Race Weekend Central

NASCAR 101: The Sprint Cup Series’ Best on Restarts

2015 Bank Of America 500 Kevin Harvick Charlotte Cup Mike Neff

(Photo Credit: Mike Neff, Frontstretch)

Let’s say this weekend’s race at Talladega Superspeedway ends with a green-white-checkered finish. Not a given, but not unlikely, either. In the last five years, the Sprint Cup Series has gone over the scheduled distance of 500 miles 10 times, while others – like last year’s Aaron’s 499, which was set up for a green-white-checkered until …

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NASCAR 101: Which Chaser Can Win Kansas?

2015 Kansas I Cup Kevin Harvick Kurt Busch Carl Edwards Racing Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Let’s be frank: This weekend is the last normal chance for a driver to win his way into the Chase for the Sprint Cup’s penultimate round. And you already know what I mean. Next weekend, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will descend upon Talladega Superspeedway in the final race of the Contender Round before NASCAR lops off …

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NASCAR 101: Are the Right Drivers Out of the Chase?

2015 Dover Ii Cup Jimmie Johnson Helmet Ii Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

You can say a great deal of things about the Chase for the Sprint Cup in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. You can say it’s a gimmick. Call it a flawed, unnecessary system. Consider it an intrigue-injecting setup that makes for an altogether exciting race to the title. Whatever the opinion – and oh, are …

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NASCAR 101: Where Have the Champions Gone?

2015 Loudon Ii Cup Tony Stewart Car Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

For years, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series had a bit of a problem: finding an abundance of young talent that could challenge for wins among the veterans on a weekly basis. The Rookie of the Year battles (some lack thereof) reflected it; until more recently, the series could go years without a strong class, with either …

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NASCAR 101: If You Watch 1 Xfinity Race All Year, Make It Kentucky

2015 Kentucky Nxs Green Flag Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

Maybe you regularly follow the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Maybe you don’t. There’s no judgment either way; these days, at its best the series is an entertaining ramp-up into the Sprint Cup Series event the following day, but there’s also the fact that it is, indeed, a warmup, the race where some of the Cup full-timers …

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NASCAR 101: The History of the Chase

2014 Richmond Ii Cup Chase Field Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

It all started in 2003. That’s when RJR Reynolds announced it was no longer sponsoring NASCAR’s elite division, and soon followed was an announcement that Nextel would sponsor the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series starting in the 2004 season. There were rumors that the new company would want a playoff format, and that added with Matt …

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NASCAR 101: Can Anyone Clinch a Chase Spot with a Win?

2015 Darlington Cup Jeff Gordon Car Cia

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

You’ve heard it all year: win and you’re in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Well, this weekend marks the final chance for a driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series to do so. By scoring a victory, while also being inside the top 30 in points and having attempted every race of the season …

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NASCAR 101: Xfinity Series Getting Into Throwback Spirit, Too

2014 Darlington Nns Chase Elliott Wins Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photography)

Much of the hullabaloo over this weekend’s racing at Darlington Raceway revolves around the sheer girth of throwback events and paint schemes that will populate the Southern 500 for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series come Sunday night. As the race re-assumes its historic Labor Day weekend date, the sanctioning body and its teams are celebrating …

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NASCAR 101: Didn’t Pay Your NASCAR Sponsorship Bill? You’re Not Alone

Justin Boston Talladega Candid 2014 Arca Mike Neff

Photo Credit: Mike Neff, Frontstretch

Kyle Busch and his Kyle Busch Motorsports are in the midst of a lawsuit – though they’re not on the receiving end. Earlier this week, it was revealed that the Camping World Truck Series team had sued former driver Justin Boston and sponsor Zloop after the company reportedly skipped out on payments to keep Boston …

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NASCAR 101: Cole Custer Poised to Make History in the Truck Series

2014 Bristol Ii Cwts Cole Custer Truck Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

Quick, the drivers with the most laps led in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series competition this year – go. Obviously Erik Jones has to figure into your guesses, even though he’s only won a single race all season. Aside from his eight top-five finishes, he’s been around the front for much of the year’s races, …

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NASCAR 101: NASCAR Drivers from the Mitten

2015 Watkins Glen International Nscs Brad Keselowski Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

When I was growing up, the one NASCAR race weekend I could always count on seeing each year was one at Michigan International Speedway, whether it was the June or August race (the latter, usually). Good thing, too – the track didn’t always have a stellar reputation for putting on a great show on TV, …

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NASCAR 101: Where Did All the Ringers Go?

2014 Watkins Glen Cup Aj Allmendinger Trophy Cia

Will AJ Allmendinger be a legitimate threat in the Chase?

There was a point in time in NASCAR’s not-so-distant past when the road-course races in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series were quite the ambiguous affair – and not just because they’re among the few races in which the drivers actually have to turn right at a high speed. Then, the entry lists were dotted with …

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