Race Weekend Central

Voice of Vito: The Curious Case of Helio Castroneves, David Reutimann & Jenson Button

With the running of the 50th Coca-Cola 600, the biggest weekend of racing has mercifully come to an end… finally. And with Monday’s running of NASCAR’s longest race of the season nearly being a washout as well, another first-time winner wound up getting crowned in victory lane. David Reutimann embodied the old racing adage of …

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2009 Indy 500 Breakdown: From Zero to Hero for Helio Castroneves

In a Nutshell: Helio Castroneves, just recently returned to the track after acquittal on tax evasion charges, probably gave the IRL the feel-good story of the year at Indianapolis. Taking the lead away from Scott Dixon with just under 60 laps to go, he never gave it up in coasting to his third Indy 500 …

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Matt McLaughlin’s Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2008 Talladega Fall Race Recap

The Key Moment: The race at Talladega was decided in NASCAR’s control room almost a minute after the event itself ended. In a Nutshell: Yogi Berra once said, “It ain’t over until it’s over.” Apparently, sometimes it’s not over even when it is over. Dramatic Moment: With 15 laps to go, Carl Edwards got Greg …

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Fanning the Flames: Dancing Drivers, Loose Lugs &… Eliot Spitzer?

No time for an intro this week; you’ve given me so much feedback, it’s time to get right down to it. Still have questions, comments, concerns, or just looking to tell me where to go? Just one condition, please: No need to use multiple exclamation points… one at the end of a sentence will suffice. …

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10 Points to Ponder… After the 2008 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte

1. Rumba, Anyone? – Two-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves – better known to the general public as last year’s winner of the mega hit TV show Dancing With The Stars – seems to be interested in following such open-wheel standouts as Juan Pablo Montoya, Sam Hornish Jr., Dario Franchitti, Patrick Carpentier and AJ Allmendinger into the …

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Bowles-Eye View: 2 Countries, 2 Races, 2 Divergent Outcomes on Diversity

It was a tale of two cities, two countries and two completely different races. But those two checkered flags converged into one defining story, leaving fans both delighted and disappointed by the future of diversity in a sport that’s lacked it for far too long. The events were held outside the country, on opposite ends …

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The Yellow Stripe: From Snake Eyes To Box Cars, Sizing Up NASCAR Odds In Vegas

With the old adage that the “bookies never lose” notwithstanding, and NASCAR’s annual date with Sin City just a couple days away, now seems as good a time as ever to put up some odds you might (or might not) see throughout the 2008 NASCAR season. — All bets are off: Juan Pablo Montoya employing …

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