Race Weekend Central

Fantasy Insider: Taking The Talladega Gamble

2014 Chicago Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr Car Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

It’s a race that real NASCAR teams and fantasy NASCAR owners as well have been anticipating and dreading at the same time. The restrictor plate race at Talladega Sunday could likely be the best of times and worst of times for teams. With such significant drivers like Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson and Brad Keselowski …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud – Charlotte Chase race 5 – Wrestlemania 31

2014 Charlotte Ii Cup Kevin Harvick Woohoo Credit Yvonne Leonard

Key Moment – On lap 328, Brian Vickers‘ No. 55 done blowed up. The cleanup from the oil laid down lasted until lap 332. Rodney Childers, crew chief for Kevin Harvick, decided to leave his driver on the track. Several other cars also stayed out, so the two-lap dash to the trophy was a battle among …

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Trevor Bayne Wins First Nationwide Series Practice

2014 Kentucky I Nns Trevor Bayne Car Cia

Trevor Bayne had a decent day on Saturday, but he was nearly invisible at times (Photo: CIA)

Kyle Busch paced a majority of the opening practice session for the Nationwide Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway. However, late in the one-hour session, Trevor Bayne put his No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford atop the practice chart with a speed of 180.856 mph (29.858 sec.). Bayne ran the fourth most laps (26) of the …

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Fantasy Insider: Rolling The Dice At The Chase Halfway Point

It was back in mid-May when Jimmie Johnson had yet to win a race this season and there were whispers about what was wrong with the No. 48 team. Maybe the relationship between Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus wasn’t what it used to be? Maybe the No. 48 team had lost its edge after …

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Did You Notice? … Hornish Hire Sign Of Shift In NASCAR’s Ford Hierarchy

2014 Road America Nns Sam Hornish Jr. Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

(Credit: Getty Images)

Did You Notice? … Sam Hornish, Jr.’s strategy worked? His choice to run a limited schedule, in top-notch Nationwide equipment as opposed to running full-time with a struggling team paid off this week. Hornish will be the replacement for Marcos Ambrose in 2015, driving the No. 9 Ford for a Richard Petty Motorsports program that …

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NASCAR Mailbox: Championship Frontrunners are Now Chase Backmarkers

2014 Kansas Ii Cup Pack Racing Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

When the new Chase format was announced, no other round instilled so much fear as that of the Contender round. The Contender round involved the treacherous and unforgiving Talladega Superspeedway, a track known more for its crapshoot tendencies than its exciting racing. What’s worse is that Talladega is the final race of this round, adding …

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Nationwide Breakdown: Kansas Lottery 300

2014 Chicago Nns Kyle Busch Derrike Cope Racing Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2014)

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Or not. While seeing Kyle Busch win a NASCAR Nationwide Series race isn’t necessarily unusual, Busch winning at Kansas is more of a rarity. Though Busch does have a Nationwide Series victory at the track from back in 2007, a variety of bad luck and …

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Nuts for Nationwide: Roush Fenway Racing Looking for Late Momentum

2014 Richmond Ii Nns Chris Buescher Car Cia

(credit: CIA Stock Photography)

It has been a long year for Roush Fenway Racing, and a season full of trials and tribulations for the organization is nearly in the books. However, with eight events left in the 33-race long period, there are still plenty of chances for the Ford team to get a few victories – something that has …

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Nationwide Breakdown: Virginia529 College Savings 250

No one or nothing could stop Kyle Busch on Friday evening. After multiple races full of disappointment, Busch set sail at Richmond International Raceway for the Virginia529 College Savings 250. Leading each of the 250 laps, he won his 67th career Nationwide Series event. Busch held off Chase Elliott late in the race, but he …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in NASCAR: Michigan–Bristol Edition

2014 Watkins Glen Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr Cia

(Photo Credit: CIA)

Who’s Hot and Who’s Not is pretty cut and dry this week. Much of the action occurred on the bubble, with rookie drivers like Kyle Larson and Austin Dillon failing to make any ground on potential Chase berths. Veterans fighting to make the playoffs benefited from their lack of experience, while drivers with a lot …

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Fantasy Insider: Making Michigan Work For You

2014 Watkins Glen Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr Cia

(Photo Credit: CIA)

To be perfectly honest this week, who to pick or not pick on my NASCAR fantasy team hasn’t been at the forefront of my mind. In fact, it’s been pretty far back there, following the aftermath of the accident between Tony Stewart and Kevin Ward, Jr. Saturday. It’s expected that the investigation will take another …

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