Race Weekend Central

Kasey Kahne Gets 3-Year Contract Extension With Hendrick Motorsports

2014 Texas Ii Cup Kasey Kahne Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photography)

Kasey Kahne’s racing future, despite a rocky 2014 season is now secure. The driver signed a three-year extension with Hendrick Motorsports Thursday, keeping him in the No. 5 Chevrolet through the conclusion of the 2018 season. HMS also added a new primary sponsor; LiftMaster will pair with Kahne for three races a year, beginning next …

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Did You Notice? … Distinguishing NASCAR Dreams From Reality

2014 Texas Ii Cup Ricky Stenhouse Jr Face Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

Did You Notice? … The audience increased for this year’s version of the Chase? Homestead ratings, released Tuesday wrapped up the latest ten-race version of NASCAR’s playoff, a 3.1 Nielsen number flat year-to-year but still good enough to keep the audience rising. Yes, executives around the sport are trumpeting how much this postseason boosted interest. …

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NASCAR’s Big Gamble… And Its Lucky Roll

2014 Homestead Cup Kevin Harvick Burnout Cia

NASCAR’s new Chase format entered the weekend with four possible championship outcomes. Two of them, regardless of fan loyalty, would have caused a major, Grand Canyon-sized rift in NASCAR history. Ryan Newman, who wound up one spot short of a title, would have had the fewest top-5 finishes for any champion since 1949. Denny Hamlin, …

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Did You Notice? … NASCAR Hopes And Dreams Versus Homestead Reality

Jimmie Johnson Fans Chicagoland 2011

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

Did You Notice? … Each of the four drivers remaining would be a first-time NASCAR champion? While Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick and Ryan Newman have had successful years before, nothing has quite prepared them for the magnitude of Sunday’s season finale. In the midst of the drama, each controls their own destiny: finish …

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Gordon’s Great Debate

2014 Martinsville Ii Cup Jeff Gordon Car Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

Thirteen years ago this month, with the sport still reeling from the loss of its Intimidator, a Rainbow Warrior cut through battle to earn NASCAR Cup title number four. Just 30 years old, Jeff Gordon was no Dale Earnhardt, Sr., either in personality or presence, but the stat sheet told us a different story. With …

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The Brawl That Brings Brian’s Chase To A Crossroads

2014 Texas Ii Cup Brad Keselowski Kevin Harvick Racing Cia

Brad Keselowski's 2014 tale proved that winning isn't everything, but it still matters in the end. (Photo: CIA Stock Photography)

“Did you see the Texas fight? In NASCAR?” Amongst coffee stops, or milling about on the train, or in offices Monday morning, millions of people in America will take a break, get bored at work and start asking that question. Some of them will be lifelong NASCAR fans, still absorbing the ramifications of a bar-like brawl that …

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Did You Notice? … Stories Outside The Chase, A Fork In The Road For Harvick And Quick Hits

2014 Martinsville Ii Cup Kyle Larson Eew Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

Did You Notice?… There’s still plenty more going on these days than the Chase? As we enter the final three races of 2014, here’s a quick look at some great stories going on that have been buried by NASCAR’s “playoffs, playoffs, playoffs…” Kyle Larson. Yeah, he was terrible at Martinsville but Larson, who has wrapped …

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NASCAR’s Most Popular Reminder: Wins Over Chase

2014 Martinsville Ii Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr Helmet Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

For Dale Earnhardt, Jr., 2014 was supposed to be “the year.” It’s his final go-round with crew chief Steve Letarte, seventh season with powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports and last season with major sponsor National Guard. This year’s Daytona 500 winner, he was the first man to clinch a Chase bid and, entering Sunday had totaled three …

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Did You Notice? … Tough Sledding, Payback Time And Penalty Free

2014 Atlanta Nns Fans Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

Did You Notice?… How ratings keep declining in this Chase? Talladega, the Russian Roulette 500-miler of the playoffs should have been a “can’t miss” race for those interested in the sport’s new format. There’s no event more unpredictable for an “elimination” event, whereby the checkered flag Sprint Cup’s postseason field was trimmed from twelve to …

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