6:24 PM ET Associated Press TALLADEGA, Ala. — Aric Almirola capped an absolute Stewart-Haas Racing rout at Talladega Superspeedway with an overtime victory that earned him an automatic berth into the third round of NASCAR’s playoffs. Almirola was part of the four-car SHR contingent that was untouchable all weekend at Talladega. The four Fords swept

6:45 PM ET Associated Press TALLADEGA, Ala. — Kurt Busch led a Stewart-Haas Racing sweep to put all four of the company cars up front at Talladega Superspeedway. Busch turned a lap at 195.804 mph to qualify in the top spot for Sunday’s race. He edged teammate Clint Bowyer, who qualified second, ahead of Kevin

3:59 PM ET Associated Press TALLADEGA, Ala. — Timothy Peters has won the Truck Series race at Talladega Superspeedway after spinning leader Noah Gragson out of his way on the final lap, then blocking traffic as he rushed to the checkered flag. It was the 11th victory of Peters’ career and third at Talladega, the

8:05 PM ET Bob PockrassNASCAR Close • NASCAR writer for ESPN.com• 2009, 2013 NMPA Writer of the Year• More than 25 years experience covering motorsports TALLADEGA, Ala. — To block or not to block. That is what drivers will have to decide to do throughout the playoff race Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway. Remember back in Daytona in July

5:28 PM ET Bob PockrassNASCAR Close • NASCAR writer for ESPN.com• 2009, 2013 NMPA Writer of the Year• More than 25 years experience covering motorsports TALLADEGA, Ala. – It’s not necessarily a match made in heaven, but it’s certainly a match made in the dirt roads of the South. NASCAR, about to conclude its 70th season, finally has

9:00 AM ET Considered one of the most successful Cup series driver and crew chief pairings in NASCAR history, Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus will no longer be working alongside each other once the 2019 season rolls around. Their 17-year career together, one that includes seven Cup championships and 83 victories, will end amid much

6:00 PM ET Bob PockrassNASCAR Close • NASCAR writer for ESPN.com• 2009, 2013 NMPA Writer of the Year• More than 25 years experience covering motorsports CONCORD, N.C. – Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus tried to set the record straight Thursday when they sat at Hendrick Motorsports and described why they will not work together in 2019. As with

4:38 PM ET Bob PockrassNASCAR Close • NASCAR writer for ESPN.com• 2009, 2013 NMPA Writer of the Year• More than 25 years experience covering motorsports CONCORD, N.C. — Maybe it was a little symbolic that the snacks provided Thursday by Hendrick Motorsports when Chad Knaus and Jimmie Johnson met the media didn’t include any milk and cookies. At

8:40 AM ET Bob PockrassNASCAR Close • NASCAR writer for ESPN.com• 2009, 2013 NMPA Writer of the Year• More than 25 years experience covering motorsports Jimmie Johnson has frequently said he never wanted to know whether he could win races with someone else rather than Chad Knaus as his crew chief. He will find out in 2019. And

5:01 PM ET Bob PockrassNASCAR Close • NASCAR writer for ESPN.com• 2009, 2013 NMPA Writer of the Year• More than 25 years experience covering motorsports If Jimmie Johnson wins a record eighth NASCAR Cup Series championship, it won’t be with Chad Knaus as his crew chief. When Matt DiBenedetto announced he was leaving Go Fas Racing, he was