Race Weekend Central

Friday Faceoff: Ratings, Relevance & NASCAR Surprises

2014 Texas Ii Cup Aj Allmendinger Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

1) NASCAR’s TV ratings suffered a year-to-year decline for the first time last week. Just a month ago, they were up significantly over 2014. Is this a sign the new rules package has failed to deliver, the sport’s recent momentum is declining or is it really nothing to worry about? Phil Allaway, Editor: I definitely …

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Frontstretch NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 After the 2015 CampingWorld.com 500 at Phoenix

2015 Phoenix I Cup Kevin Harvick Checkered Flag Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

The Sprint Cup Series hasn’t seen this kind of domination in decades. Including 2014, Kevin Harvick collected his seventh straight top-two finish and second-straight victory of the season. Sunday’s win was also Harvick’s fourth straight at Phoenix. The top 10 in the Power Rankings after Las Vegas kept the momentum going for the second round of …

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Bowles-Eye View: NASCAR’s Chevy Chase

2015 Phoenix I Cup Jimmie Johnson Kyle Larson Jeff Gordon Racing Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

On paper, NASCAR has three manufacturers: Ford, Toyota, and Chevrolet. It’s a three-way distinction designed to increase competition across the board, pushing each company to donate its dollars in the name of winning races and championships. More irons in the fire, so to speak, is supposed to increase competition, produce brand awareness for each make and …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2015 CampingWorld.com 500 At Phoenix

2015 Phoenix I Cup Kevin Harvick Wins Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Who’s in the headline – Kevin Harvick is starting off the 2015 season in dominating fashion – the first person since Richard Petty in 1974 to start off a season with four straight top-two finishes. Sunday’s victory was his seventh straight, dating back to 2014 and is also second only to The King all-time. Harvick …

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Tech Talk: Matt McCall on Atlanta Inspections, Trackbar Adjusters & Las Vegas Challenges

2015 Atlanta Cup Jamie Mcmurray Kyle Larson Pack Racing Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

One of the new wrenches on top of a pit box this season is Matt McCall, who has taken over the reins of the No. 1 ride for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. McCall is a racer and an engineer who is from the Denver, NC. He graduated from the University of North Carolina …

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Did You Notice? … The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

2014 Talladega Ii Cup Tony Stewart Spin Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photography)

Did You Notice? … Two races into 2014, Kevin Harvick is the only Stewart-Haas Racing car with either a top-5 or top-10 finish? SHR’s struggle has been notable as Tony Stewart was off the pace at Atlanta, uncompetitive long before getting caught up in a mid-race accident. Regan Smith has run admirably, keeping the No. 41 …

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Jeff Gordon, Jamie McMurray Top Testing Charts at Atlanta Motor Speedway

2014 Chicago Cup Jeff Gordon Cia

(CIA Stock Photo, Inc. © 2014)

It was an important test session at Atlanta Motor Speedway Thursday afternoon as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series tested for the first time using the 2015 rule package. The teams had two test sessions on Thursday with a pair of Chip Ganassi Racing cars leading the pack in the first session. Jamie McMurray turned the …

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NASCAR 101: Every Past Daytona 500 Champion, Ranked By Their Chances of Winning in 2015

2014 Phoenix Ii Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr Serious Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photography)

The Daytona 500 is the most prestigious race of the entire NASCAR season, and chances are you’ve already heard talk about the drivers who’ve won before. And why not? NASCAR puts emphasis on driver championships first and foremost, but Daytona comes next, and the drivers who’ve visited victory lane there are a veritable who’s who …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: FOX Clams Up When Drivers Cry Out On NASCAR Qualifying

Sprint Unlimited 2015 Daytona (2) Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

I take it that you heard the rumbling sound coming out of your speakers this past weekend. That’s right; NASCAR is back, and not a moment too soon. The offseason always seems interminable. As I stated last week, 2015 will look relatively similar to 2014 here in Couch Potato Tuesday, but with some changes. For …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2015 Sprint Unlimited at Daytona

Sprint Unlimited 2015 Daytona (2) Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

Who’s In The Headline – Matt Kenseth added another notch to his Daytona belt. The two-time 500 champ wrestled the lead away from Martin Truex Jr. on lap 56 and took control of NASCAR’s season-opening exhibition race, the Sprint Unlimited. Kenseth did his best rolling chicane maneuvers over the final 19 circuits of the event, successfully …

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The Frontstretch Five: Storylines to Watch in 2015

2014 Phoenix Ii Cup Jeff Gordon Cia

Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2014

Welcome to the Frontstretch Five! Each week, Amy Henderson takes a look at the racing, the drivers and the storylines that drive NASCAR, and produces a list of five people, places, things and ideas that define the current state of our sport. This week, Amy has some things to keep an eye on as the …

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Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Looking For More

2014 Richmond Ii Cup Chip Ganassi Felix Sabates Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

The 2015 NASCAR season hasn’t even started yet, but Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates has already been celebrating. The team won the Rolex 24 at Daytona last weekend with drivers Jamie McMurray, Kyle Larson, Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan. It was a record sixth Rolex win for Ganassi and Sabates, and it also entered …

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