Race Weekend Central

Holding A Pretty Wheel: Can a Chase Underdog Win It All?

2015 Richmond Ii Cup Ryan Newman Martin Truex Jr Cia

Martin Truex, Jr. hopes to accomplish what Ryan Newman came one position from doing in 2014. (Photo: CIA Stock Photography)

As NASCAR sits on the brink of the Chase, it’s easy to pick out the favorites. They’re the ones at or near the top of the standings before the reset, the ones who have been consistently excellent all season long. When it comes right down to it, they’re the ones who probably deserve to win …

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The Frontstretch 5: Things Fans Can Expect To See During the Chase

2015 Richmond Ii Cup Matt Kenseth Leads Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

1. A lot of hype with a questionable amount of substance If you’ve been around for the last 12 years, you know that NASCAR loves its playoffs, and the TV partners love it even more. Thanks to the current system of determining a champion, fans are treated to Chase Watch talk during the race broadcasts …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2015 Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond

2015 Richmond Ii Cup Matt Kenseth Grin Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)­

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? For some drivers, Saturday night represented one last chance to grab a Chase spot with a win, and one driver who gave it everything he had was Aric Almirola. Almirola drove his way forward for most of the night, but managed only fourth. While he didn’t make the final …

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The Frontstretch 5: Takeaways From 2015’s Finest Hour

2015 Darlington Cup Fans Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

Wow, what a weekend. From the paint schemes to the wild outfits to the on-track action, there was a lot to digest this week at Darlington. Response to the race, back on Labor Day weekend at last after a 12-year absence, was overwhelmingly positive. But with the weekend in the rearview, what can be taken …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2015 Bojangles’ Southern 500

2015 Darlington Cup Carl Edwards Trophy Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? Let’s give credit where credit is due. The race on Sunday night was one of the best in a long time. There was close racing, authentic cautions, and attrition. Yes, Brad Keselowski was dominant, but dominance is part of racing sometimes. Ned Jarrett once won this race by …

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Holding A Pretty Wheel: Past and Future Collide at Darlington

2014 Darlington Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr Jimmie Johnson Kevin Harvick Racing Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2014)­­

As Sprint Cup teams prepare to dance with the Lady in Black, NASCAR stands at a critical crossroads. The sport gave a nod to history — and fans — when the Southern 500 returned to its rightful Labor Day weekend date for the first time in more than a decade. Prior to Darlington Raceway losing …

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The Frontstretch 5: Reasons to Fall For the Lady In Black All Over Again

Darlington Raceway Logo

As NASCAR heads back to Darlington Raceway, finally restored to its rightful place on the Cup schedule after 12 long years without what was once the sport’s longest-running tradition, there are dozens of reasons why the odd-shaped, high-banked oval is one of NASCAR’s true treasures. Here are just a few. 1. If you don’t like …

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Holding a Pretty Wheel: Warning System (Almost) Gets It Right

2015 Bristol Ii Cup Kyle Busch Michael Mcdowell Racing Cia

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

By now, you’ve gotten used to seeing a list of names on Wednesday or Thursday each week. Sometimes it’s a nice short list; others, like this week, it’s a pretty long one. 11 teams made NASCAR’s naughty list this week, receiving written warnings from the sanctioning body for inspection issues ranging from having to pass …

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Beyond the Cockpit: Brett Moffitt on Adapting to Midseason Moves

2015 Indianapolis Cup Brett Moffitt Cia

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

It’s not easy for a young driver to find a Sprint Cup ride these days, but Brett Moffitt is defying the odds. After starting the year with just one race on his slate, Moffitt was tapped to fill in for Brian Vickers at Michael Waltrip Racing, where he’s under contract as a test driver, before …

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The Frontstretch 5: Things To Consider In the Wake of Tragedy

Indianapolis Motor Speedwayindianapolis, Indianamay 13, 2015walt Kuhn

(Photo: Walter Kuhn)

In racing, there is always the possibility of something going very, very wrong. Thinly veiled danger always lurks just beneath the surface of motorsports. So much of the time it’s avoided, but when it does strike, it’s a sobering reminder that the sport we love has a side we all hate. We were shown that …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2015 Irwin Tool Night Race at Bristol

2015 Bristol Ii Cup Joey Logano Burnout Ii Cia

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? NASCAR is a high-pressure business, and that goes double when a driver is looking for a ride. This week, Clint Bowyer performed admirably under that pressure. Making it clear from the beginning he had a fast car, Bowyer showed he was a top-five threat. When he spun with teammate …

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Xfinity Series Breakdown: 2015 Food City 300 at Bristol

Kyle Busch Xfinity Victory Lane 2015 Bristol Mike Neff

Photo Credit: Mike Neff, Frontstretch

Chris Buescher took Kyle Busch to school on restart after restart. Let that sink in for a moment… an NXS regular out-jumped a master restarter time after time. It was a green-white-checkered finish that was Buescher’s downfall… his car lost fuel pickup for just a moment coming to the white flag, allowing Busch to get …

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