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CONCORD, N.C. — As the list of open-wheel stars moving to NASCAR grows, Sam Hornish Jr. remains undecided about his future.

He’s had tremendous success in IndyCars — winning three championships and last year’s Indianapolis 500 — but his tryout in stock cars hasn’t been nearly as smooth. He has yet to qualify for a Nextel Cup event after four failed attempts, including Thursday night at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

“We knew it was going to be difficult coming in,” he said.

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The motorcycle business is far more volatile than the automobile business, largely because its consumers care so passionately about what they’re buying.Consider the consequences if the auto companies had to totally revamp their best-selling models every two years to avoid marketplace disaster, instead of every five to seven (and in the case of some models, like the Ford Crown Victoria, twenty years or more riding the same basic design).Who would survive in such a competitive environment?
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TALLADEGA, Ala. — Jeff Gordon surged past Jimmie Johnson on the final lap at Talladega Superspeedway, then held off his teammate Sunday to become the career victory leader at restrictor-plate tracks.Gordon, who scored his 12th victory on a plate track, used the triumph to move back on top of the points standings with six races remaining in the Chase for the Championship.
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NEWTON, Iowa — From Danica Patrick to “Dancing With The Stars” virtuoso Helio Castroneves, the IndyCar series can still boast of its share of big names.But the open-wheel series lost defending champion Dario Franchitti to NASCAR on Wednesday, and he’s not the only one eyeing the jump to stock cars. Sam Hornish Jr., the 2006 champion, appears ready to follow, and 2005 champ Dan Wheldon has expressed interest in NASCAR.With so many of its stars looking to leave, is the IndyCar Series in trouble?
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Dario Franchitti’s much-anticipated move to stock cars will begin Friday with an ARCA race at Talladega Superspeedway, the Associated Press has learned.

The 2007 Indy 500 winner and IndyCar Series champion has agreed to a multiyear deal to replace David Stremme in the No. 40 Dodge for NASCAR’s Chip Ganassi Racing, according to a person familiar with the negotiations who requested anonymity because the deal had yet to be announced.

An official announcement is expected Wednesday at Ganassi’s race shop in North Carolina.

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Jimmie Johnson on Friday earned the pole for Sunday’s Lifelock 400 at Kansas Speedway, site of the third race in the 10-race Chase for the Championship.

It was the second straight pole and the 12th of his career for Johnson, who finished 14th last week at Dover.

On Friday, Johnson’s No. 48 Chevrolet went around the 1.5-mile tri-oval at a top speed of 175.063 mph.

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