NASCAR Standings 2012: Brad Keselowski sits atop standings as season winds down

Brad Keselowski faces competition from Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin, but sits atop the NASCAR standings -- for now.

Brad Keselowski Stretches The Gas, Wins AAA 400 At Dover International Speedway

Brad Keselowski stretched his fuel to win the AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway. It is his fifth win of the 2012 season, the ninth of his career, and his first at the Monster Mile.

NASCAR At Dover: Kyle Busch Re-assumes Lead As Fuel Strategy Rears Its Head

Kyle Busch overhauled Jimmie Johnson to reclaim the top spot in the AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway with 44 laps remaining and Denny Hamlin has taken second from the No. 48. Fuel strategy might be the factor, however, as ESPN played audio of Johnson's crew chief Chad Knaus telling his driver that he could either start saving fuel now and try to stretch their fuel tank to the end of the race or run hard and have to pit late if a caution doesn't come out.

Busch's team, meanwhile, can't make it on gas and thus he has kept the throttle down. Brad Keselowski can make the race on fuel and runs fourth, as can fifth-place Jeff Gordon. Mark Martin, Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards, Martin Truex Jr., and Joey Logano round out the top-10.

Kasey Kahne also could have made it on fuel and was primed to potentially win the race, but his team left a front tire loose on his pit stop. A loose wheel at Dover can vibrate the fillings out of a man's teeth - even when he has none to begin with - and Kahne had to hit pit road. He then had to pit again because the crew did not get all the lug nuts tight.

NASCAR At Dover: Jimmie Johnson Assumes Lead As Matt Kenseth's Day Literally Falls Apart

It took more than three-quarters of the race, but Jimmie Johnson is in one of his most familiar spots: out front in the AAA 400 at the Dover International Speedway with just 70 laps remaining.

Johnson beat Kyle Busch off pit road under caution to assume the top spot at lap 311. Busch, who has led 267 laps, runs second. Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, and Clint Bowyer round out the top-five.

After having only seven cars on the lead lap for most of the day, there are finally a full top-10's worth of cars on the pace. Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne, Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, and Martin Truex Jr. round out the top-five.

Matt Kenseth's hopes of winning a championship in his final season at Roush-Fenway Racing probably ended when a front shock fell out of his No. 17 Ford in the Chase open at Chicago, but the death nail in the coffin has come Sunday. Kenseth brought out consecutive cautions thanks to a broken rear-end housing. The second time, he banged the inside wall on lap 317 and now sits a miserable 35th.

NASCAR At Dover Update: Kyle Busch Channeling 2008 Dominance In Sunday Drive At Midpoint Of AAA 400

Kyle Busch is offering up shades of June 2008 this afternoon in Dover. Busch took the lead on the 35th lap of the race and has seldom been out of the top spot since. Through 225 laps, Busch has held the lead for 181 circuits in as dominant a drive as he has enjoyed in quite some time.

One of his terrific performances came four years ago this past June, in his first race at Dover for Joe Gibbs Racing. Busch led 155 of the final 164 laps and left just five of his rivals on the lead lap. He had help that day from an early 11-car pileup and a 153-lap green flag run at the end of the race. Today, a caution flag right at the end of a cycle of green flag pit stops on lap 69 has left only seven cars on the lead lap.

Denny Hamlin currently trails Busch. He led the opening 34 laps from the pole and has added four more laps at the front. Jimmie Johnson runs third and has yet to lead a single lap thus far this afternoon. Even if his car were to sprout rockets and blast past Hamlin and Busch on the next circuit, he would still have his second-fewest laps-led total at Dover since 2009. Brad Keselowski and Jeff Gordon complete the top-five. Rounding out the lead-lap cars are Clint Bowyer and Carl Edwards. Mark Martin, Kasey Kahne, and Joey Logano complete the top-10 and duel for the "Free Pass" spot.

NASCAR At Dover Update: Kyle Busch Leads As Caution During Pit Stop Cycle Leaves Seven Cars On Lead Lap

Few things can shake up a stock car race quicker than a caution flag during pit stop cycles.

Guess what happened during the first cycle of stops during the AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway?

Yep.

J.J. Yeley's right front tire blew on lap 69, laying debris on the race track as many of the lead lap cars - but not all - had made their pit stop. That left only six cars on the lead lap with the rest of the field two laps down. Carl Edwards and 22 other drivers took the wave-around to get one lap back. Edwards also benefited from the "Lucky Dog" free pass award for being the highest-running lap-down car at the caution flag. Everyone else remains a lap off the pace.

