Race Weekend Central

Tech Talk with Brett Bodine: More to Driving the Pace Car Than Meets the Eye

Coca Cola 600 Media Pace Car Ride 2011 John Davison

Credit: John Davison

One car gets to lead the field around the track before every race and on every restart and that is the pace car. Brett Bodine has been the pace car driver for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series since 2004. A quick look at the numbers means that very early next season he’ll be setting the …

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Beyond the Cockpit with Andy Seuss, 2014 Whelen Southern Modified Tour Champion

Andy Seuss 2014 Charlotte Motor Speedway Southern Slam 150 Mike Neff

Photo Credit: Mike Neff, Frontstretch

Andy Seuss grew up in New Hampshire just a short drive from the heart of Modified country. He grew up running go-karts and progressed to Modifieds but didn’t have the resources to contend for the Tour in the North. He raced in the South because it was more affordable and caught the eye of some …

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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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Kevin Harvick Wins Charlotte Race, Post Race Tempers Flare

Kevin Harvick Bank Of America 500 2014 Charlotte Motor Speedway Cup Yvonne Leonard

Credit: Yvonne Leonard

Kevin Harvick was the strongest car at Charlotte Motor Speedway Saturday night. For the first time since Darlington in the Spring, Harvick was unencumbered by misfortune and came home with the win. The talk of the race didn’t focus on Harvick however. During the cool down lap, Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin made contact. That …

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Tech Talk with Gene Stefanyshyn, Part II: A Look Inside the 2015 Rules Package

Nascar R&d Media Briefing

(Credit: NASCAR)

What follows is part two of Frontstretch’s visit with Gene Stefanyshyn, the Vice President of Innovation and Racing Development for NASCAR. Last week, we learned about the attempts to reduce horsepower, decrease downforce and driver adjustments. Stefanyshyn’s vision is to improve the racing while also improving the experience for fans and teams at the race …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Breaking Down NASCAR’s Kansas Chase Race

2014 Kansas Ii Cup Joey Logano Confetti Cia

Credit - CIA Stock Photography

Key Moment – With 53 laps to go in the race Kevin Harvick thought he had a right front tire going bad. After the team swapped out all four skins on his ride it was determined that all four tires were good. The end result was Harvick slipping back into the upper 20s and having …

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Tech Talk Part I: Dissecting NASCAR’s New Rule Package With Gene Stefanyshyn

Gene Stefanyshyn Charlotte Motor Speedway Cup Test 2013 Mike Neff

Credit: Mike Neff

Gene Stefanyshyn has been at his post since May 13, 2013. He is the Vice President of Innovation and Racing Development for NASCAR. His role is not only geared toward the development of the racing platform that the fans see on the track but also enhancing the fan experience associated with the races that NASCAR …

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Tony Stewart Speaks

Tony Stewart First Press Conference At Stewart Haas Racing 2014 Yvonne Leonard 2

(Credit: Yvonne Leonard)

For the first time since the incident with Kevin Ward Jr. at Canandaigua Motorsports Park, Tony Stewart took questions from the media. He did not answer questions about the accident directly, the investigation by the Ontario County Police Department is the definitive document on the crash. Stewart still looks gaunt and tired but there were …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud – Dover – Chase Race No. 3 – The field is trimmed to 12

2014 Dover Ii Cup Jeff Gordon Family Trophy Cia

Credit: CIA Stock Photography

Key Moment – The pass for the lead by Jeff Gordon over Brad Keselowski with 95 laps to go was the difference in the race. Keselowski was in the top 3 all day long and looked to be the driver to beat once Kevin Harvick’s car had issues with an inner liner going flat. Gordon …

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