Montoya Rookie Of The Year
Juan Pablo Montoya is the Raybestos Rookie of the Year. Montoya finished his Raybestos Rookie season with one win, three top-five and six top-10 finishes. He was Raybestos Rookie of the Race 16 times in 36 races. Montoya scored a 15th-place finish in tonight’s race.

This is the second Raybestos Rookie of the Year title for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. Jamie McMurray claimed top rookie honors in 2003. This is the Fourth Raybestos Rookie of the Year title for Montoya’s primary sponsor, Texaco/Havoline. He joins Davey Allison (1987), Kenny Irwin, Jr. (1998) and Jamie McMurray (2003).

Yates To Bring Back No. 28
Robert Yates Racing will resurrect the No. 28 next season with driver Travis Kvapil. The number, which has been driven by 10 of the 40 winningest drivers in NASCAR history for 76 victories, hasn't been used since Ricky Rudd was behind the wheel at RYR in 2002. Among those that have driven the 28 are Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison, Davey Allison, Dale Jarrett and Ernie Irvan.

Davey Allison won 19 races with the number between 1987 and his tragic helicopter death in 1993. Rudd last drove the number from 2000 to 2002, collecting three wins and 53 top 10s. He was fifth in points in his first season, fourth in 2001 and 10th in 2002. Yates is making the switch because it gave the No. 88 to Dale Earnhardt Jr. to use at Hendrick Motorsports next season.(espn.go.com)

Rudy Giuliani Attends Race
As pit crews made last-minute inspections to their cars Sunday at NASCAR's Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani stressed the need for America to break its dependence on foreign oil. Giuliani likened the pursuit of energy independence and the development of alternative energy sources to the race to put a man on the moon several decades ago. "Now it's a matter truly of national security," Giuliani said. "We have to pursue all of those alternatives that exist." In the meantime, Giuliani said, the U.S. needs to focus on domestic sources of oil, as well as oil from friendly countries like Mexico and Canada. He said conservation also will have to play a role.(ap.google.com)

Johnson Fan Wins $1,000,000
As Jimmie Johnson crossed the finish line in Homestead, Fla. to become the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Champion, Sprint Nextel made Terri Randall an instant millionaire in the SprintSpeed™ Million presented by Motorola sweepstakes.

Randall’s fate was linked with Johnson’s after she selected him as the driver she thought would win the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. Following the race at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway on Sept. 8, the Las Vegas native was randomly chosen as one of 12 finalists to be paired with the driver they selected.

“This is a great way to end the 2007 NASCAR season for Terri, Jimmie and Sprint,” said Dean Kessel, director of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series marketing for Sprint. “The SprintSpeed Million helped us create new fans and say thank you to old ones who made this year’s Chase for the NEXTEL Cup one of the most exciting ever.”

In addition to winning $1 million, Randall received VIP trips to two Chase races and a $10,000 check presented by Johnson. Johnson raced well all season, narrowly edging out Hendrick Racing teammate Jeff Gordon for this year’s NEXTEL Cup. “It’s always exciting to help someone’s dreams come true” said Johnson. “This just makes winning the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup even sweeter.”

Randall is an insurance claims auditor who plans to use her winnings to pay off her mortgage and donate to the Jimmie Johnson Foundation. Randall’s husband has been a NASCAR fan for years. However, it wasn’t until she decided that she would cheer for the cutest driver that she became a Johnson fan and avid follower of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. “I still can’t believe this is real,” said Randall. “One minute I’m playing around online and the next Sprint is giving me a million bucks!”

Marlin To Run Limited Schedule In 2008
Sterling Marlin says he will run a limited schedule next year with Phoenix Racing. The team will enter select Sprint Cup races as it has done for several years. "[I'll] probably [run] a minimum of 10 from what I'm told," Marlin said Nov. 18. "May run 16 or 18, I don't know. That's perfect right there." Marlin was making his 732nd start in the Ford 400 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He had run a full season every year since 1987.(scenedaily.com)

Kahne Will Run Turkey Night
Kasey Kahne hasn’t competed in a USAC National Midget race in more than four years but he’s among entered drivers for next Thursday night’s 67th “Turkey Night Grand Prix” at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway – and he’ll be driving a #67!

Kahne, of Enumclaw, Wash., opened eyes in 1998 when he finished fifth in the “Turkey Night” classic at Bakersfield, Calif. and earned the Don Basile “Rookie of the Race” honors. He went on to score 11 USAC National Midget feature victories and won the 2000 USAC National Midget Championship before turning to NASCAR competition in 2002.

Kahne will pilot the Seymour Beast/Mopar for Visalia, Calif. car owner Zarounian Motorsports. In 2000 Kasey was named the USAC Silver Crown “Rookie of the Year” after finishing 10th in the series standings, driving a Zarounian car to victory at DuQuoin, Ill. He also won a Silver Crown race in 2001 at O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis, Ind. Kahne’s USAC Midget victories include major victories in the “4-Crown Nationals” (2000), Belleville Midget Nationals (2000 & 2001) and the “Night Before the 500” (2000 & 2001).

Kahne also plans to compete in Thursday night’s Lucas Oil USAC Western Sprint race, part of the “Turkey Night” program at Irwindale, driving a Zarounian Sprint car. It will mark Kahne’s first appearance in a USAC Sprint car since a late-2002 appearance at the Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway Bullring.

Thursday night’s program includes USAC National/Western Midget, Lucas Oil USAC Western Sprint and USAC California Pavement Ford Focus events, The Midgets and Sprints compete on Irwindale Speedway’s 1/2-mile oval, while the Focuses race on the track’s 1/3-mile oval. This year’s Midget spectacular will be 98 laps in honor of the number associated with the late race organizer J.C. Agajanian, whose son J.C. Jr. again continues the “Turkey Night” traditional as this year’s organizer.

Brian France: NASCAR Is Not For Sale
In a 25-minute state-of-the-sport address before Sunday's Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, NASCAR Chairman Brian France denied he or his family would be ceding control of the sanctioning body. "I'm committed to my job for the foreseeable future, and that's years, not months," said France, who attributed recent Internet reports to "people (who) have a lot of time on their hands."

"The family has absolutely no interest in selling NASCAR or International Speedway (Corp.). We'll put that rumor right to bed. I'm committed, and we're committed for the long run."

A SPEEDTV.com story posted last month speculated that Vice Chairman Jim France might be taking over for his nephew as NASCAR czar. Jim France was named chairman of ISC earlier this season after the June 4 death of his older brother, Bill France Jr., the longtime chairman of NASCAR and ISC.

Multiple reports surfaced last week that a European private equity firm was interested in buying NASCAR. France said the sanctioning body receives such inquiries all the time. "We do not take meetings" with private equity companies, France said. "We're just not for sale. That comes a little bit from, you know, we lost my father. Natural questions come out. But you just got to hear it from me as directly as you can: NASCAR is not for sale."(usatoday.com)

Race and Commercial Breakdown For The Ford 400