Race Weekend Central

Tech Talk: Trent Owens Discusses Michigan Rules Package, About-Facing for Sonoma

A week off for the Cup series allowed Trent Owens, crew chief of Aric Almirola‘s No. 43 team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, to spend a week at the beach and think about anything but racecars. Regardless, he feels like the series rules package run at Michigan International Speedway was a step in the …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud – Aero Packages, Winners, Losers and Charters for the Second Off Week of the Season

Kyle Busch Confetti Martinsville Cup 2016 Mike Neff

Who’s in the headline – In a world where “winning is everything,” Kyle Busch is the name in bold at the top of the charts with three victories in 2016. If points are your thing, then it is Kevin Harvick who has set himself above the rest. Whatever the case, the last two champions in …

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Tech Talk: NASCAR’s Gene Stefanyshyn Breaks Down Rules Package Changes & the Process Behind Them

2015 Nascar Sprint Cup Series Rules Test

BROOKLYN, MI - AUGUST 18: Gene Stefanyshyn, NASCAR Vice President of Innovation and Racing Development, speaks with Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Toyota, during the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rules Test at Michigan International Speedway on August 18, 2014 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Robert Reiners/NASCAR via Getty Images)

NASCAR’s low downforce aerodynamic package for 2016 was implemented to try and make the racing better, and no matter your allegiances, it is true, based on any metric or eye test you’d like to perform, that the competition this season has been better as a result. There have been a couple of stinker races, sure, but …

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Tech Talk: Tony Gibson Talks Communication, Downforce and Yaw

Daytona 500 Cup Tony Gibson 2.15 Mike Neff 114

(Photo: Mike Neff, Frontstretch)

Tony Gibson’s No. 41 team celebrated yet another victory last Monday at Pocono when Kurt Busch stretched his fuel to the finish. However, it was a bittersweet moment for Gibson, because he was not able to celebrate with his team thanks to a suspension from a lug nut that was a quarter turn from being …

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Tech Talk: Matt McCall Talks Tires, Fuel Strategy & Rule Adaptations

Matt Mccall Martinsville 2015 Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

Pocono Raceway is unlike any other race track. Not only does it have three turns, but each one is also unique in terms of radius and banking. Setting a car up is all about compromise and finding a fast way through all three corners while maximizing the turn that a team feels gives them the …

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The Little 500 Sets Multiple Firsts as Kody Swanson Wins

Kody Swanson Little 500 Got Milk Anderson Speedway Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

The path to the Indianapolis 500 used to be paved through the USAC ranks. While some drivers still climb to the top of the open wheel mountain via Midgets, Sprints and Silver Crown cars, it is not nearly as common as it used to be. A current driver in the USAC ranks who could take …

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Dean Stoneman Takes Indy Lights Win at Indianapolis

There have been some close finishes in the storied history of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but the Indy Lights series has taken “close” to a whole new level. In 2013 the four-wide run to the finish ended with .0024 between first and second. The next year it was .005 difference between the top pair. Saturday, …

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Kanaan Paces Carb Day At Indy, Castroneves Pit Crew Champ

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(Photo: John Cote/INDYCAR)

Every year, Carb Day at Indianapolis seems to take on its own personality. Sometimes, you will have drivers avoiding each other on the track like the plague while other times, drivers will test the limits of their cars to see how they’ll react in traffic. This year, it was the latter and it happened in …

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Tech Talk: Jason Ratcliff Discusses Tire Wear for the Season’s Longest Race

Jason Ratcliff Bank Of America 500 2015 Cup Charlotte Mike Neff

Photo Credit : Mike Neff

Jason Ratcliff guided the No. 20 Dollar General team for Joe Gibbs Racing, driven by Matt Kenseth, to their first win of the season at Dover International Speedway two weeks ago. Last weekend he tried to utilize pit strategy to help his team overcome a poor qualifying position in the All-Star Race, but it backfired. He now prepares …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud – Joey Logano Makes Late-Race Pass to Claim First All-Star Victory

2016 Charlotte All Star Cup Joey Logano Champagne John Harrelson Nkp

Who’s in the headline – The No. 22 of Joey Logano was festooned with a myriad of pictures from the 50 years of Team Penske. On a full moon Saturday night, the collective spirits of all of the drivers who have piloted a car for “The Captain” rode along with Logano as he navigated the …

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