Race Weekend Central

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Watkins Glen A Mix Of Tony’s Tragedy, AJ’s Triumph

2014 Watkins Glen Cup Aj Allmendinger No 1 Cia

Key Moment – On lap 78, Josh Wise stopped in the grass on the inside of the exit of the Bus Stop. Rather than throw a local caution to give Wise an opportunity to refire the car and continue on, NASCAR threw a full-course caution. As a result, AJ Allmendinger and Marcos Ambrose drew immensely closer …

Read more

Driver Killed After Being Hit By Tony Stewart at New York Dirt Track

2014 Indianapolis Cup Tony Stewart Puzzled Cia

Credit: CIA Editorial Photography

Update (3:04 a.m.): Local police have confirmed that an incident at Canandaigua Motorsports Park in Canandaigua, N.Y., on Saturday night (Aug. 9) involved NASCAR driver Tony Stewart. According to police in a press conference at around 3 a.m. ET – and later reiterated in a press release – Stewart made contact with a driver who …

Read more

Mirror Driving: System Failure, Strategy vs. Speed, and Future Stars

2014 Pocono Ii Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr Beats Kevin Harvick Cia

Welcome to Mirror Driving. Every week, your favorite columnists sit down and give their opinion about the latest NASCAR news, rumors and controversy. Love us or hate us, make a comment below and tell us how you feel about what we’ve said! This Week’s Participants: Amy Henderson (Mondays / The Big Six & Wednesdays / …

Read more

Happiness Is… Indifference Darian Grubb & The Glen

At Watkins Glen International In Watkins Glen, Ny On August 11, 2013.

Martin Truex, Jr.‘s No. 56 team went from full-time to part-time status in the blink of an eye.

Well, Pocono was fun.  Or something. At one point it seemed more like bumper cars at 200 mph than actual racing.  Then again, who ever expected the Big One to happen at the triangle, a track long considered one of the most boring?  The overall culmination felt like a disjointed mess of a race, which …

Read more

Fantasy Insider: Road Course Ringer Equals Marcos or ‘Dinger

2014 Sonoma Cup Marcos Ambrose Car Cia

When it came to making fantasy auto racing picks for road courses, for years it seemed like a safe bet to look at the so-called road ringers and try to pick up a top 10 finish with a cheap or rarely used driver. But taking a look back at the last three road course races, …

Read more

Did You Notice? … NASCAR Talent: Then And Now

2014 Pocono Ii Cup Ricky Stenhouse Jr Helmet Cia

Credit: CIA Editorial Photography

Did You Notice? … How hard it is to gain a foothold in this sport? More than ever, talented drivers find themselves inside a shrinking window of opportunity. The number of available rides has shrunk, combined with the funding now necessary to pair them within a top-tier organization. Having cash on hand and helping bridge …

Read more

The Frontstretch Five: Memorable Modern-Era Rookie Campaigns

2014 Michigan I Cup Ryan Newman Face Cia

Welcome to the Frontstretch Five, a brand-new column for 2014! Each week, Amy Henderson takes a look at the racing, the drivers, and the storylines that drive NASCAR and produces a list of five people, places, things, and ideas that define the current state of our sport. This week, Amy has five rookie campaigns that …

Read more

Five Points to Ponder: Martin’s Impact, The Glen, and Looking Ahead to ‘15

2014 Indianapolis Cup Tony Stewart Puzzled Cia

Credit: CIA Editorial Photography

ONE: Will Dale Earnhardt, Jr. remain strong this season? Fresh off the No. 88 team’s sweep of Pocono, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and outgoing crew chief, Steve Letarte seem to be “firing on all eight cylinders” as Junior stated after their victory at the GoBowling.com 400 at Pocono Raceway on Sunday. But the question remains, with …

Read more

Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in NASCAR: Pocono – Watkins Glen Edition

The return to Pocono Raceway had it all: widespread pitting strategies, tire-care issues, a high-energy finish and even a Big One. It was the ideal ending to a two-week flat track endeavor. NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series now shifts focus to Watkins Glen International Raceway, where road course specialists will be looking to sneak into the …

Read more

Fantasy Insider: NASCAR Flat Track Fortunes

2014 Pocono I Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr Trophy Cia

Can Dale Earnhardt, Jr. complete the Pocono sweep this weekend at Pocono?

This is generally considered the hottest time of the year in most parts of the nation and when you’re looking for good fantasy picks for your team, you’re looking for who the hottest drivers will be. One driver in the past capable of running off a rare winning streak in NASCAR was Jeff Gordon. He …

Read more

Did You Notice? … A Story Already Told, “Penalties” And Quick Hits

2014 Indianapolis Cup Carl Edwards Cia

(Credit: CIA)

Did You Notice? … How the biggest move of Silly Season didn’t cause that much of a stir? Carl Edwards’ decision to leave Roush Fenway Racing, a move which would have caused a collective gasp a few years ago instead had most observers yawning, pulling the old McKayla-is-not-impressed-face from the 2012 Olympics, while chanting the …

Read more

Four Burning Questions at the Brickyard: The Drive for Five and an IndyCar Ringer

2014 Loudon I Cup Jimmie Johnson Garage Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photography, Inc. ©2014)

Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Simply reading those three words in succession should incite a fit of shivers up the spine of any race fan worth his/her salt. NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series will invade the historic facility today for the 21st annual Brickyard 400. It seems wild to think that Indianapolis has been on the schedule for …

Read more