Driver Jimmie Johnson (left) signs an autograph as he walks to the garages between practices for today's Dickies 500. Johnson had the fastest lap in practice.

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Greg Biffle said he was pleased with the conversations in a recent follow-up meeting to the town hall sessions NASCAR officials held five months ago.

Series officials met with members from various teams earlier this month to look at various issues within the sport. Biffle said he and Jeff Burton were among the drivers invited. Many Cup teams had someone there, according to Biffle.

He said that the meeting covered such items as when the garage should open each weekend to practice schedules to having two-day shows instead of three-day race weekends. Other topics included the car, fuel injection, engines, number of crew members and possible cost-cutting measures.

"That was really good sharing ideas between all those teams and drivers,'' Biffle said. "It could end up making our sport better,'' he said.

Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president of competition, said that they had "some good conversations'' out of the meeting.

"It's something we'll continue to do,'' Pemberton said.

Today the day?

Carl Edwards, who had a series-high nine wins last season, still seeks his first Cup victory of the season and it could happen today.

Edwards was the second fastest to Jimmie Johnson in Saturday's final practice session.

"That's the fastest we've been in a long time, so we'll see how it goes,'' Edwards said Saturday at Texas Motor Speedway. "It's 500 miles and there will be a lot of things that change throughout the race, but it feels nice."

Deal pending?

Bobby Labonte is not set on a ride yet for next season, but whether he can complete a deal before the season is uncertain. A year ago, he was set to return to Petty Enterprises until the team merged with Gillette Evernham Motorsports to form Richard Petty Motorsports in December. That cost Labonte his ride and he wasn't announced as the driver for Hall of Fame Racing until January.

As for his timetable in securing a deal this year?

"I hope to have things not like last year,'' Labonte said.

Published reports have listed TRG Motorsports and Earnhardt Ganassi Racing as his most likely destinations for 2009. TRG Motorsports officials say they've had discussions with multiple drivers.

Staying around

Although Toyota will not return to Formula One, a Toyota official stated that the car manufacturer remains committed to NASCAR.

Also, when asked if Earnhardt Ganassi Racing might switch to Toyota for next season, Lee White, president and general manager of Toyota Racing Development, said: "We've had discussions with Chip (Ganassi, car owner), but we have a lot of discussions with a lot of people.''

Pit stops

Jimmie Johnson was the fastest in the final practice session with a lap of 186.670 mph. He was followed by Carl Edwards (186.265 mph), Denny Hamlin (185.810), Greg Biffle (185.503) and Bill Elliott (184.894). ... Kyle Busch provided the quote of the day, saying: "The only thing worse than finishing second on a day is when you finish second in something to a pregnant woman, then you're third.''