Race Weekend Central

Fanning the Flames: Fueling the Engine Debate, Montoya’s Struggles & Joey Clanton?

Good batch this week, everyone; lots of questions to tackle. Keep ’em coming in. This column doesn’t exist without you. Q: Matt, can you or someone tell the true story of what happened to Joey Clanton and Jack Roush in the Truck Series? If I remember correctly, Joey was a co-driver for some team in …

Read more

Fanning the Flames: Investing, Qualifying, Red Flagging & NASCAR Team of Destiny

So the deed is finally done, huh? You know, I don’t always know what to think about these “investors,” as we call them, buying into the sport. Doesn’t it give you the sense of buzzards circling a road kill? Do these firms actually plan on sticking with the program, or are they carpetbaggers intent on …

Read more

Fanning the Flames: Silly Season Contracts, Old-School Drivers & the “Blow-Up” Crowd

No time to waste with an intro this week; it’s sunny and 70, and I need to hit a patio. Good batch this week, boys and girls. Keep ‘em rollin’ on in. Q: The Silly Season rumors are driving me nuts. Whatever happened to loyalty in NASCAR? Jamie McMurray has a full year left on …

Read more

Fanning the Flames: Dancing Drivers, Loose Lugs &… Eliot Spitzer?

No time for an intro this week; you’ve given me so much feedback, it’s time to get right down to it. Still have questions, comments, concerns, or just looking to tell me where to go? Just one condition, please: No need to use multiple exclamation points… one at the end of a sentence will suffice. …

Read more

Fanning the Flames: A Little Game of NASCAR Connect the Dots

Something about NASCAR’s annual All-Star weekend gets the rumor mill churning every year. Yes, this season has been wackier than usual (I’m vowing to find other adjectives to use besides “silly” this time around) earlier than ever before. But once again – as if on cue – drivers, owners and sponsors seem to give us …

Read more

Fanning the Flames: Be Careful What You Wish For… Like it or Not, NASCAR Personality is Back

Before we get rolling with this week’s questions, I have a question of my own: What’s with all the Kyle Busch hate in NASCAR fandom? I’ve read more than a few columns and message boards this month, as well as receiving a comment or two concerning Busch and the way some race fans view him. …

Read more

Fanning the Flames: All Darlington, All the Time

My beloved Derby has come and gone, and so have Talladega and Richmond; but all three gave us spectacular racing action. Now, there’s Darlington on Mother’s Day Eve, two weekends in Charlotte are on the agenda and the fish are biting, too. Oh, how I love the month of May! You guys gave me a …

Read more

Fanning the Flames: The Latest on Bobby Labonte, Kevin Lepage & Looking Forward to Richmond

Richmond is a great track. Steeped in history yet progressive enough to keep it a state-of-the-art facility, this jewel in the capital of the South provides can’t-miss racing year in, year out. One of my most vivid racing memories as a child was watching Dale Earnhardt spin Darrell Waltrip after the two staged an epic …

Read more

Fanning the Flames: Fishin’ for Some Answers to Tony Stewart’s Likely Defection

Although no one asked, we did catch a few bass last weekend, even with a stiff wind and temps in the 40s. (When I mention fishing at the end of a column, it’s your cue to ask me how I did so I can talk racing and fishing in the same article – and what’s …

Read more

Fanning the Flames: “Smack” Talk, Engine Issues & NASCAR’s Damn Gopher Cam

Thanks to all the guys and gals out there who are sending a wide range of questions. You all manage to keep the input timely and (sometimes) challenging, but that’s a good thing. By the way, could someone tell me who won that Yankees/Red Sox game last Saturday night? I was watching a ballgame that …

Read more

Fanning the Flames: Texas Testing, Kyle Petty is Testy & “Creative Arrangements”

Thanks for the Qs this week, everyone. This is the place for them, be they questions, rants, comments, ideas or tongue-lashings. As always, I’m interested to hear what you have to say. It’s your submissions, after all, that keep this column up and running. And David, if I fail to mention it later, thanks for …

Read more

Fanning the Flames: Petty, Childress, Earnhardt Shaking Things Up

If you’re like me, you don’t spend the majority of April Fools’ Day looking over your shoulder anymore. Yeah, I used to be one of those guys that took full-on advantage of the one day of the year where I could turn a co-worker’s office around backward or slip the occasional Whoopee Cushion in there… …

Read more