Believe it or not, nearly two months have passed since the NASCAR Xfinity Series was in action. Yes, the offseason is more than half over. Woo! Before you know it, cars will be on track for the 2021 season opener at Daytona International Speedway, where teams will spend two weeks …
Read More »2020 Top NASCAR Storylines: Team Ownership Gets Makeover for 2021 & Beyond
The makeup of NASCAR ownership will look about as different as any year in recent memory come February. Michael Jordan is the shiny new addition to the fraternity of Cup Series owners (along with his partner Denny Hamlin), but joining His Airness are former Cup drivers Justin Marks (Trackhouse Racing …
Read More »2020 NASCAR Team Reviews: Joe Gibbs Racing
For a team that won more than half of the races in the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series season, Joe Gibbs Racing had every reason to be confident in its lineup for 2020. Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch all won at least five races in 2019 (seven, six …
Read More »Friday Faceoff: Are Jimmie Johnson/Chad Knaus the Best Driver/Crew Chief Pairing Ever?
Is Phoenix Raceway the right track again for the NASCAR finales next year? Luken Glover: While the spring NASCAR Cup Series race was good, the championship event wasn’t quite as exciting. There were some good battles among the championship drivers, but behind them we didn’t see a lot of action. …
Read More »Frontstretch Podcast: Sheldon Creed Relives Winning Truck Championship
In this week’s edition of the Frontstretch Podcast, Dustin Albino and Mike Neff discuss NASCAR’s championship weekend at Phoenix Raceway, which saw the youth movement takeover the sport. Chase Elliott became the third youngest Cup Series champion, dominating the race after starting in the back. The duo discusses what this means for Elliott’s confidence …
Read More »Power Rankings: Chase Went to Chase Edition
Oftentimes, NASCAR gets the short end of the deal — faces a lot of criticism, but they deserve a tip of the old Frontstretch hat for managing to get a full season in during trying times. No other major American sport was able to accomplish this feat. There is no …
Read More »Beside the Rising Tide: The Best of Everything
Welcome loyal readers to the last regularly scheduled 2020 function for Club 61; to whit, my last weekly column for 2020. In honor of the momentousness of the occasion, I have decided not to submit this week’s effort in crayon. Club 61 isn’t a place. It’s a statistical anomaly that …
Read More »The Underdog House: Bubba Wallace Goes Out on Top at Phoenix
Top Dog Bubba Wallace stood atop the underdog pile when the final checkered flag waved on Sunday at Phoenix Raceway. After a tumultuous season of ups and downs, Wallace put a period on his tenure in the Petty No. 43 with a 15th-place finish. He ran as high as seventh, …
Read More »Up to Speed: The Future Is Bright For Hendrick Motorsports
It wasn’t long ago that Hendrick Motorsports had one of the oldest driver lineups in NASCAR. Five years ago, at the time of Jeff Gordon’s final race in his famed No. 24 car, the organization’s youngest driver was Kasey Kahne at 35 years old. With Gordon’s career wrapping up amid …
Read More »Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2020 Season Finale 500 at Phoenix
What happened? Chase Elliott won the 2020 Season Finale 500 at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday (Nov. 8) after leading a race-high 153 laps. More importantly, he won his first NASCAR Cup Series title in his first Championship 4 appearance. Other title contenders Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin finished …
Read More »