Race Weekend Central

Nationwide Breakdown: Kansas Lottery 300

2014 Chicago Nns Kyle Busch Derrike Cope Racing Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2014)

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Or not. While seeing Kyle Busch win a NASCAR Nationwide Series race isn’t necessarily unusual, Busch winning at Kansas is more of a rarity. Though Busch does have a Nationwide Series victory at the track from back in 2007, a variety of bad luck and …

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Did You Notice? … One Saving Grace That Lies Ahead

2014 Aaron's 499 Talladega Superspeedway Sprint Cup Mike Neff

Credit: Mike Neff

Did You Notice? … How much of a crapshoot Talladega makes the next round of this Chase? No one has an advantage on paper entering this three-race sprint as all 12 drivers are tied for the point lead. That means it’s nearly impossible to create a 47-point cushion, locking yourself into the next round before …

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Pace Laps: Dover Downer, Elliott’s Excellence, Crafton’s Consistency and More

2014 Dover Ii Cup Aj Allmendinger Racing Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

Sprint Cup Series:  Dover Downer – After the excitement of the first two races of the reborn Chase, Dover produced a race that didn’t follow the script.  Rather than being a hard-charging affair, with the four drivers positioned to lose out racing like madmen, it seemed like everyone did his best to log laps, not make …

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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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Couch Potato Tuesday: Narrow Focus on Chase Hopefuls Hurts ESPN

2014 Richmond Ii Cup Clint Bowyer Paul Menard Racing Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

The Chase was the name of the game last weekend, which is probably how things should be. After all, regardless of one’s opinion of NASCAR’s playoffs, it’s certainly the focal point of the next 10 races, meaning the lead-in is just as important when it comes to determining who gets to play and who’s left …

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Nationwide Breakdown: Virginia529 College Savings 250

No one or nothing could stop Kyle Busch on Friday evening. After multiple races full of disappointment, Busch set sail at Richmond International Raceway for the Virginia529 College Savings 250. Leading each of the 250 laps, he won his 67th career Nationwide Series event. Busch held off Chase Elliott late in the race, but he …

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NASCAR Mailbox: The Lack of Negativity Surrounding Tony Stewart’s Return Was Refreshing

2014 Atlanta Cup Tony Stewart Cockpit Cia

(Credit: CIA)

Tony Stewart’s return to NASCAR was a story that wasn’t just a big deal to the NASCAR community. It was a big deal to a lot of people who rarely pay attention to the sport, if ever. Mainstream news organizations were present at Atlanta Motor Speedway, from Friday afternoon when Stewart made his first public …

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Kasey At The Bat

2014 Atlanta Cup Brad Keselowski Kasey Kahne Racing For The Lead Credit Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

Kasey Kahne has built his Sprint Cup career on intermediates. While Richmond sits just a week away, the site of his first career win, it’s also the only track where he has won less than a mile in length. That made Sunday night’s mission clear, the second Kahne worked his way into contention in Atlanta: win or …

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Pace Laps: Kahne In, Harvick Cruises, IndyCar Adieu, and More

2014 Atlanta Cup Kasey Kahne Victory Credit Cia

Kasey Kahne stepped up in a big way late in Sunday's Cup race. (Credit: CIA)

Cup: Sweet Relief for Kahne          By racing for the Cup juggernaut Hendrick Motorsports, there are high expectations for Kasey Kahne.  That his brethren at the organization have all earned three wins apiece makes his season look all the worse.  In fact, with only two top-5 finishes in 2014, Kahne was looking like …

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Nationwide Breakdown: Great Clips 300 at Atlanta

2014 Atlanta Nns Kevin Harvick Burnout Credit Cia

(Credit: CIA)

JR Motorsports was dominant on Saturday evening at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Kevin Harvick piloted the No. 5 Chevrolet to Victory Lane as he set the pace throughout the 300-mile event. Making his 11th NASCAR Nationwide Series start of the year, the 38-year-old won his third race of the season for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s organization. Harvick …

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Nuts for Nationwide: It’s No Longer the Kyle Busch Series

2014 Loudon I Nns Kyle Busch Racing Cia

The so-called Kyle Busch Show has been rewritten. The 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series season has instead been the tale of a rookie named Chase Elliott, with a few chapters on what dominance looks like (in the form of JR Motorsports), along with the fight from the little engines that could in Ty Dillon and Chris Buescher. …

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