Race Weekend Central

Did You Notice? Bruton Smith Full of Hot Air & Why Hendrick Cares About Brad Keselowski

Editor’s Note: Tom Bowles was on vacation this week, so DYN is short and sweet due to some prior commitments. Expect the full version to return this coming Wednesday. Did You Notice? That Bruton Smith doesn’t have as much power in NASCAR as we think he does sometimes? For the second straight year, Smith has …

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Mirror Driving: Fuel-Injection Firestorm, Tackling Team Orders & Why Bash Bristol?

Saturday’s race at Bristol featured green-flag passing as well as several on-track run-ins, although many fans still said afterward that the race was boring.

Matt McLaughlin’s Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2009 Bristol Night Race Recap

The Key Moment: Kyle Busch prevailed in a spirited side-by-side duel over the final two laps. In a Nutshell: While there’s side-by-side racing and technically better racing, fans just aren’t warming up to Bristol Lite. Fans don’t seem to like the new track, the new cars and less carnage. Maybe Bristol should modify Miller’s slogan, …

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Nationwide Series Breakdown: 2009 Food City 250 at Bristol

There were Cup headliners aplenty all day Friday as the Nationwide Series tackled the Bristol Motor Speedway. Early in the week, it was Ryan Newman doing quadruple duty at Bristol. Then it was Brad Keselowski, who wouldn’t confirm or deny that he has signed to drive for Penske Racing in the Cup Series in 2009. …

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Beyond the Cockpit: Quick Hits With Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. made a visit to Atlanta, Ga. to help promote the coming night race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. While speaking to a pool of reporters at a restaurant, Fronstretch’s Doug Turnbull had a chance to ask the driver of the No. 88 a couple of questions. Doug Turnbull, Frontstretch – “Your current crew …

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Sprint Cup Rookie Report: Joey Logano’s Inadvertent Pit Call Leads to a Top-10 Finish

It was a day where Joey Logano reminded us that he was still a rookie and then demonstrated how much he has grown as a driver by recovering from it. After running in the top 15 for most of the race, miscommunication put the driver in the precarious position of being up front but having to pit off sequence.

Nationwide Series Breakdown: 2009 CARFAX 250 at Michigan

Brian Vickers dominated from the pole on Saturday at Michigan (Aug. 15), and when he didn’t lead, Kyle Busch did. Neither of them won. Racing hard with two laps to go, Vickers got loose in the exit of turn 3 and broke the momentum of second-place Busch catching the car, allowing none other than the …

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Nationwide Series Breakdown: 2009 US Cellular 250 at Iowa

If there is one thing that has kept Brad Keselowski from challenging Kyle Busch for the Nationwide title in 2009, it has been an inability to keep up on the short run. The No. 88 car has been among the fastest after a few laps… but that’s all it’s been taking for the No. 18 …

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Cup Series Regular Brad Keselowski Wins Inaugural NNS Event at Iowa

NEWTON, Iowa – A sellout crowd of nearly 60,000 fans stood cheering wildly as the green flag flew to start the Nationwide Series’ inaugural race, the US Cellular 250, at Iowa Speedway Saturday afternoon near the small town of Newton. With the Cup Series appearing in Pocono this weekend, usual suspects Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards …

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Nationwide Series Breakdown: 2009 Kroger 200 at IRP

After Saturday night’s race, even I am willing to put aside the fact that yet again the Nationwide Series ended a race with a 1-2 dose of Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch (though this time, Edwards came out on top). Why? Without a doubt, the Kroger 200 was the most exciting race of the 2009 …

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2009 NASCAR Report Cards, Part II: Grading Dale Jr. & the Rest

Editor’s Note: For Part I of our midseason driver report cards, click here. Continuing on from yesterday’s review, it’s time for Professors Danny and Tom to grade those drivers sitting at the back of the class. Whether it’s some bad racing luck, poor chemistry with a crew chief or just plain awful driving, most of …

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5 Points to Ponder: Inside the NASCAR Sprint Cup Rumor Mill

Editor’s Note: With the NASCAR Cup Series taking a rare weekend off, this week’s Five Points will try and help sort out the rampant rumors you may have seen throughout this year’s Silly Season. When the Frontstretch live blog returns next week at Indianapolis, the column’s regular format will also return. ONE: Danica Patrick to… …

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