Race Weekend Central

Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in NASCAR: Phoenix – Homestead Edition

2014 Texas Ii Cup Ryan Newman Face Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

The Championship Round is set. A Sunday date at Phoenix International Raceway separated the final four drivers from the rest of the field. The teams left in the mix weren’t necessarily the ones on top for the majority of 2014, just the ones who got it done best in the Eliminator Round. Who’s hot enough …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in NASCAR: Texas – Phoenix Edition

2014 Richmond Ii Cup Denny Hamlin Teeth Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

It seemed like everyone wanted a piece of Brad Keselowski after the AAA Texas 500, but he isn’t the driver atop Who’s Hot and Who’s Not. The actions of Jeff Gordon and Kevin Harvick are being studied under a microscope after a multifaceted brawl in the Lone Star State left three Chasers bruised and bloody. …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in NASCAR: Martinsville – Texas Edition

2014 Chicago Cup David Ragan Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

The Eliminator Round is underway and already multiple drivers are in trouble. The tight confines of Martinsville Speedway proved challenging for some as new rivalries were ignited and older ones brought back to life. Yet, some championship hopefuls escaped with little more than a scratch and one driver – unfulfilled by last week’s restrictor plate …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not: Talladega – Martinsville Edition

2014 Michigan Ii Cup Ricky Stenhouse Jr Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

Some of NASCAR’s best drivers from the regular season were left out of the Eliminator Round after falling flat at Talladega Superspeedway. Three former champions entered Talladega weekend on the outside of the bubble looking in, and one of them didn’t advance. Only three remain along with five drivers who have never lifted the Sprint …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in NASCAR: Charlotte – Talladega Edition

2014 Michigan Ii Cup David Ragan Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

With one race remaining in the Contender Round, some of 2014’s biggest names still aren’t contending. Two former champions left Charlotte Motor Speedway unfulfilled and another rides the wrong side of the bubble. Next, a return trip to Talladega Superspeedway does nothing to clear up a complicated Chase picture. The six drivers inside the cutoff …

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Who’s Hot / Who’s Not In NASCAR: Kansas – Charlotte Edition

2014 Dover Ii Cup Kyle Busch Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

The Hollywood Casino 400 had all the twists and turns of a great Hollywood script and left many of the Sprint Cup Series’ best with unfavorable odds of advancement moving forward. A Contender Round opener at Kansas Speedway did a number on the Who’s Hot and Who’s Not landscape and things are just getting started. …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not In NASCAR: Dover – Kansas Edition

2014 Richmond Ii Cup Kevin Harvick Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

Dover International Speedway did its job: separate the contenders from the pretenders. After 400 circuits at the Monster Mile, only 12 drivers remain in contention for the ultimate prize, the NASCAR Sprint Cup trophy. Which drivers have what it takes to survive the Contender Round and which are lucky to have made it this far? …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not: New Hampshire – Dover Edition

2014 Loudon Ii Cup Jimmie Johnson Eyes Ii Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

There’s only one race left in the opening Challenger Round of the NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup, but plenty of uncertainty after the Sylvania 300. Nine championship hopefuls are separated by only 12 points heading into the first elimination and four won’t advance, making this edition of Who’s Hot and Who’s Not a sizzler. …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in NASCAR: Chicago – New Hampshire Edition

2014 Richmond Ii Cup Clint Bowyer Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2014)

The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup is a chance for 16 of the best drivers to start anew, but with only 10 races, divided into four segments, those drivers have very little time to make an impression and even less room for error before eliminations are made. It’s a fragile state that promises to …

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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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