Race Weekend Central

Going By the Numbers: Was Sam Hornish, Jr. A No-Brainer Choice for Petty?

2014 Mid Ohio Nns Sam Hornish Jr Pole Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

You gotta give it up for Silly Season; it’s never a dull moment. Well, maybe a little dull in this case, but certainly not uninteresting. Sam Hornish, Jr. has been confirmed as the driver of the No. 9 Ford for Richard Petty Motorsports starting in 2015. The Ohio native replaces Marcos Ambrose, who’s heading back …

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Did You Notice? … Hornish Hire Sign Of Shift In NASCAR’s Ford Hierarchy

2014 Road America Nns Sam Hornish Jr. Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

(Credit: Getty Images)

Did You Notice? … Sam Hornish, Jr.’s strategy worked? His choice to run a limited schedule, in top-notch Nationwide equipment as opposed to running full-time with a struggling team paid off this week. Hornish will be the replacement for Marcos Ambrose in 2015, driving the No. 9 Ford for a Richard Petty Motorsports program that …

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Did You Notice? … A Monstrous Moment, Hendrick’s So-So Start And Quick Hits

2014 Loudon Ii Cup Jimmie Johnson Eyes Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

Did You Notice? … The Monster Mile is entering a crucial weekend? Lately, races at the one-mile oval have been duds; Goodyear’s tire compound, combined with a conservative mindset have minimized the yellow flags and maximized the boredom at the one-mile oval. Dover’s track used to be one of the trickiest on tour, a matter …

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Sam Hornish, Jr. Among Rumored Replacements for Marcos Ambrose

2014 Mid Ohio Nns Sam Hornish Jr Pole Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

Could Sam Hornish, Jr. be the next driver behind the wheel of the No. 9 at Richard Petty Motorsports? Recently, the Associated Press covered Hornish and his trip to Kentucky Speedway for the NASCAR Nationwide Series VisitMyrtleBeach.com 300. The 35-year-old three-time IndyCar series champion shared his thoughts on the season, his career, and the future …

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Nationwide Breakdown: VisitMyrtleBeach.com 300 at Kentucky

2014 Chicago Nns Brendan Gaughan Ii Cia

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

Underdogs have a way of hitting emotions. Brendan Gaughan was the underdog of underdogs on Saturday evening. After Ty Dillon dominated much of the VisitMyrtleBeach.com 300 at Kentucky Speedway, multiple late-race cautions gave his Richard Childress Racing teammate the advantage. Gaughan, 39, running his first full year in the NASCAR Nationwide Series since 2010, visited to …

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IndyCar Preview: 2014 GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma

2014 Indycar Milwaukee Will Power Drama

Last year, midway through the 2013 IndyCar Series season, IndyCar head honcho Mark Miles vowed that as part of his plan to rejuvenate the sport of American open wheel racing, he would see to it that the IndyCar Series schedule would be chopped, screwed and condensed in an effort to raise week-to-week excitement and avoid …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: ESPN Makes A Few Michigan Mistakes

2014 Michigan Ii Cup Joey Logano Jeff Gordon Racing Cia

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

All three NASCAR national series took to the track last weekend, just a mere state border – and then some – away from each other. The Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck series battled at Michigan International Speedway while the Nationwide Series took its second trip to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Unfortunately, having everything in …

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Nationwide Breakdown: EnjoyIllinois.com 300

2014 Richmond I Nns Chase Elliott Helmet Cia

Chase Elliott had chances at winning the last few weeks go out the window when he ran out of fuel on more than one occasion. Saturday night at Chicagoland Speedway in the EnjoyIllinois.com 300, however, the No. 9 team played the pit road strategy perfectly to put themselves out front when it mattered the most. …

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Nationwide Breakdown: Ollie’s Bargain Outlet 250

The Nationwide Series has long been a source of contention for NASCAR fans because of general dominance from Sprint Cup Series drivers, the series regulars struggling to rise above and grab their share of attention as they wallow in the shadow of their supposed superiors. If you’re looking for a storyline that breaks the mold …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2014 Auto Club 400 at Fontana

Key Moment – When five drivers lost tires between laps 193 and 197, a caution finally came out. All of the lead lap cars except for Landon Cassill hit pit lane. Kurt Busch, Tony Stewart and Paul Menard took two tires, moving to the front while the remainder of lead-lap cars took four. In the …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2013 Kobalt Tools 400 at Las Vegas

Editor’s Note: Mike Neff is writing Matt’s column this week. The Key Moment – On the penultimate caution of the race, Matt Kenseth took fuel only while Kasey Kahne, who appeared to have the dominant car, took two tires and had to check up exiting his pit box. As a result, Kahne restarted sixth, had …

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