Race Weekend Central

Tracking the Trucks: 2008 Cool City Customs 200 at Michigan

In a Nutshell: Erik Darnell took the checkered flag 0.005 seconds ahead of Johnny Benson to win the Cool City Customs 200 Saturday afternoon. Darnell survived a late-race restart and a photo finish with Benson to score his first win since Kansas last April. Scott Speed narrowly beat Todd Bodine to finish third; Brendan Gaughan …

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Today’s NASCAR Drivers Don’t Hold a Candle to Old-School Toughness

Editor’s Note: Due to personal issues detailed in Monday’s Thinkin’ Out Loud column regarding his nephew, Matt McLaughlin has taken this Thursday off. In his place, our TV critic Doug Turnbull fills in… we hope to have Matt back on Monday. Until then, keep him in your thoughts during his difficult time. The heat radiated …

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Frontstretch NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 After the 2008 Pocono 500

The tricky triangle in Pennsylvania had several twists and turns for the Cup drivers this past weekend. Who left the track climbing up the Pocono mountains? Kasey Kahne, for one; he’s making believers out of our staff with his second win in three starts, and even secured a first-place vote again this week. And while …

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10 Points to Ponder… After the 2008 Pocono 500 at Pocono

1. What Program? – NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity Program has now entered its ninth year of existence as of this weekend. There are 13 Sprint Cup teams, eight Nationwide teams and four Craftsman Truck organizations participating in the program. But after nine years only one ethnic minority driver – Aric Almirola – has graduated to NASCAR’s …

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Nationwide Series Breakdown: 2008 Federated Auto Parts 300 at Nashville

In a Nutshell: Saturday’s race was dubbed the “Opportunity 300,” the first of numerous standalone events for the Nationwide Series this summer – and a number of drivers took advantage, making runs at their first career wins. But while Joey Logano was untouchable in the early going and David Stremme ran up front all race …

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Tracking the Trucks: 2008 Sam’s Town 400 at Texas

In a Nutshell: Ron Hornaday Jr. took the checkered flag 0.283 seconds ahead of Kyle Busch to with the Sam’s Town 400 at Texas Friday night. The driver of the No. 33 Camping World Chevrolet held onto the lead through a green-white-checkered finish to score his first career Texas Motor Speedway victory. Johnny Benson, Jack …

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Fanning the Flames: Silly Season Contracts, Old-School Drivers & the “Blow-Up” Crowd

No time to waste with an intro this week; it’s sunny and 70, and I need to hit a patio. Good batch this week, boys and girls. Keep ‘em rollin’ on in. Q: The Silly Season rumors are driving me nuts. Whatever happened to loyalty in NASCAR? Jamie McMurray has a full year left on …

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