Race Weekend Central

Thompson in Turn 5: Edwards & Busch… Like Mayfield & Earnhardt

The bump-and-run maneuver – as demonstrated by Carl Edwards Saturday night in the Sharpie 500 at Bristol to gain the win – is without a doubt the sorriest, most low-rent passing tactic in the book. The maneuver requires very little skill, but lots of brashness coupled with minimal regard for sportsmanship. However, for only the …

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The Yellow Stripe: NASCAR Drivers I Never Got to See, But Wish I Had

My first week in the States, I watched a “Beyond the Glory” program which focused on NFL quarterback Kurt Warner. Not knowing his story – remember, I’m a transplanted Brit – I was mesmerized by Warner’s meteoric rise from shelf stacker to Super Bowl MVP. Whether you like the guy or not, it would be …

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Kenny Wallace Driver Diary: Drive the Hell Out of the Car – But Don’t Wreck It!

My Jay Robinson Racing team continues to find our way. This is a new situation for me to try to make our team better. We went to Nashville and we were competitive to where we were able to finish 16th, on the lead lap which was a feather in our cap. We’re pointed in the …

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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: Can Dale Earnhardt Jr. Give the National Guard Back-to-Back Memorial Day Wins?

The Sprint Cup Series went from the gritty Darlington Raceway to the glitzy All-Star Race in the last two weeks; but now, it’s time to get down to business in the longest race of the year, the Coca-Cola 600. Sunday’s event will be a test of endurance for the drivers and crews, as they fight …

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Thompson in Turn 5: Richard Childress Rightfully a Hall of Famer

What do sports greats Jim “Catfish” Hunter, Sonny Jurgensen, Arnold Palmer, Gaylord Perry and NASCAR team owner Richard Childress have in common? Well, at least after Thursday evening’s induction ceremony at the Raleigh, North Carolina Hilton in which Childress will be honored; all will be members of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. Childress’s …

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Bowles-Eye View: Having a NASCAR Villain to Hate Never Felt So Good

Moments after taking his first career Darlington win, Kyle Busch got out of his car, hopped on the roof and took a bow as if he were the hero. It was the culmination of a burnout performance worthy of his Indiana Jones paint scheme. Too bad the fans thought it was the equivalent of a …

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The Yellow Stripe: They Come in All Shapes & Sizes – Ranking the Types of NASCAR Tracks Across America

“If God had made us all the same, life would have been boring, Daniel.” So said my dearly departed Grandfather, the legend that was William Peters. And the old boy was right; he usually was, to be fair. And if it’s true about people, it’s certainly true about sport and NASCAR, in particular. Can you …

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