Race Weekend Central

Voice of Vito: He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother – Cousins Earnhardt Jr. & Eury Jr. Silence Skeptics with Win at Michigan

This past Friday at Michigan International Speedway, there was a question and answer session near several of the drivers’ haulers following the first practice session. Outside of Dale Earnhardt Jr.‘s No. 88 team hauler that day, the mood was anything but somber. Strained would be a better way to describe it. Junior was fielding the …

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10 Points to Ponder After the 2008 Lifelock 400 at Michigan

1. GEICO… Not Gecko! – GEICO Insurance, sponsor of Mike Wallace and the No. 7 Germain Racing Toyota, is indicating that they will end their sponsorship of the car after next season. Wallace, who finished third in the Meijer 300 last Saturday at Kentucky, believes he will need another sponsor if he is to continue …

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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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Fantasy Picks ‘N’ Pans: How to Get Maximum Fuel Mileage From Your Team at Michigan

Michigan is a wide open 2-mile track that offers drivers plenty of options and room to make moves, which hopefully will lead to on-track passes and its fair share of racing action. But for fantasy players that worry about their drivers being caught up in someone else’s problems, they can rest assured that it generally …

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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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Talking NASCAR TV: TNT Return is Dyn-o-mite!

A new segment of the NASCAR broadcasting season began this past Sunday, as TNT hosted the first of six races that it will cover this season. Many anticipated the weekend’s race at Pocono to lack the excitement and the drama that both NASCAR and TNT pride themselves upon. Fortunately for both, Sunday’s race delivered; and …

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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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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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Frontstretch NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 After the 2008 Best Buy 400 at Dover

The Monster Mile wasn’t as much of a monster as it’s been in the past – that is, after an early race melee involved six of the top 12 drivers in the points standings. But while the rest of the day may have put you to sleep, it did allow for some decisive moves in …

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