Kyle Busch remains out front after 105 laps, ahead of Denny Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson. Completing the lead-lap cars are Clint Bowyer, Jeff Gordon, Brad Keselowski, and Carl Edwards. Kasey Kahne, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Ryan Newman round out the top-10 as well as racing for the free pass spot.

NASCAR At Dover Update: Kyle Busch Leads Early In AAA 400

After missing the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship three weeks ago, Kyle Busch has remarked that, with no title to win, you just go through the motions at the track and hope you win. If you don't win, it's just a waste of time.

Busch shows the way early on in the AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway, leading after 60 laps. He took the top spot on lap 35 from teammate and polesitter Denny Hamlin, another interesting story.

Hamlin has been outspoken in his dislike for Dover International Speedway, and his results have generally corroborated the story. This week he took a positive approach to the Monster Mile, won the pole, and led the opening 34 circuits.

Clint Bowyer holds down the third position, with Jeff Gordon and Delaware Destroyer Jimmie Johnson rounding out the top-five.

Brad Keselowski runs sixth with Kasey Kahne seventh. Sam Hornish Jr., having another terrific run in the No. 22 Dodge he is inexplicably out of at the conclusion of the season for Joey Logano, runs eighth. Greg Biffle and Mark Martin round out the top-10.

NASCAR at Dover 2012: Start time, lineup, TV/radio schedule and live streaming information

The Nascar AAA 400 at Dover kicks off Sunday at 2:00 p.m. ET on ESPN and can be streamed live on the Watch ESPN website and mobile applications. If you will be away from your computer and TV, check the Motor Racing Network's web site for a list of affiliate radio stations in your area.

Jimmie Johnson comes in having won the spring race at Dover while Kurt Busch was victorious in this very race a year ago.

Sunday's race is the AAA 400 -- it's 400 laps around the one-mile Dover International Speedway for a total of 400 miles.

Here's the starting lineup for today's NASCAR race at Dover International Speedway (Chase drivers in bold):

1. Denny Hamlin
2. Clint Bowyer
3. Martin Truex Jr.
4. Sam Hornish Jr.
5. Kyle Busch
6. Greg Biffle
7. Jeff Gordon
8. Ryan Newman
9. Kasey Kahne
10. Brad Keselowski
11. Jimmie Johnson
12. Matt Kenseth
13. Kevin Harvick
14. Joey Logano
15. Carl Edwards
16. Bobby Labonte
17. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
18. Regan Smith
19. Paul Menard
20. Jamie McMurray
21. Aric Almirola
22. Landon Cassill
23. Josh Wise
24. Tony Stewart
25. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
26. Mark Martin
27. Marcos Ambrose
28. Kurt Busch
29. Reed Sorenson
30. Casey Mears
31. David Ragan
32. Michael McDowell
33. Travis Kvapil
34. Scott Speed
35. Juan Pablo Montoya
36. Scott Riggs
37. Joe Nemechek
38. Danica Patrick
39. Jeff Burton
40. JJ Yeley
41. T.J. Bell
42. David Gilliland
43. Dave Blaney

NASCAR At Dover 2012: Denny Hamlin takes poll for AAA 400

Denny Hamlin grabs the poll position for Sunday's running of the AAA 400

NASCAR At Dover: Qualifying time, TV info and more

The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup continues in Dover this weekend, and Saturday's schedule includes qualifying rounds for the Sprint and Nationwide Series. The day concludes with the running of the Nationwide Series' OneMain Financial 200.

Related: NASCAR At Dover schedule: festivities run throughout the weekend

Jimmie Johnson enters the weekend with a one-point lead over second-place Brad Keselowski in the Sprint Cup standings. Five drivers are within 15 points of Johnson, who will be looking to put a little breathing room between himself and the rest of the field.

Here's the complete Saturday schedule, including television information (all times Eastern):

10 a.m.: Grandstand gates open
10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.: OneMain Financial open track session
12:05 p.m.: NASCAR Nationwide Series qualifying (Speed Network)
1:40 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying (Speed Network)
3 p.m.: NASCAR Nationwide Series driver introductions
3:30 p.m.: Start of Nationwide Series race, the OneMain Financial 200 (ESPN)

Sunday's AAA 400 begins at 2 p.m. ET, with coverage by ESPN.

