Race Weekend Central

Kickin’ the Tires: Fans, Drivers OK Because NASCAR Safety Worked

A last-lap crash in the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona involved several racecars.

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)­­

Contrary to popular belief, speed doesn’t kill; however, going fast has consequences and one of those is the danger when a fast moving object comes to an abrupt stop or, in the case of Daytona International Speedway this past Sunday night, when a car gets airborne racing for the win. The knee-jerk reaction for some …

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5 Points to Ponder: Austin Dillon’s Wild Weekend, Testing & Halfway Home

Austin Dillon leads the field in the XFINITY Series race at Daytona.

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)­­

ONE: Wild ride for Dillon What a wild, wild weekend it was for Austin Dillon, who finished Saturday night in Victory Lane and was lucky just to finish Sunday night in one piece. It truly is a testament to the safety of the cars today that he was able to get out, walk away under …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not: 2015 Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Edition

2015 Daytona Ii Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr Pit Stop Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. Copyright 2015)

If you’re into endurance events, then the Sunday night/Monday morning race at Daytona was just for you. The drivers finally got the command to start their engines just before 11:30 p.m. Whether it was better to have a late-night/super early morning race or a Monday event just depends on your schedule, but here’s hoping you …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2015 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona

2015 Daytona Ii Cup Green Flag Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Who’s in the headline – You’d think a Dale Earnhardt Jr. victory at Daytona International Speedway would immediately steal all the headlines. Instead? He’ll have to split them with Austin Dillon this week. Dillon’s flight into the catchfence – seriously, his entire car cleared the wall – will be seen around the world for weeks, months and years …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2015 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Daytona No 88

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

Looking for the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How behind Sunday’s race? Amy Henderson has you covered each week with the answers to six race-day questions, covering all five Ws and even the H… the Big Six. Who… gets my shoutout of the race? Restrictor-plate racing is definitely a skill in itself, and this …

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Austin Dillon Crash Aftermath a True Display of NASCAR Camaraderie

2015 Daytona Ii Cup Austin Dillon Crash Out Of Car Cia

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

We’re going to cut to the chase right here. The ride that Austin Dillon took into the catchfence early Monday morning at Daytona International Speedway was one of the scariest-looking crashes I’ve seen in over 25 years of either watching or being involved with the sport. There were few, if any people at the track …

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. Wins 2015 Coke Zero 400 as Horrific Crash Hits at Daytona

2015 Daytona Ii Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr Trophy Cia

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

The last lap of the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway almost turned into a nightmare as one of the most brutal accidents in the history of the speedway sparked behind race-winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. “That scared the hell out of me, I’ll be honest with you,” said Earnhardt of the final lap accident in …

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Pace Laps: Austin Dillon Wreck Safety Success Story or Catalyst for Change?

2015 Daytona Ii Cup Austin Dillon Dale Earnhardt Jr Kasey Kahne Paul Menard Racing Cia

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

Did you miss an event during this busy week in racing? How about a late-night press release, an important sponsorship rumor, or a juicy piece of news? If you did, you’ve come to the right place! Each Monday, Frontstretch will break down the racing, series by series, to bring you the biggest stories that you …

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Xfinity Series Breakdown: 2015 Subway Firecracker 250 at Daytona

2015 Daytona Ii Nxs Austin Dillon Victory Lane Cia

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

After a somewhat shaky start to the evening due to rains delaying the start to nearly 9 p.m. and a couple of early incidents slowing the pace, the Subway Firecracker 250 settled into a very nice rhythm Saturday night. Brian Scott led early and often from the outside pole. While polesitter Daniel Suarez did lead …

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2015 Coke Zero 400 Qualifying Cancelled; Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the Pole at Daytona

2014 Daytona Ii Cup Pack Racing Ii Cia

(Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photo, Inc.)

Due to threatening weather, qualifying for the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway was cancelled Saturday evening. However, Dale Earnhardt Jr is probably the only driver that is happy that this parade was rained on, as the No. 88 Nationwide Insurance Chevrolet will start on the pole. With qualifying being cancelled, the race lineup …

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Austin Dillon Wins Independence Day Shootout in Xfinity Series at Daytona

2015 Charlotte I Nxs Austin Dillon Slide Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)­­

Independence Day is famous for its fireworks. So is Daytona. Austin Dillon survived all of the night’s fireworks to win his very first race at Daytona International Speedway in any of NASCAR’s three national series. The 25-year-old driver was able to avoid two late-race multi-car incidents to score his third Xfinity Series victory this season. …

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Off the Wall With: Austin Dillon

2015 Pocono I Cup Austin Dillon Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

Welcome to Off the Wall With…, where we ask your favorite drivers five questions that are… well, off the wall! We’ll check in with a different driver each week to get a peek into life outside the racecar. This week, NASCAR Sprint Cup sophomore Austin Dillon spills the beans. What’s fun besides racing? Austin Dillon: …

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