Race Weekend Central

Friday Faceoff: Which Track Will Go Down As Jimmie Johnson’s Best?

2020californiancsjimmiejohnsoncarrlp

(Photo: Randy Lanning)

The Next Gen car in the NASCAR Cup Series will feature a single lug nut to be removed during pit stops. Is this a positive move, and what impact will it have? Adam Cheek: I’m very in the middle. It’s positive in that there’s less of a chance for loose wheels to be an issue, since …

Read more

Power Rankings: Fontana Edition

2020lasvegasncskevinharvickcarrlp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Two races on downforce tracks in a row have given us a better look at which teams have improved for the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season. There is no doubt that Hendrick Motorsports is better and that isn’t just because Bowman the Showman ended up in victory lane this past Sunday (March 1) at Auto …

Read more

Did You Notice? There’s No I in Team, But There Is in Driver

2020californiancsracingrlp(3)

(Photo: Randy Lanning)

Did You Notice? How the Next Gen car’s change to single lug nuts for its wheels is just the latest example of how stock car racing is deviating further and further away from being a “team” sport?  Let’s just ignore for a second that going to a single lug nut removes one of the very …

Read more

Trendy Tuesday: Jimmie Johnson Ends Fontana Career Completing Every Lap

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Over the years, Auto Club Speedway has turned into one of the more entertaining races of the season. With an aging track surface (oldest on the Cup circuit), managing tires is a premium and restarts are wild, which is what we saw this past weekend. Even though Fontana favors big teams, small organizations came to …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2020 Auto Club 400 at Fontana

2020californiancsalexbowmanracingrlp

(Photo: Randy Lanning)

The Headline(s): After winning the first stage and showing speed all weekend, Alex Bowman took the lead on lap 133 after a hotly-contested restart to begin the final stage, and never looked back. Gapping Ryan Blaney over the final run, Bowman cruised to his second career Cup victory and third career NASCAR national series win. …

Read more

Up to Speed: Alex Bowman Delivering on High Expectations

2020californiancsalexbowmanburnoutrlp(2)

(Photo: Randy Lanning)

No long ago, Hendrick Motorsports was the undisputed most dominant team in NASCAR.  Competitors and fans alike understood that the path to the Cup Series championship inevitably ran through the sprawling HMS campus in Concord, North Carolina.  Led most recently by Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick’s strong teams promised to be contenders each and every week. However, …

Read more

The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2020 Auto Club 400

Nascar Xfinity Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who… should you be talking about after the race? After losing a major sponsor prior to the season, Alex Bowman could be racing for his ride this year.  The 26-year-old Arizona native is a free agent after the season, and he may need to convince Hendrick Motorsports that keeping him is in the team’s best …

Read more

Alex Bowman Dominates for 2nd Career Victory in Auto Club 400

2020 California NCS Alex Bowman Victory Lane RLP

(Photo: Randy Lanning)

A dominating performance at Auto Club Speedway by a Hendrick Motorsports driver isn’t a surprise — however, it wasn’t the driver most would expect. Alex Bowman dominated the Auto Club 400 on Sunday afternoon (March 1) en route to his second career NASCAR Cup Series victory. Bowman led 110 of the race’s 200 laps. He …

Read more

Stock Car Scoop with Bryan Nolen: Auto Club Preview

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Bryan Nolen gives you a preview of what you need to know for this weekend’s races at Auto Club Speedway. Nolen dives into which drivers are honoring Kobe Bryant, how Auto Club is honoring Jimmie Johnson in his final race as a full-time driver at his home track and if could rain affect NASCAR for …

Read more

Daily Fantasy NASCAR FanDuel Forecast: Auto Club 400 (Fontana)

2019 Kentucky Mencs Brad Keselowski Joey Logano Team Penske Car Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The bright stars of Hollywood will out in full force this weekend, with NASCAR’s annual visit to the area’s two-mile oval in nearby Fontana, the Auto Club Speedway. This racetrack has the third oldest pavement on the circuit, only coming behind Dover International Speedway and the site of next week’s race, the Atlanta Motor Speedway. …

Read more

Friday Faceoff: Is the Bounty on Kyle Busch a Good Thing?

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Denny Hamlin’s NASCAR Cup Series win at Daytona International Speedway is the only finish better than 15th for Toyota after two races. Is it too early to hit the panic button? Adam Cheek: Yes, way too early. A couple races in — one a superspeedway race with a few massive crashes and Las Vegas Motor Speedway, …

Read more

4 Burning Questions: The Bounty Hunters Have Arrived

2020 Las Vegas Ncs Ricky Stenhouse Jr Car Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What kind of calls will Brian Pattie make this week? One of the more interesting things to take away from Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was just how risky the No. 47 team is willing to be. Crew chief Brian Pattie is well aware that JTG Daugherty Racing doesn’t have …

Read more