Greg Biffle has won at least one race in every NASCAR Sprint Cup season since he debuted full time six years ago. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Kid’s stuff

Points remain to be totaled but Joey Logano (No. 20 Home Depot Toyota) is the prohibitive favorite to claim 2009 Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors.

Logano, who grabbed his 25th rookie of the race award at Phoenix, leads rivals Scott Speed (No. 82 Red Bull Toyota) and Max Papis (No. 13 GEICO Toyota) by 36 and 88 points, respectively.

Logano won in mid-summer at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

The Connecticut native at age 19 years, five months, 29 days would become the youngest rookie of the year in the history of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&Ms Toyota) was age 20 years, six months, 13 days when he won the title in 2005.

Winning the rookie of the year title is a good indication of things to come. NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee Richard Petty won the award in 1959; David Pearson was top rookie in 1960.

Since 1979 six Raybestos Rookies of the Year have gone on to win series titles including seven-time champion and Hall of Fame Inductee Dale Earnhardt (1979) and Jeff Gordon (1993).


Big finish joints

This week’s race marks the eighth consecutive year the season has ended at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Atlanta Motor Speedway hosted the finale from 1987-2000.

In 2001, the finale was held at New Hampshire Motor Speedway because of the 9/11 attacks. From 1974 through 1986, the season ended on the West Coast at now-shuttered tracks in Ontario and Riverside, Calif. The last time the season ended on a short track was 1970 at Langley Field Speedway in Virginia.


Milestones

A number of streaks are in jeopardy this week — none longer than Greg Biffle’s (No. 16 3 M Ford) run of six consecutive seasons with at least one victory.

Also needing a win at Homestead-Miami Speedway to preserve a streak is Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet), who has victories in three consecutive seasons. A runner-up finish in Sunday’s race at Phoenix suggests the Richard Childress Racing driver might be close.

Winless in 2009 after posting victories a year ago are defending Ford 400 winner Carl Edwards, Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet) and Ryan Newman (No. 39 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet).

Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Budweiser Dodge) continues to chase a Coors Light Pole to extend his consecutive fast qualifying streak to six seasons.


Hendrick nears record

Based upon owner championships won, Hendrick Motorsports is the New York Yankees of NASCAR.

Drivers in Rick Hendrick-owned cars and trucks have won 11 NASCAR national series titles. Either Jimmie Johnson or Mark Martin will add a record 12th championship on Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The record currently is shared by Hendrick and Richard Childress Racing.

Four drivers — Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Terry Labonte and Jack Sprague — have won NASCAR national owner championships for Hendrick. Gordon, Johnson and Labonte won NASCAR Sprint Cup titles. Sprague is a three-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion.


Trivia answer

The 10 drivers in the original Chase were, in finishing order: Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, Matt Kenseth, Elliott Sadler and Jeremy Mayfield.

Up next

Champion’s Week heads west next month with activities beginning Sunday, Nov. 29 in San Diego where the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion will attend the NFL game between the hometown Chargers and the visiting Kansas City Chiefs.

On Monday, it’s on to Camp Pendleton, the West Coast home of the U.S. Marines, where the champion will meet with hundreds of service personnel.

Tuesday’s activities include an appearance before fans and ticket holders at Auto Club Speedway and visits to a number of West Coast-produced television shows.

Then it’s on to Las Vegas.

Wednesday’s Chasers for Charity and Roast is a first for Champion’s Week and takes place at Las Vegas Motor Speedway during afternoon and evening hours.

The awards trail begins in earnest on Thursday, Dec. 3 with such traditional activities as the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers 2009 Awards ceremony at the Venetian Hotel.

That’s followed by the popular Victory Lap, which begins at 1 p.m. and this year follows the famous Las Vegas Strip. An additional activity — After the Lap Q&A — will be held at 4:30 p.m. in the Hollywood Theater at the MGM Grand.

Wynn Las Vegas hosts the traditional Champion’s Awards Ceremony beginning at 6 p.m. Friday Dec. 4. Ceremonies will be broadcast live by SPEED 9 p.m.-1 a.m. ET with re-airs at 1-5 a.m. on Dec. 5 and 1-5 p.m. on Dec. 6.

Jim Pedleyis a veteran, award-winning sports journalist who has worked at, among other places, the Boston Globe, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and the Kansas City Star. Pedley spent more than 10 years covering auto racing for the Kansas City Star. Pedley can be reached at jpedley@racintoday.com

The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEEDtv.com, FOX, NewsCorp, or Speed Channel