Brooklyn, Mich. -- Jeff Gordon Friday captured the pole position for Sunday's 3M Performance 400 Nextel Cup auto race at Brooklyn, Mich.

The points' leader earned the pole despite a last place start in qualifying with a speed of 189.026 mph at the Michigan International Speedway.

It was Gordon's series-leading sixth pole this season, his fifth at the MIS, and the 62nd of his Nextel Cup career.

"Welcome back," Gordon said, referring to crew chief Steve Letarte, who returns from a six-race suspension. "We have good chemistry and that late draw really played out for us. I knew it was a good lap, but maybe not good enough for the pole."

Also on the front row is Greg Biffle, who went out next-to-last, held the top spot for about 60 seconds, and finished with a qualifying time of 38.159 seconds.

Daytona Beach, Fla. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. will lose the No. 8 on his Chevrolet when he drives for Hendrick Motor Sports next season.

He could not come to terms on the number with his stepmother, Teresa, who owns DEI Enterprises, his current team, and all numbers are owned by NASCAR.

"Obviously, he has a tremendous history with that number, and we know how important it is to his fans," said Hendrick Motorsports general manager Marshall Carlson said on NASCAR.com. "Unfortunately, we couldn't reach a point where the terms made sense, and now we have to move forward with other options.

There's disappointment, of course, but we look forward to working with Hendrick Motorsports on what will be a great program for Dale Jr. and his fans in 2008."

When I recently mused that buying a used car isn't automatically the best bargain, several readers pointed out that I forgot to mention manufacturers' incentives, which can make a new car a sensible purchase. It seems all of those "Cash Back!" and "0% Financing!" banners hanging everywhere obscured my vision.

Watkins Glen, N.Y. -- Kevin Harvick Saturday beat out Jeff Burton to win the Zippo 200 Busch auto race at Watkins Glen, N.Y.

It was Harvick's fifth Busch series victory this season. He also captured the checkered flag at the Orbitz 300 at Daytona Beach Feb. 17; the Camping World 200 at Loudon, N.H. June 30; the USG Durock 300 at Joliet, Ill. July 14; and the NAPA Auto Parts 200 in Montreal last week.

to -- Tony Kanaan Friday captured the pole for Saturday night's running of the Meijer Indy 300 at the Kentucky Speedway.

Kanaan circled the 1.5-mile track in 24.43 seconds. It was his eighth pole of the season and the eighth of his career in the IndyCar series.

Dario Franchitti, Kanaan's teammate and the series points leader, qualified second -- followed by Scott Sharp and Scott Dixon.

Daytona Beach, Fla. -- NASCAR has fined Nextel Cup driver Robby Gordon $35,000 for actions detrimental to stock car racing at Saturday's Busch race in Montreal.

Gordon refused to restart in 13th place following caution flags late in the NAPA 200 Auto Parts race. Later, he intentionally knocked race leader Marcos Ambrose off the track, and ignored a black flag, resulting in a penalty in the final laps.

Charlotte, N.C. -- NASCAR team owner Bill Davis announced Wednesday that veteran driver Jeremy Mayfield will not be retained for the 2008 racing season.

"Jeremy has done all we asked of him and more as part of what has been an enormous challenge in 2007 for the entire program," Davis said in a statement.

"It has been a huge undertaking to bring Toyota online for their first NASCAR Nextel Cup season at the same time all the teams in the sport were facing dual competition platforms as we transitioned to the Car of Tomorrow."

By Mary Dalrymple

You've probably heard the maxim of car-buying, which warns you that a new vehicle will lose 20% to 30% of its value the moment it's driven off the dealer's lot. Beware the heady and intoxicating perfume of new car smell, all ye car-crazy Fools. You'll end up with a sorry hangover dragging down your bank account.

By Mary Dalrymple

Cars can suck money out of your pocket faster than a tornado in Kansas. That doesn't mean you and your little dog have to stand exposed on the prairie waiting for the winds to kick up. You can protect yourself against some of the financial hit of vehicle depreciation, which makes your car worth less every day you drive it around town.

Daytona Beach, Fla. -- NASCAR driver Robby Gordon was slapped with additional punishments Tuesday for his actions in Saturday's Busch Series race in Montreal.

Gordon got a $35,000 fine and was placed on probation until Dec. 31 for violating Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) of the 2007 NASCAR Busch Series Rule Book.

He also was notified that if he commits another action deemed "detrimental to stock car racing" he would be suspended indefinitely.