEFF GORDON…

“I LOVE CHARLOTTE IT’S A TRACK I ENJOY A LOT, BUT THE CAR HAS TO BE RIGHT THERE.”

AND HOW IS JIMMIE JOHNSON FEELING AT THIS POINT IN THE CHASE?

“I’M EXCITED, I FEEL THAT WE’RE WE NEED TO BE. WE’RE IN A GROOVE OF SORTS. BUT THIS YEAR HAS BEEN TOUGH TO STAY CONSISTENT NOT ONLY FOR OURSELVES BUT FOR ALL THE DRIVERS.”

AND JOHNSON THIS WEEK GRACES THE COVER “SPORTS ILLUSTRATED.”

WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE “S.I. COVER JINX,” JOHNSON SAID HE DOESN’T THINK IT WILL AFFECT HIS QUEST FOR A SIXTH CONSECUTIVE TITLE.

FOX IN THE FAST LANE, I’M MARGHIEE TESHINEH, FOX NEWS RADIO.