NASCAR At Dover schedule: festivities run throughout the weekend

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is in Dover this weekend for the AAA 400. Jimmie Johnson holds a one-point lead over second-place Brad Keselowski in the Cup standings, and he'll be looking to build on that margin at one of his better race tracks.

Festivities will be ongoing throughout the weekend, and here is a look at the schedule for the days ahead (all times Eastern):

Friday, Sept. 28

10 a.m.: Grandstand gates open, NASCAR K&N Pro Series East qualifying
11 a.m. - 12:25 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice
12:35 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.: NASCAR Nationwide Series final practice
1 p.m. - 2 p.m.: NASCAR K&N Pro Series East free autograph session
2:40 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series final practice
4:30 p.m.: NASCAR K&N Pro Series East driver introductions
4:50 p.m.: Start of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race
7 p.m. - 9 p.m.: "Dialed In With Claire B. Lang" live from the Monster Mile in the Rollins Center at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino

Saturday, Sept. 29

10 a.m.: Grandstand gates open
10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.: OneMain Financial open track session
12:05 p.m.: NASCAR Nationwide Series qualifying
1:40 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying
3 p.m.: NASCAR Nationwide Series driver introductions
3:30 p.m.: Start of Nationwide Series race, the OneMain Financial 200

Sunday, Sept. 30

10 a.m.: Grandstand gates open
11 a.m.: Brian Dawkins Q&A on the Monster Monument, presented by AAA, in Victory Plaza
11:15 a.m.: Jimmie Johnson Q&A on the Monster Monument, presented by AAA, in Victory Plaza
11:30 a.m.: Free concert by country music band Lonestar in Victory Plaza
12:15 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pre-race activities
1:30 p.m. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver introductions
2 p.m.: Start of NASCAR Sprint Cup race, the AAA 400

Matt Kenseth's debut at Dover helped out Georgia's grieving first-family of motorsports

Matt Kenseth is certainly one of today's top stars in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He has a Winston Cup at home on his mantle, alongside two Harley J. Earl Trophies he earned for his 2009 and 2012 Daytona 500 triumphs. He also possesses one of the best - and most dry - senses of humor in the sport. While he may not provide the sort of juicy soundbytes of contemporaries Tony Stewart and Kevin Harvick, the soft-spoken Wisconsinite's interviews are can't-miss events. One never knows what might come out of Kenseth's mouth as he deadpans his way through a conversation.

In September 1998, Matthew Roy Kenseth was enjoying a breakout first full season in the NASCAR Busch (now Nationwide) Series. Through 25 races on that tour, he'd won twice in Robbie Reiser's No. 17 Chevrolet and sat 140 points behind Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the battle for the championship crown. A protege of Mark Martin, Kenseth's future as a driver for Roush Racing in Winston Cup competition was all but assured. He'd attempted his Cup debut in one of Roush's cars at Talladega that April, but he wasn't quite fast enough to make the show.

Kenseth would wind up making his debut at Dover on September 20, but it was not intended for him to run that race. Rather, Kenseth got the nod to drive Bill Elliott's Ford as Georgia's first family of motorsports grieved the loss of their patriarch, George Elliott.

Though Elliott had already endured a tough season on the track even before the passing of his father, the No. 94 team was ranked 18th in the standings. That meant Kenseth would be able to use a provisional spot to make the field if he couldn't go fast enough in first or second-round qualifying. As it turned out, he made the show easily, qualifying 16th-quickest (the top-25 fastest cars on the first day were locked in on speed in the old two-round style of qualifying that went away after the 2000 season). Martin, who had recommended his protege to drive the car, won the pole.

On Saturday afternoon, Kenseth dominated the MBNA Gold 200 for his third and final victory of the 1998 Busch Grand National season. Earnhardt Jr. finished eighth, allowing Kenseth to wipe 43 points off "Little E's" lead with five races remaining.

The next day, Kenseth hopped in Elliott's McDonalds "Get Back with Big Mac" Taurus. The car had a "groovy" 1960s paint scheme in honor of the sandwich's 30th anniversary (check it out, maaaaan), making it plenty easy to spot from the grandstands and on television when racing among the other 42 cars. That would have come in handy for the other drivers needing to avoid the kid in his debut, as well.

There wound up being no need to be wary of Kenseth: he had the best debut in NASCAR's top division in nearly 20 years. In fact, his sixth-place finish equaled Elliott's best result all season in just the second year of his full-time career that Awesome Bill from Dawsonville didn't record a top-five finish.

The winner that day? Mark Martin, who led all but 21 of the 400 laps in possibly the most dominant performance of his entire career.

Kenseth went on to finish second in the 1998 Busch standings, 48 behind Earnhardt Jr. The following season, Earnhardt won again, while a last-race accident dropped Kenseth to third. "Matt the Brat" got his revenge in 2000, beating out his friendly rival for the Winston Cup Rookie of the Year award.

In 2003, Kenseth claimed the last championship ever under the R.J. Reynolds-sponsorship of NASCAR's top division. It was also the final championship won over the course of a full season. NASCAR implemented its "Chase" playoff system the following year in response to Kenseth's '03 campaign that saw him top-10 his rivals to death while scoring just one victory.

Fittingly, the 2003 season that saw Kenseth stand atop the stock car racing world was also the final time the man for whom he substituted in his 1998 debut contested a full schedule of races. Bill Elliott wound up ninth in the final standings, his first top-10 season since 1997.

Next year Kenseth officially joins the Georgia racing family, as he will pilot Joe Gibbs' No. 20 Toyota sponsored by Atlanta-based Home Depot. Smart fans know he was adopted into our great state's motorsports clan 14 years ago, when he helped out the iconic Elliotts in their time of grief.

NASCAR At Dover: Point Leader, Dover Dominator Jimmie Johnson Looks To Distance Himself From Rivals

I'm not sure if Jimmie Johnson has any musical talent, but George Throrogood might ought to give him a ring anyway. The driver of the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy is certainly NASCAR's version of a Delaware Destroyer.

You don't win five-straight Sprint Cup championships without having a few venues you dominate at. Still, Johnson's stats at Dover International Speedway - site of this weekend's AAA 400 - are liable to make the folks most cynical of his success raise their eyebrows in wonder. He won his first two trips there in 2002, won this past June, and has done plenty of winning in the nine years in between.

In 21 starts at the Monster Mile, Johnson has seven wins, 10 top-fives, and 15 top-10s. Perhaps the most telling statistic of his dominance in Delaware is his laps led total: he's paced 2,275 of the 8,219 laps he's completed in those 21 races. Did you catch that? Out of all the laps where his No. 48 Chevrolet has been on the track, he's left 5,944 for the other drivers in the field. When you're talking about the premier division of American motorsports, with 43 drivers running every race, a driver having that percentage of the laps led all to himself is all but unheard of. In the cases where it is heard, you're usually dealing with one of the top drivers and teams not only of their era, but of all the eras that have made up NASCAR's 64-year history.

Another thing about Johnson and Dover is the fact that you can look at his stats and see where they could be even better. In June 2003, he got into oil from Ward Burton's blown engine and spun hard into the inside wall. A year later, Dave Blaney and Michael Waltrip got tangled up after restarting ahead of the leaders - one of the instances that illustrate the benefit of NASCAR's wave-around rule - and wiped out nearly 20 cars. One of those was Johnson's, which went from looking at a potential win to sitting wadded up in the third turn.

In June 2007 he had perhaps the only car capable of contending with Martin Truex Jr., but he cut a tire late and had to duck onto pit road. That fall, he got wrapped up in another crash, this one caused by Kurt Busch slamming the wall off turn two.

Finally, in the June 2010 race, Johnson probably would have beaten Kyle Busch for the victory, but he was was tagged for speeding during his last trip down pit road and had to serve a pass-through penalty.

Notice that most of those issues happened in the June event. Johnson's stats in the fall race are really something to behold. In the eight Chase races at Dover, he's scored three wins, a second, and a fifth. Moreover, in the 3200 laps run in those races, he's completed all but two (he was one lap down after the aforementioned 2007 crash, and in 2004 he finished a lap down - in tenth - thanks to Ryan Newman's rocketship of a race car) and led 835 laps.

Getting down to the point is the fact that, as the man atop the Chase standings after two races, Johnson stands primed to put plenty of daylight between himself and many if not all of his rivals as he makes a run at his sixth championship. The title obviously won't be decided Sunday, with seven races still remaining. The picture could look much clearer, however, and it would pretty much look the same as it has quite often over the past 10 years, with Johnson out front and pulling away.

NASCAR at Dover 2012: Sprint Cup Championship Chase continues

Dover International Speedway will host the third race of the Sprint Cup Championship series Sunday.