Frontstretch 5

1. Complete domination There are many ways to win in NASCAR, and not every race produces the one everyone wants to see. Take a race like Martin Truex Jr. had three years ago this coming weekend, in the 2016 Coca-Cola 600. Truex led 392 of 400 laps.  There were actually nine …

1. Ed Jones Ed Jones turned the fastest lap Friday without the tow, meaning Jones had the fastest lap in qualifying trim with the added speed. Jones has a career-best start of fourth last season at Belle Isle in Detroit. He started fifth last weekend in the IndyCar Grand Prix …

1. Martinsville Just two hours from the teams’ home base, the closest option outside of Charlotte Motor Speedway, NASCAR’s oldest track invites the type of racing fans want to see from a race where there is nothing but pride on the line. It’s a track where drivers can root and …

Let’s be honest — NASCAR takes a lot of flak from a lot of different angles, some of it deserved. But if we’re really being honest … some of it isn’t. In fact, many of the issues that race fans in particular take the most issue with have little or nothing …

1. A silver lining On a Sunday in March 1997, the Truck Series raced at Homestead Miami Speedway. Late in the event, John Nemechek, the younger brother of Cup driver Joe Nemechek, spun in the first corner and slammed into the wall with the driver’s side. He was taken to …

1. Allow innovation Sometimes, less is more, and when it comes to NASCAR’s extensive rule book, there are areas where that’s definitely the case. No, NASCAR doesn’t need to go to a “run what you brung” free-for-all, but opening up some areas, like suspensions and gears, would allow teams to …

1. Paul Menard It has been 277 races since Menard last won a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race. Driving the No. 27 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Paul Menard won the 2011 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In that race, he led 27 laps and stretched the fuel in …

Taking Stock With nine races in the books – a quarter of the way through the full season — and an off weekend ahead, it seems like an opportune moment to take stock on the season so far with some quick hot takes. First things first, two teams have sprung …

Spring has sprung, and with it comes the atmospheric instability that has wreaked havoc on NASCAR’s schedule since the sport’s inception. Rain, snow, wind, thunderstorms and even fog have spawned delays and allowed for some surprising race winners over the years, all courtesy of Mother Nature. 1. The 2001 Winston …

1. William Byron (2017) Years in Cup: Second year in 2019 Current Team: Hendrick Motorsports Races: 43 Wins: 0 Top 5s: 0 Top 10s: 5 Average Finish: 21.3 Best Points finish: 23rd (2018, first full season) Byron is the hardest in this group to judge because he’s the least experienced …