by The Virginian-Pilot

"I think people that complain about a NASCAR race, they haven't watched anything else of motor racing," Montoya said Tuesday . "Honestly, if you don't like what you're seeing, you shouldn't be seeing it because it's the greatest racing you can have in any motorsport scene.?It doesn't get any better than this ."?

PENALTIES hurt Truex

NASCAR announced that it docked Martin Truex Jr. 50 points and car owner Teresa Earnhardt 50 points and fined crew chief Kevin Manion $50,000 after Truex's car failed post-race inspection at Texas. Manion also remains on probation until Dec. 31.

The front of Truex's car was found to be below minimum height requirements. Truex falls from 24th to 26th in the driver standings with the penalty. Elliott Sadler and AJ Allmendinger each gain a spot.

TITLE SCENARIOS

Although Jimmie Johnson lost more than half his lead on Mark Martin at Texas, he still has a chance to clinch the title this weekend at Phoenix.

Johnson needs to lead the driver second in the standings by at least 195 points after the race. Johnson holds a 73-point lead on Martin , with Jeff Gordon 112 points behind.

To clinch at Homestead, Johnson can average a fourth-place finish in the final two races and it won't matter where anyone else finishes.

MORE TITLES

Kyle Busch and Ron Hornaday are each on the verge of clinching series titles .

Busch leads Carl Edwards by 272 points in the Nationwide Series. If Busch leaves Phoenix at least 195 points ahead, he'll be the champion. It would be Busch's first series crown.

In the Camping World Truck series, Hornaday holds a 197-point lead on Matt Crafton. If Hornaday has a 195-point lead after Phoenix, he'll be the series champion for the fourth time.

NEW RIDES for 2010

Braun Racing will expand to have four entries in the Nationwide series next year. Brian Scott will be the driver of one of the teams. The other drivers will be announced later. ... Red Horse Racing will have ARCA series champ Justin Lofton drive for it next season in the Camping World Truck series.

PIT STOPS

Hendrick Motorsports has won the past five Cup races at Phoenix. ... Foxsports.com., citing unidentified sources, reports that more than 40 employees have been cut from Richard Petty Motorsports as part of its merger with Yates Racing after this season.

- Dustin Long

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