that. Howard scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter,

DARLINGTON, S.C. -- Given a break or two here or there, Martin Truex Jr. believes hed have a monster season. He is pretty thrilled about the one hes had so far, anyway.Truex capped a standout summer season with his first Southern 500 victory at Darlington Raceway on Sunday night. He had started things with a dominant, record-setting win at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Memorial Day weekend.Im just humbled, he said.He knows, though, it couldve been even bigger.Truex was a breath away from taking the Daytona 500 over Denny Hamlin to start the season, and had seven other top 10s this year.With the team we have and the way weve been running, we could honestly be sitting here with seven, eight, nine wins, Truex said. With that said, weve got two (victories) and I really feel like weve got a legitimate shot at this championship.Truex will certainly be a strong contender when the 10-race Chase for a Championship starts at Chicagoland Speedway in two weeks. He reached the final race in Homestead last year among the last four standing and thinks everyone in the program has worked to improve their chances.Its been a good season, but it definitely could be a great season, he said.It was Truexs fifth career win and the second time his single-car Furniture Row Racing team has taken the checkered flag at the track Too Tough To Tame.Crew chief Cole Pearn guided Regan Smith to victory lane here in 2011. Then, the team was a novelty, a fun, fish-out-of-water tale of the little team that won a big race.Now, tiny Furniture Row is poised for a significant run as NASCARs best.To win two crown jewel races like this in one season is something youll never forget for sure, Pearn said. Youve got to take the highs when theyre here and then get back to work.---Things learned from the Southern 500.CHASE CHATTER: With one race left before NASCARs playoffs, Chase Elliott, Austin Dillon and Jamie McMurray remain the final three winless drivers who would qualify for the 16-team field. Ryan Newman is the first driver out, seven points behind McMurray heading to Richmond next Saturday night.SMOKE WILL BE MISSED: Tony Stewart will leave Sprint Cup without a victory at Darlington after finished 35th on Sunday night when his engine overheated and he went behind the wall. He was asked to the NASCAR hauler after spinning Brian Scott earlier in the race and when asked what happened, said simply, He wrecked.A TASTE OF SUCCESS: Kyle Larson nearly made it two straight wins before finishing third Sunday. The young driver, who earned his first Sprint Cup win last week at Michigan, led 45 laps and was out front with 38 laps to go. All in all, it was good to be a contender two weeks in a row, he said.THROWBACK CITY: The Southern 500s second straight throwback-themed weekend again looked like a success. The nostalgic paint schemes like the Matt Kenseths Tide Ride or Kevin Harvicks Busch Beer car thrilled fans and competitors both. Plus, drivers and teams took things deeper this year with vintage crew uniforms and crazy costumes. This is such a fun weekend with the throwback stuff, Larson said.DALE JR. COMEBACK: Dale Earnhardt Jr. spoke at Darlington Raceway about three hours before the Southern 500 -- and two days after announcing ongoing recovery from a concussion had ended his season -- pledging that he intends to return to the Sprint Cup Series next February at the Daytona 500. Earnhardt said, at 41, his heart is still in racing and he believes hes as good as hes ever been behind the wheel. Doctors told him back during a previous concussion in 2012 hed return to form and Earnhardt says hes been told that once more. Earnhardt has heard others wonder if it is better for him to walk away instead of coming back. The sports most popular driver said hes got unfinished business to complete. Cheap Hornets Jerseys Authentic . Speaking to the Chicago Tribune at baseballs Winter Meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Boras called the former home of the Expos a "tremendous environment" for baseball. Cheap Hornets Jerseys China . -- Playing time has been limited for Maxim Tissot this season, so the Montreal Impact defender made the most of his first scoring opportunity on Saturday. http://www.cheaphornetsjerseys.com/ . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014. Devonte Graham Jersey . Now, with Game 6 set for Fenway Park and an 8:07 p.m. ET first pitch, the Detroit Tigers face the unenviable task of having to beat the Boston Red Sox twice, on the road, to advance to the World Series. Miles Bridges Jersey . On Saturday night, the normally free throw-challenged centre did just that. Howard scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, including 13 of 19 free throws in a 2 1/2-minute stretch, and the Houston Rockets beat the Denver Nuggets 122-111. CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Carolina Panthers partners have presented team owner Jerry Richardson and his family with a sculpture outside of the north gate of the teams downtown stadium.The sculpture, designed by California artist Todd Andrews in honor of Richardsons 80th birthday, depicts Richardson presenting the gift of NFL football to the people of the Carolinas flanked by two roaring panthers.Panthers partners Steve and Jerry Woodsworth said in a release the statue is a symbol of heartfelt apprreciation and gratitude to the Richardson family for everything they have done for us as partners, fans and the community.ddddddddddddRichardson realized his dream of bringing an NFL team to the Carolinas on Oct. 26, 1993, when the Panthers were awarded with an expansion team.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '