Homestead, Fla. ? Jimmie Johnson’s run for his fourth straight Cup title starts from the pole.

Johnson turned a lap of 173.919 mph on Friday to top qualifying at Homestead-Miami Speedway, a big boost for the Hendrick Motorsports standout as he tries to become the first driver in NASCAR history to win four consecutive championships.

The start could be tricky for the unflappable Johnson. Scott Speed qualified second and Marcos Ambrose third, two drivers who haven’t spent very much time on the track racing up front and around Johnson.

Johnson crashed on the third lap at Texas two races ago when he was hit by Sam Hornish — another non-Chase contender. The wreck spoiled Johnson’s shot at possibly clinching his unprecedented fourth straight championship last week.

Johnson goes into Sunday’s Chase for the championship finale with a 108-point lead over Mark Martin and needs only to finish 25th or better to win the title.

Martin and Tony Stewart round out the top five.

Four-time Cup champion Jeff Gordon, who still has second place within reach, qualified 20th. Johnson, Martin and Gordon are trying to give Hendrick Motorsports a 1-2-3 finish in the season points standings.

Max Papis, David Stremme, Dave Blaney, Joe Nemechek and Mike Skinner failed to qualify.

AUTO RACING

Harvick wins truck finale

Homestead, Fla. — Kevin and Delana Harvick were an extremely happy couple Friday night. Kevin Harvick made a late pass to cap a dominating show to win the season-ending Trucks Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, and wife Delana clinched the owners’ championship when Ron Hornaday Jr. — who already had wrapped up his fourth Trucks title — finished eighth.

Kevin Harvick went into the pit after Ryan Sieg went into the wall and brought out a caution flag with seven laps left. Harvick took four tires, exited pit road first and lined up just behind Timothy Peters for a green-white-checkered finish.

Matt Crafton finished second, polesitter Colin Braun took third, and Peters finished fourth.

GOLF

Westwood leads in Dubai

Dubai, United Arab Emirates — Lee Westwood has shot a 3-under 69 Friday to take a two-stroke lead after the second round of the Dubai World Championship, increasing his chance of winning the European money title.

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, the leader of the money race going into the tournament, also shot a 69. He was one of six players tied for second place at 7 under, two shots behind Westwood.

Gustafson makes move

Richmond, Texas — Sophie Gustafson has moved within two shots of leader Lorena Ochoa at the weather-delayed LPGA Tour Championship.

Rains swamped the Houstonian Golf and Country Club before dawn Friday and the start of the second round was pushed back six hours. Ochoa didn’t play Friday after shooting a 6-under 66 early Thursday. She will start her second round at daybreak today.

NFL

Ravens DE plans appeal

Owings Mills, Md. — Baltimore Ravens defensive end Dwan Edwards plans to appeal the $5,000 fine he received for a hit delivered to Cleveland Browns wide receiver Joshua Cribbs on Monday night. Edwards struck Cribbs with a forearm to the facemask on the final play of Baltimore’s 16-0 win.

Edwards said Friday he will appeal in an effort “to get some of it back.” He said the fine was levied because the hit came at a time when Cribbs “supposedly shouldn’t have reasonably expected it.”

Saints’ Bush questionable

New Orleans — New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush has been held out of practice for the third straight day, and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game in Tampa Bay.

Bush came out of the St. Louis game because of swelling and soreness in his left knee, which was surgically repaired twice in a three-month span a year ago.

Saints coach Sean Payton says Bush’s knee is bruised and swollen. Payton said Bush knows the offense well enough that he could step in without the practice reps. But at the same time, he doesn’t want to risk a setback with his running back.

MLB

Cubs, Grabow reach deal

Chicago — Pitcher John Grabow became the first of the 171 free agents to reach agreement on a new deal, getting a $7.5 million, two-year contract Friday from the Chicago Cubs.

The 31-year-old left-hander combined to go 3-0 with a 3.36 earned-run average last season in a career-high 75 relief appearances with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cubs.

White Sox, Vizquel close

Chicago — The Chicago White Sox are closing in on a contract agreement with free agent shortstop Omar Vizquel. The deal could be announced as soon as Monday, according to a person familiar with the negotiations. Vizquel, who will be 43 in April, has played 21 major-league seasons. Last year he was in a utility role with Texas.

Cardinals boost prices

St. Louis — St. Louis Cardinals season ticket prices are increasing an average of 3 percent next year.

The club said Friday that nearly one-third of season-ticket holders will have no price increase; about half will see an increase of $1 or less per ticket. The Cardinals say most of the areas with price increases have been flat since 2006. About a quarter of Cardinals tickets are less than $20.

COLLEGE BASEBALL

Arizona State coach resigns

Tempe, Ariz. — Pat Murphy has resigned after 15 seasons as baseball coach at Arizona State. No reason was given for the move, which was announced by the university in a brief news release on Friday.

TENNIS

ATP: Agassi case closed

London — The ATP Tour will not reopen a doping case against Andre Agassi even though he admitted to lying about using crystal meth in 1997.

Agassi revealed in his recent autobiography that he failed a 1997 drug test, a result he says was thrown out after he lied by claiming he “unwittingly” took crystal meth.

However, ATP chairman Adam Helfant said on Friday that there was no way to sanction the American retroactively since he has retired from tennis.