Hendrick Motorsports looks to have first and second wrapped up in the season standings.

With some luck, the team could sweep the top three.

While teammates Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon race each other for the championship, Kyle Busch is trying to pass Clint Bowyer for third with two races left. Bowyer's lead was cut by 158 points when Busch gained 59 points last weekend.

"Last year we struggled and couldn't do anything right, and this year, it seems as though we can really hit it strong and run well if something doesn't happen," said Busch, who has three top-five finishes in the last four races. "We got wrecked at Kansas and we got wrecked at Talladega, and then again at Atlanta we got caught there with the pit stop problem, and got mired back in traffic and had a bad finish there. If it wasn't for some of those things, we would be right there contending for this thing, too."

Longer races

Fans are getting more for their money down the stretch. So far the eight Chase races have lasted an average 3 hours, 36 minutes -- 16 minutes longer than the average length for all races this season.

Also, the Chase races this season are taking 10 minutes longer to run than last year's Chase races and 13 minutes longer than the Chase races in 2005. Blame the yellows flags.

Chase races this season average two more cautions and eight more caution laps per race over 2005 and 2006.

Races in the Chase this season have seen an average of one more accident or spin per race.

Ready to roll

The St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times reports that Penske Racing will announce this weekend that Sam Hornish Jr. will drive a third Cup entry for the team next season.

Petty Enterprises moving

Petty Enterprises officials will announce today a new location for its Cup operation. The team is expected to move to the Mooresville, N.C., area to be closer to Charlotte, where nearly all Cup teams are based.

Looking for work

David Stremme continues to search for a Cup ride for next season, but his agent said that Stremme won't take any ride. Stremme is set to drive in 20 Busch races for Rusty Wallace's team next season -- all companion events with the Cup series.

Stremme will be replaced by Indy 500 champion Dario Franchitti at Chip Ganassi Racing next season. One possibility, agent Jeff Dickerson said, is that Stremme could drive a fourth car for Ganassi in 2008 if a sponsor is found.

Jailed

Haas CNC Racing owner, Gene Haas, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison this week for conspiring to cheat the government out of millions in taxes owed by his company, Haas Automation.

He's scheduled to begin his prison stay on Jan. 14. As part of a plea agreement, the Haas , 54, has paid more than $70 million in restitution and fines.

Rock racing

Rockingham Speedway has added another race to its 2008 calendar. The former North Carolina Speedway, will host the USAR Hooters Pro Cup season finale on Nov. 1, 2008. Track officials earlier announced that ARCA will race there May 4.

Pit stops

Jimmie Johnson will drive the same car this weekend at Phoenix that he drove to victory at Martinsville last month. ... Crews have begun repaving Darlington Raceway. The $10 million project includes new asphalt around the entire oval, concrete pit stalls and a new infield access tunnel underneath turn 3. ... Patrick Carpentier takes over the ride formerly held by Scott Riggs at Phoenix. Carpentier will drive for Gillett Evernham Motorsports full time next season.