Race Weekend Central

Beyond the Cockpit: Dale Harrigle, Bridgestone Motorsports’ Chief Engineer & Manager of Race Tire Development

Indycar 2015 Nola Francesco Dracone On Track Credit Bret Kelley

Photo: Bret Kelley

The Verizon IndyCar Series heads to a new venue this week in NOLA Motorsports Park. New venues can mean a lot of unknowns, but teams this weekend can go in knowing that the tires should not be one of them. A quick talk with the powers that be tells us why that side of the …

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Beyond the Cockpit: David Gilliland on Racing, Building & an Owner’s Perspective

2015 Martinsville I David Gilliland Car Credit David Yeazell

(Photo Credit: David Yeazell)

David Gilliland has driven the No. 38 Ford for Front Row Motorsports since 2010. A second-generation NASCAR driver, Gilliland is often remembered for his unlikely Xfinity Series victory at Kentucky Speedway in his unsponsored, self-owned racecar. Gilliland has become a model of consistency for his current team and has been a major part of its evolution. …

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Beyond the Cockpit with Leah Pritchett

Nhra 2015 Leah Pritchett Headshot Credit Nhra Media

Photo Credit: NHRA Media

To this point in my career I have only covered and written about NASCAR. So when I had the opportunity to cover the 4-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway, I jumped at the chance to experience a new genre of racing. Naturally I did my homework but still had a number of questions. I was lucky …

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Beyond the Cockpit: Brennan Poole on Excitement, Debuts & Talents

Brennan Poole Rockingham 2011 Uara Yvonne Leonard

Brennan Poole made his XFINITY Series debut this past weekend for HScott Motorsports with Chip Ganassi at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The Woodlands, Texas driver has paid his dues over the last decade, working his way up from dirt tracks in Texas to asphalt bullrings around the Carolinas. He’s notched half a dozen wins in …

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Beyond the Cockpit with Ray Evernham

Ray Evernham Car Shot 2015

Credit: Velocity

Ray Evernham was at the forefront of the revolution in NASCAR from old school racing to corporate dominated new school racing that is heavy on engineering. He piloted Jeff Gordon to three of his four championships and tutored many of the top head wrenches in the garage today. After dabbling in team ownership and guiding …

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Beyond the Cockpit: Alex Bowman New Teams and New Tricks

Alex Bowman Daytona 2015 Practice Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff, Frontstretch)

Alex Bowman is embarking on his second full season in the Cup series. The 21-year-old driver will pilot the No. 7 Chevrolet for Tommy Baldwin Racing. After starting out in Quarter Midgets in his formative years, he has been in the full-bodied stock car world for the last five years. Bowman finished sixth in points in …

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Beyond The Cockpit: JJ Yeley Talks BK Racing And Big New Opportunities

2014 Atlanta Nns Jj Yeley Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photography)

JJ Yeley, now 38 years old, is a NASCAR survivor. Once a talented youngster, backed by the powerhouse Cup operation of Joe Gibbs Racing, he’s spent the last six years hoping to regain that rare opportunity. Jumping from team to team, within the back half of the Cup Series garage, this underdog has served as …

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Beyond the Cockpit: Landon Cassill on Growing, Contending and Moving Forward

2014 Talladega Ii Cup Kyle Larson Joey Logano Landon Cassill Racing Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

Sometimes it’s easy to discount the smallest teams in the Sprint Cup garage. They don’t often have the budgets or the equipment to be competitive. But what they do have is drive, and in the case of Hillman Racing, it has the talent as well. Team owner Mike Hillman, Sr. has a long history of producing …

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Beyond the Cockpit with John and Courtney Force: May the Forces Be With You

Zmax Dragway Carolina Nationals John Force 2014 Mike Neff 064

Credit: Mike Neff

Frontstretch provided live coverage of the NHRA Pep Boys Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Concord, N.C., last month. During the weekend our Toni Montgomery and Mike Neff had the chance to sit down with NHRA Funny Car legend John Force as well as his daughter Courtney Force. Force talked about racing and winning at the …

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Beyond the Cockpit with Jason Line: NASCAR Tech on the Drag Strip

Nhra 2014 4 Wides Jason Line Jimmy Alund

Jason Line (right) talks with Jimmy Alund, substitute driver for teammate Greg Anderson for the opening five races of 2014. Credit: Toni Montgomery

After Jeg Coughlin, Jr. told Toni Montgomery and Mike Neff last month that Jason Line brought his experience in the engine department at Joe Gibbs Racing to Pro Stock and revolutionized the class, there was no question that Frontstretch needed to catch up with Line and find out what he meant. The current Pro Stock …

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Beyond the Cockpit with Richie Crampton and Morgan Lucas: Drag Racing in Australia, Amazing Rookie Seasons, and MAVTV

Zmax Dragway Carolina Nationals Richie Crampton 2014 Mike Neff 083

Credit: Mike Neff

Richie Crampton came a long way to race in the NHRA. From the other side of the world, as a matter of fact. Crampton, who originally hails from Adelaide, South Australia, is in his rookie season driving the Geico Top Fuel dragster for Morgan Lucas Racing. He’s off to a fast start, scoring two victories …

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Beyond the Cockpit with Jeg Coughlin, Jr.: How Much Can You Cram Into 11 Seconds?

Zmax Dragway Carolina Nationals Jeg Coughlin 2014 Mike Neff 025

Credit: Mike Neff

Jeg Coughlin, Jr. is a five time champion in the NHRA’s Pro Stock class, but he’s also busy off the track with his family business. Most automotive enthusiasts are familiar with the JEGS catalog, and in more recent years, JEGS.com.  It’s a go-to supplier with just about anything you need in your garage on hand …

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