Race Weekend Central

Tech Talk with “Bono” Manion – NASCAR Offseason Prep Begins

Kevin Bono Manion Charlotte Motor Speedway 2014 Mike Neff 002

(Credit: Mike Neff, Frontstretch)

2015 is going to be a very intensive year for crews, crew chiefs and especially engineers with the implementation of tapered spacers and reduced downforce in the Cup series. For a smaller team like Tommy Baldwin Racing, the challenge is even greater as areas for experimentation and research have to be prioritized due to limited …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud – Homestead – Cup Championship – A Cup Full of Budweiser

2014 Homestead Cup Kevin Harvick Burnout Ii Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2014)­

Key Moment – On the 11th caution flag of the night, Kevin Harvick’s crew chief Rodney Childers called for a four tire pit stop with 29 cars on the lead lap. When stops were completed Harvick was in 12th position. A quick caution afterwards allowed Harvick to restart in the sixth position. In a Nutshell …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud – Phoenix Chase Race 9 – And Then There Were Four

2014 Phoenix Ii Cup Kevin Harvick Burnout Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

Key Moments – Denny Hamlin was a lap down more than once in the race thanks to a flat tire and a two tire stop that resulted in his car being less than competitive with the faster cars. Hamlin was granted the Lucky Dog under the third and seventh cautions of the race. The No. 11 …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: AAA Texas 500 – Rumblin’, Bumblin’ and Stumblin’

2014 Texas Ii Cup Jeff Gordon Brad Keselowski Postrace Brawl Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

Key Moment – On the first green-white-checkered finish, Jeff Gordon chose the outside line to lead the field to the green. He drifted wide as the field approached turn 1, opening the door for Brad Keselowski to try and shoot through the middle in an effort to go for the win. Gordon came down and …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500

2014 Martinsville Ii Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr Burnout Cia

Credit: CIA Stock Photography

Key Moment – During the caution flag that flew for the third incident between Kasey Kahne and Brian Vickers on lap 278, Steve Letarte realized that Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was going to restart in the fourth position, which would have put him in the outside line. Letarte called Earnhardt in, put four tires on his …

Read more

NASCAR Tech Talk: Kevin “Bono” Manion On Mastering Martinsville

Kevin Bono Manion Charlotte Motor Speedway 2014 Mike Neff

Credit: Mike Neff

Kevin ‘Bono’ Manion has been around the sport for years and has a very educated insight into the ways of the sport and the garage. He continues to guide the No. 7 team for Tommy Baldwin Racing with rookie driver Michael Annett. This week, in Tech Talk, he looks back at Talladega and clears up …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: GEICO 500 – Brad Keselowski Lives to Fight Another Day

2014 Talladega Ii Cup Brad Keselowski Flag Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

Credit: NASCAR via Getty Images

Key Moment – The caution flag flew with four laps to go for a piece of metal on the race track. The No. 22 of Joey Logano had it on his grill under caution and rubbed it off when the yellow flag was in the air. The end result was a green-white-checkered finish that brought …

Read more