Race Weekend Central

Nuts for Nationwide: Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Returns to Scene of One of His Biggest Series Wins

2014 Darlington Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr Credit Yvonne Leonard

(Credit: Yvonne Leonard)

Michigan International Speedway isn’t exactly synonymous with Dale Earnhardt, Jr., but it has been the site of a few personal highlights for him. That may continue this weekend when he competes in another Nationwide Series race at the two-mile oval. Saturday is the fourth and final scheduled race for him this season, and one the …

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Frontstretch Foto Funnies: That’s Just Wrong…

2014 Pocono I Cup Jimmie Johnson Dale Earnhardt Jr Congrats Cia

Credit: CIA Stock Photography

Welcome to the Frontstretch Foto Funnies! Ever see a photo that’s just begging for a caption? We see them all the time! Each week, we’ll pick a few, then let our staff give it their best shot. We’ll post the best ones for you! Want to get in on the fun? Each week, we’ll also …

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Dale Earnhardt, Jr.’s Decade of Decline Comes Full Circle

2014 Pocono I Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr Champagne Cia

In the wake of Dale Earnhardt, Jr.’s popular Pocono triumph, there was one stat that resonated this week while reviewing the turnaround the No. 88 team has enjoyed over the course of past few seasons: Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is in the midst of his first multiple win season since 2004; i.e., a decade. That 2004 season was …

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Racing to the Point: How Earnhardt, Kahne Traded Places at Hendrick

Remember when Dale Earnhardt, Jr. finished 25th in the Sprint Cup standings in 2009? It’s hard to believe considering the success he’s had lately, but it’s true. The next season didn’t go much better, with little progress, and the son of a legend ended up 21st. If his name wasn’t Earnhardt, he probably would’ve wound …

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Who’s Hot / Who’s Not in NASCAR Sprint Cup: Pocono-Michigan Edition

In many ways, the Sprint Cup Series’ venture to the Pocono Mountains was a microcosm of the season to date.  There was a singular figure who led many a lap, multi-time champions finding ways to struggle, and frontrunners succumbing because of the not-so-alive half the alliance between man and machine.  The end result was very …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2014 Sprint Showdown at Charlotte

Dale Earnhardt Jr. talked about racing at Charlotte after dark this week. “As late as it gets in the night, at this track,” he said, “The groove narrows up. It gets faster and faster on the bottom and there’s no time to be gained in trying to step up the race track or run the high line like you might during the afternoon. So, it’s a really fascinating race track in the middle of the day. But, as it gets darker and darker and cooler and cooler, the groove really shortens up. So you need to be in that top three, I think, to have a shot at it.”

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2014 Aaron’s 499 at Talladega

Key Moment – On lap 137, Brad Keselowski, who was already six laps down thanks to an incident with Danica Patrick on lap 14 while going for the lead, spun in front of the field while trying to get his lap back the old fashioned way. At the time he and Jamie McMurray were the only two cars not on the …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2014 Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond

Kyle Larson continued to show that he’s not only a threat for Rookie of the Year honors, but also for winning. Larson got the top starting spot by virtue of his practice speed after qualifying was rained out, part of showing speed and prowess all weekend long. Unfortunately for Larson, he got tagged by Bowyer on the first lap of the race which dropped him to the rear of the field. Larson was able to recover somewhat to finish 16th, still good for Rookie of the Race honors, but clearly lacked the confidence and speed to get back to the front after that moment.

Professor of Speed: An Executive Order on NASCAR Drivers

President Obama’s statement last week declaring Jimmie Johnson to be “the Michael Jordan of NASCAR” got me to wondering: are there no other stock car drivers who could be associated with professional athletes? Comparing the six-time Sprint Cup champion to perhaps the most accomplished and recognized personality in recent NBA history seems a tad presumptuous, …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2014 Duck Commander 500 at Texas

Key Moment – As Joey Logano came out of turn 4, heading to the flagstand for the white flag, Kurt Busch’s car that had lost a left rear tire began spreading debris on the track and race control called for a caution. The ensuing pit stops saw Jeff Gordon take two tires, along with Brian Vickers. …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2014 Duck Commander 500 at Texas

On a weekend when, once again, rain changed the game, in the end, the real game changer was Kurt Busch’s blown tire just before the white flag. At first, many questioned the caution as it appeared that Busch had gotten his slowing car onto the apron, but television replays showed that the left rear tire on the No. 41 came apart, shredding the car’s quarterpanel. Debris quickly spewed all over the asphalt, and some made its way onto the racing surface. The caution was a good call, and it set up a green-white-checkered run that a year or two ago would have been much different.

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2014 The Profit on CNBC 500 at Phoenix

2014 Dover I Cup Kevin Harvick Helmet Cia

Key Moment – Kevin Harvick missed the final 12 in “knockout” qualifying by .001 seconds and started the race 13th based on that result. While Harvick won practices and the race, his stumble in qualifying was the only thing that added any excitement to the weekend. In a Nutshell – Harvick won everything but qualifying at Phoenix …

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