Dario Franchitti will be returning to IndyCar racing in 2009 for Chip Ganassi. He will replace Dan Wheldon in the No. 10 car.

UPS will reportedly leave Michael Waltrip Racing and sponsor Roush-Fenway driver David Ragan and the No. 6 Ford next season and beyond. An official announcement is expected within the next two weeks.

With his third victory in 12 starts at California this past weekend Jimmie Johnson passed Mark Martin for 17th on the all-time wins list with 36 in 244 races.

Included in Johnson’s were 228 laps led out of a possible 250. That’s the most laps ever led by a driver in a race at Auto Club Speedway.

With one race left before the Chase begins, David Ragan and Kasey Kahne are on the outside looking in. Ragan trails 12th place Clint Bowyer by 17 points and Kahne is 44 points behind.