NASCAR suspends testing for 2009

Teams can test at non-NASCAR tracks

NASCAR has suspended all testing at its sanctioned tracks next season in a cost-cutting measure that should help teams save several million dollars in their 2009 budgets.

The moratorium, which includes the traditional "preseason" Daytona 500 testing, is for NASCAR's top three divisions. Teams cannot test at any track where a Sprint Cup, Nationwide Series or Truck Series event is held.

NASCAR told teams its decision Friday morning at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The decision is an about-face from a few months ago, when NASCAR considered expanding the testing schedule to as many as 24 days at any track.

Reaction was mixed among drivers, who generally loathe the midweek test sessions but value the data gathered.

The current testing policy was seven tests over 15 days at tracks selected by NASCAR. Teams also could rent time at NASCAR tracks that don't host Cup races -- Nashville, Kentucky, Memphis -- and were free to test at any facility not on the NASCAR schedule. NASCAR can't control teams from testing at tracks it doesn't sanction, and Jimmie Johnson was certain his Hendrick Motorsports team will put together a busy schedule at those facilities next year.

BENSON CLAIMS TRUCK TITLE: A two-tire stop and a late decision to stay on track during a caution period were just enough to give Johnny Benson the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series title by seven points over Ron Hornaday on Friday night in a race that went to overtime.

Todd Bodine won the Ford 200, but all eyes were on the championship contenders as Hornaday tried desperately to make up ground after falling behind in the pits during the final caution at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway.

Benson, who came into the race with a three-point lead, finished seventh, one position ahead of Hornaday after the green-white-checker finish.

Hornaday led early in the race, with Benson falling several positions behind. But crew chief Trip Bruce's decision to put only two tires on Benson's Toyota truck during a caution on lap 92 of the event scheduled to go 134 laps vaulted Benson from ninth to his first lead of the night.

He and Hornaday swapped positions several times until Mike Skinner's shredded tire brought out another yellow flag on lap 125. During the ensuing caution period, runaway leader Kyle Busch pitted and Hornaday's crew chief Rick Ren brought his driver's Chevrolet onto pit road for a four-tire stop, while Bruce kept Benson on the track.

REUTIMANN WINS HOMESTEAD-MIAMI POLE: Carl Edwards got the jump on Jimmie Johnson in Friday's qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Edwards, facing a 141-point deficit heading into Sunday's Ford 400, qualified fourth, trailing only first-time pole winner David Reutimann, rookie Scott Speed and Roush Fenway Racing teammate Matt Kenseth. Johnson, who needs only to finish 36th or better on Sunday to wrap up his third straight Cup title, will start a disappointing 30th.