HOMESTEAD, Fla.  — NASCAR chairman Brian France wants Jimmie Johnson to be commended for his four-year run atop NASCAR, and not used as an example of why the championship format might be flawed.

FONTANA, Calif. — Jimmie Johnson got a huge break on his last stop, getting on pit road only seconds before the caution flag came out, and held off a charging Kevin Harvick in the closing laps to win at California on Sunday.

When a fluke accident cost Jimmie Johnson a huge chunk of his points lead, he knew there was no more room for error in his bid to win a NASCAR record fourth consecutive championship.

There was no shout, no dropping to his knees with arms raised to the sky. In fact, the reaction of Corona del Sol’s Alex Lawson was more sheepish than celebratory on Monday afternoon.

When a relative unknown like Zach Johnson wins the Masters, as he did Sunday in shocking fashion over Tiger Woods, nobody knows exactly what to think.

As conspiracies go, it’s pretty far-fetched, although anyone who watched the 5A Division I state track meet would believe it’s possible.

It was one of those games that could substantially cut the years off the career of a coach like Norris Vaughan.

Carl Edwards won his first Nextel Cup pole since 2005 on Friday at Phoenix International Raceway, and he’ll lead a 43-car field into Sunday’s Checker Auto Parts 500 that features three former Indianapolis 500 winners for the first time.

Brenda Bargmann is 43, a second-degree black belt and a public speaker. She also has Down syndrome.

Saying lawmakers too often ignore Arizona’s veterans unless there is a crisis, a state representative visited the Arizona State Veteran Home on Wednesday to deliver books and share a native prayer with a fellow Navajo.

A worker at a Scottsdale gun shop was arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault after police said he pointed a handgun at two people in a parking lot.

A worker at a Scottsdale gun shop was arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault after police said he pointed a handgun at two people in a parking lot.

TUCSON - The 11,765 fans that likely witnessed the Sidewinders’ last season opener Thursday also witnessed Randy Johnson start and the team score a whopping seven runs in the first inning.

A two-part seminar to help business owners with taxes will be 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 10 and 17 at the Western International University Chaparral Campus, 8860 Chaparral Road, Suite 220, in Scottsdale.

Microchip Technology, the Chandler-based semiconductor company that makes microcontrollers used in many consumer and industrial products, said it will expand its product line to include higher-end, more capable chips.

NEW YORK — Chris Johnson didn't get any votes for MVP. He didn't miss any for The Associated Press 2009 NFL All-Pro team. The 2,000-yard rusher from the Tennessee Titans was the only unanimous choice for the squad, which was announced Thursday. Safety Adrian Wilson was the Cardinals' lone selection.

SEATTLE - For 12 straight games, the Cardinals resembled a playoff contender, either winning or having a shot in each.

Ten practices into their NFL careers, the Cardinals’ top two draft choices still haven’t moved into the starting lineup. But both tackle Levi Brown and defensive tackle Alan Branch are gaining confidence, if not rungs up the depth chart.

Arizona State University will have a free debate on Proposition 121, the open elections/open government initiative, 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9 at the Polytechnic campus in Mesa.

Scottsdale police employees are still on edge two months after the recovery of a stolen list with their personal information — primarily because that list, through a prosecutor's oversight, was handed back to the suspected thief sitting in jail.

WASHINGTON - The stars of Hollywood and Washington came out Tuesday to pay their respects to Jack Valenti, a man at home in the power structures of both cities.