Race Weekend Central

Holding A Pretty Wheel: Everyone’s Got An Achilles’ Heel

2014 Kentucky Cup Jimmie Johnson Car Cia

(Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

It seems as though the 2014 Sprint Cup Series season started just last week, but suddenly it’s midsummer and the countdown to the Chase is in the single digits and clicking lower. It’s been a quirky season — teams who looked unbeatable early faded, teams who looked out to lunch surged into the spotlight. A …

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Chasing the Chase Will Influence How Teams Hit the Bricks

Indy 2009

What is the most memorable Brickyard 400 moment of all time? Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR

The Sprint Cup Series returns to action at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Sunday after its final week off of the season. The question now with the Chase spots being on the line,  will they be racing the same way by being worried about nothing but wins, or concerned about points? Clearly, there are going to …

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The Calm Before The Storm

2014 Loudon I Cup Joey Logano Brad Keselowski Racing Cia

If nothing else, NASCAR enters this particular Monday morning well rested. Fresh off its last Sprint Cup off weekend, the news cycle slowed to a crawl last week as most participants were busy enjoying life elsewhere, away from the cameras on some Caribbean island. Even those who stayed at home would rather relax, mowing their …

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Four Burning Questions on the Off-Week: Title Favorites, Silly Season Rumors, and Chase Predictions

Jimmis Johnson and Casey Mears race at Kentucky Speedway July 2014.

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2014)­­

It’s a rare off-week in NASCAR-land, and as the men and women who make up the Sprint Cup Series enjoy some well-earned vacation time, the sport’s observers are left to reflect on the season that’s been as we sit at the de facto halfway point of the schedule. The 2014 season has been an interesting …

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Happiness Is…Ford, Foreign Countries and Getting Paid

2014 Loudon I Cup Joey Logano Spin Cia

Joey Logano and Morgan Shepherd spin at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. (Credit: CIA)

It’s time to hammer down on NASCAR’s superficial Topic of the Week, sponsored by Prune Candy.  For this week’s edition, it’s the Joey Logano – Morgan Shepherd incident.  Heard enough about it?  Read enough about it?  Any fan of the sport should be able to check the Yes box on that one. Much of the …

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Mirror Driving: Dominance, Age Limits, and This Is Only a Test?

Pack racing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2014)­­

Welcome to Mirror Driving. Every week, your favorite columnists sit down and give their opinion about the latest NASCAR news, rumors and controversy. Love us or hate us, make a comment below and tell us how you feel about what we’ve said! This Week’s Participants: Amy Henderson (Mondays / The Big Six & Wednesdays / …

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Racing to the Point: The Flatter the Track, the More the Debris

2014 Pocono I Cup Brad Keselowski Debris On Grille Cia

Foiled by a hot dog wrapper? Brad Keselowski had the win in the bag back in June, but a move to remove the trash handed the win to the No. 88 with one lap to go.

Following the second caution for debris in turn 3 of Sunday’s race, the fan standing in front of me at New Hampshire Motor Speedway turned and suggested the safety worker probably went out and picked up the same piece he picked up last time. He was in the same exact spot. In other words, the …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not: New Hampshire – Off Week Edition

2014 Loudon I Cup Kyle Busch Car Cia

Kyle Busch in his No. 18 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. (Credit: CIA)

A stop at New Hampshire Motor Speedway marked the end of TNT’s Summer Series and a served as a precursor to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ last off-week, or calm before the storm that is the wicked countdown to the Chase and the highly anticipated playoff eliminators. This edition of Who’s Hot and Who’s Not …

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Five Points to Ponder: A Week Off, the Lost Shepherd and Burton’s (Possibly) Final Run

2014 Loudon I Cup Brad Keselowski Roger Penske Cia

(Credit: CIA)

ONE: A MUCH DESERVED WEEK OFF It’s a temporary respite this weekend for the Sprint Cup circus as NASCAR’s top series goes dark for one final time before the stretch run to the finish in November. For the drivers, crews and teams it’s a chance to catch their collective breath ahead of a grueling 17 …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud – New Hampshire – Keselowski Turns the Competition Redd

2014 Loudon Brad Keselowski Trophy Credit Cia

Key Moment – The Penske cars were both strong at New Hampshire, with Brad Keselowski being the strongest. Joey Logano was looking better as the race progressed and seemed to be poised to make Keselowski earn his win when the the two teammates caught Morgan Shepherd to put him yet another lap down. Shepherd slid …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2014 Camping World RV Sales 301 at Loudon

Pack racing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2014)­­

Looking for the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How behind Sunday’s race? Amy Henderson has you covered each week with the answers to six race-day questions, covering all five Ws and even the H… the Big Six. Who… gets my shoutout of the race? He may not have had a top finish, but he …

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Nationwide Series Breakdown: Sta-Green 200

2014 Loudon I Nns Brad Keselowski Waving Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

Brad Keselowski dominated the Sta-Green 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway leading a race high 152 laps for his 29th career Nationwide Series victory and his 2nd win of 2014. Keselowski beat Kyle Busch to the checkers by 1.880 seconds. Kyle Larson would finish 3rd and Matt Kenseth would finish 4th on a day completely …

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