Race Weekend Central

Who’s Hot and Who’s Not: Richmond – Chicagoland Edition

2014 Richmond Ii Cup Jeff Gordon Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

With 26 races in the books there exist two distinct groups of drivers: those who qualified for the Chase and the many, many more who will have to wait until next year to lay stake over one of 16 playoff spots. The line was left anything but blurred after the regular season finale at Richmond …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in NASCAR: Atlanta – Richmond Edition

2014 Bristol Ii Cup Jimmie Johnson Car Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

The Chase bubble wasn’t a major area of focus entering the Oral-B USA 500 after Bristol seemingly divided the haves from the have-nots. But as the Sprint Cup Series has shown, things can change in a hurry. After wild-card placeholder Clint Bowyer went to the Atlanta Motor Speedway garage, several drivers who were all but …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in NASCAR: Bristol – Atlanta Edition

2014 Pocono I Cup Greg Biffle Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

Bristol Motor Speedway has been the measure for mental and emotional toughness in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series throughout much of the modern era. It certainly played the part during the IRWIN Tools Night Race as some potential Chasers lost their cool – and with it, their footing in the standings. On the flip side, …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in NASCAR: Michigan–Bristol Edition

2014 Watkins Glen Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr Cia

(Photo Credit: CIA)

Who’s Hot and Who’s Not is pretty cut and dry this week. Much of the action occurred on the bubble, with rookie drivers like Kyle Larson and Austin Dillon failing to make any ground on potential Chase berths. Veterans fighting to make the playoffs benefited from their lack of experience, while drivers with a lot …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not In NASCAR: Watkins Glen – Michigan Edition

Marcos Ambrose 2014 Brickyard 400 Indianapolis Motor Speedway Mike Neff

(Credit: Mike Neff)

A win from an underdog is the worst possible outcome for the slew of drivers floating around the playoff wildcard bubble, and that’s exactly what happened at Watkins Glen International Raceway. Carl Edwards was able to fend off the road course specialist in Sonoma earlier this year, and while close to doing so again at …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in NASCAR: Pocono – Watkins Glen Edition

The return to Pocono Raceway had it all: widespread pitting strategies, tire-care issues, a high-energy finish and even a Big One. It was the ideal ending to a two-week flat track endeavor. NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series now shifts focus to Watkins Glen International Raceway, where road course specialists will be looking to sneak into the …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in NASCAR Sprint Cup: Indianapolis – Pocono Edition

2014 Daytona Ii Cup Paul Menard Car Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

It looks like NASCAR has caught a case of flat-track fever. With stops in New Hampshire, Indianapolis, and Pocono all bunched together, Cup’s top flat-track talent has another chance to shine as the Chase closes in. This week, Indianapolis Motor Speedway – the proverbial meat in the flat-track sandwich – served as the stage for …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not In NASCAR: Off-Week–Indianapolis Edition

2014 Loudon I Cup Cup Paul Menard Kevin Harvick Loser Cia

(Credit: CIA)

Summer might be in full swing, but with seven races remaining before the Chase cutoff, things are only starting to heat up in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Drivers and teams received a bit of rest and relaxation over the season’s final off week but now, it’s back to business as stock car racing’s best …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not: New Hampshire – Off Week Edition

2014 Loudon I Cup Kyle Busch Car Cia

Kyle Busch in his No. 18 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. (Credit: CIA)

A stop at New Hampshire Motor Speedway marked the end of TNT’s Summer Series and a served as a precursor to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ last off-week, or calm before the storm that is the wicked countdown to the Chase and the highly anticipated playoff eliminators. This edition of Who’s Hot and Who’s Not …

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Who’s Hot / Who’s Not: Daytona-New Hampshire Edition

2014 Sonoma Cup Ricky Stenhouse Jr Face Cia

(Credit: CIA)

Remember when you were a kid at the beach — Daytona Beach, perhaps, and went into the surf only to have a huge wave rock everyone? Well, that happened at Daytona International Speedway this weekend in many ways. Rain forced officials to move the race back to Sunday, but precipitation continued to come into play …

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Who’s Hot / Who’s Not: Kentucky-Daytona Edition

2014 Darlington Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr Credit Yvonne Leonard

(Credit: Yvonne Leonard)

Things were indeed blue in the Bluegrass State after afternoon showers passed over Kentucky Speedway.  Brad Keselowski rocketed back into immediate consideration with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ current top teams, making some history along the way. This edition of Who’s Hot and Who’s Not is as close to a one-man show as it gets.  …

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Who’s Hot / Who’s Not In NASCAR: Sonoma-Kentucky Edition

2014 Sonoma Cup Carl Edwards Jamie Mcmurray Racing Cia

Another stop in California left the road course specialists of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series wishing for another try.  They’ll get one eventually, but for now, the Chase picture remains unchanged. Carl Edwards added another victory, a first ever at Sonoma, and helped Roush Fenway Racing get back in the win column.  Next up is …

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