Race Weekend Central

Fantasy Insider: Taking The Talladega Gamble

2014 Chicago Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr Car Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

It’s a race that real NASCAR teams and fantasy NASCAR owners as well have been anticipating and dreading at the same time. The restrictor plate race at Talladega Sunday could likely be the best of times and worst of times for teams. With such significant drivers like Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson and Brad Keselowski …

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NASCAR Sprint Cup Power Rankings: Top 15 After Charlotte

2014 Charlotte Ii Cup Kevin Harvick Burnout Credit Yvonne Leonard

Credit: Yvonne Leonard

Kevin Harvick exorcised his demons Saturday night, winning his third race of the season, but more importantly locking himself into the eight-driver Eliminator Round. Harvick won the pole and led the most laps, as usual.  This time, however, he was able to survive a late-race caution which set up a two-lap shootout to win the …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in NASCAR: Charlotte – Talladega Edition

2014 Michigan Ii Cup David Ragan Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

With one race remaining in the Contender Round, some of 2014’s biggest names still aren’t contending. Two former champions left Charlotte Motor Speedway unfulfilled and another rides the wrong side of the bubble. Next, a return trip to Talladega Superspeedway does nothing to clear up a complicated Chase picture. The six drivers inside the cutoff …

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Joey Logano, Rockwell Watches Announce Partnership

2014 Atlanta Cup Joey Logano Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

Could Sliced Bread be the new NASCAR sponsorship “it” man? Current NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup standings leader Joey Logano will partner with timepiece brand Rockwell Watches. Logano joins Rockwell’s roster of athletes representing the watch brand in the extreme sports. He becomes the brand’s first NASCAR-affiliated driver. “I’m thrilled to become a part …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud – Charlotte Chase race 5 – Wrestlemania 31

2014 Charlotte Ii Cup Kevin Harvick Woohoo Credit Yvonne Leonard

Key Moment – On lap 328, Brian Vickers‘ No. 55 done blowed up. The cleanup from the oil laid down lasted until lap 332. Rodney Childers, crew chief for Kevin Harvick, decided to leave his driver on the track. Several other cars also stayed out, so the two-lap dash to the trophy was a battle among …

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Four Burning Questions in Charlotte: Must-Win Races and A Surging JGR Team

2014 Kansas Ii Cup Steve Letarte Dale Earnhardt Jr Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

Well… that was interesting. What I’m referring to of course is last week’s Sprint Cup race at Kansas, an event that could potentially go down as the turning point in this year’s Chase for the Championship. Three pre-Chase favorites, Jimmie Johnson, Brad Keselowski and Dale Earnhardt, Jr., encountered disaster-level problems at Kansas, and with only two …

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Frontstretch Foto Funnies: No, Really, It’s MY Week…

Ff 10 10 14 1

"Trust me, Jimmie; running poorly isn't as bad as the media says it is..." (Photo: 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?  Leave your best ideas …

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Friday Faceoff: Grey Areas, Hendrick Woes, and Rating the Rookies

Welcome to Friday Faceoff! What do you get when you take some hot-button NASCAR topics and hand them over to our dedicated and… er, opinionated staff? A little disagreement and a whole lot of thought-provoking insight! Check out this week’s edition to see what everyone is arguing… um, we mean, discussing this week! 1. Team …

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Fantasy Insider: Rolling The Dice At The Chase Halfway Point

It was back in mid-May when Jimmie Johnson had yet to win a race this season and there were whispers about what was wrong with the No. 48 team. Maybe the relationship between Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus wasn’t what it used to be? Maybe the No. 48 team had lost its edge after …

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NASCAR Sprint Cup Power Rankings: Top 15 After Kansas

2014 Kansas Ii Cup Joey Logano Confetti Cia

Credit - CIA Stock Photography

Team Penske continued their dominating performance during the Chase as Joey Logano captured his fifth win of the season, second in the Chase and locked himself into the eight driver Eliminator Round. The Penske duo of Logano and Brad Keselowski have combined to win three of the first four Chase races. Many thought Talladega would …

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Voices from the Cheap Seats: Can Matt Kenseth Repeat History?

2014 Pocono Ii Cup Matt Kenseth Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

The more I think about all this elimination crap, the more I hate it. On one hand, it could be a Godsend. On the other, it could show Brian France and the top brass in Daytona that they are indeed dumber than a box of rocks. I’m praying for the latter. Of course, it’s all …

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Who’s Hot / Who’s Not In NASCAR: Kansas – Charlotte Edition

2014 Dover Ii Cup Kyle Busch Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

The Hollywood Casino 400 had all the twists and turns of a great Hollywood script and left many of the Sprint Cup Series’ best with unfavorable odds of advancement moving forward. A Contender Round opener at Kansas Speedway did a number on the Who’s Hot and Who’s Not landscape and things are just getting started. …

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