Race Weekend Central

Pace Laps: Manufacturer Advantages, Standalone Races, & Different Faces

Nhra 2015 Atlanta Winners Hector Arana Jason Line Tim Wilkerson Antron Brown Courtesy Nhra Media

Photo Credit: NHRA Media

Sprint Cup Series: All-Star Snoozer – While the question of whether or not the All-Star Race has outlived its usefulness is a valid one, the bigger question resides with how it should remain should it continue. One comment that seemed appropriate regarding the race is that, to truly be an all-star race, drivers from all levels …

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Nitro Shots: The Family That Races Together

Nhra J.r. Todd Junior Dragster Courtesy J.r. Todd And Kalitta Motorsports

(Photo courtesy of J.R. Todd)

Last week in part one of our Junior Dragster special, the viability of the series as a starting point for young hopefuls looking to get to the big leagues was the topic of conversation. Some of the young drivers competing right now are following in the footsteps of their famous parents. “I think it’s exciting …

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Monster Energy Drink Teams Up With John Force Racing to Sponsor Brittany Force, Top Fuel Dragster

Nhra 2015 Brittany Force Monster Fb Courtesy John Force Racing

Photo Credit: John Force Racing

Beginning this weekend in Atlanta, Brittany Force will sport the colors and logos of Monster Energy Drink on the sides of her Top Fuel dragster. John Force Racing and Monster Energy have signed a multi-year agreement that will put the energy drink on the car for the remainder of this season and beyond. “I am …

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Pace Laps: Opportunity, Fuel Mileage, Make-A-Wish & More

2015 Kansas I Cwts Matt Crafton Celebrates Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Xfinity Series: It’s Time for a Standalone – After another much needed off-weekend, the NASCAR Xfinity Series regulars will have their first true chance to reach Victory Lane at a non-plate track this year. Heading over to the stand-alone event in Iowa on Sunday, the division’s drivers will be up against very few (if any) …

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Off the Wall With: Fast Jack Beckman

Nhra 2015 Charlotte Jack Beckman Wally

(Photo: Toni Montgomery, Frontstretch)

Welcome to Off the Wall With…, where we ask your favorite drivers five questions that are… well, off the wall! We’ll check in with a different driver each week to get a peek into life outside the racecar. This week, we put 2012 NHRA Funny Car champ Fast Jack Beckman in the hot seat. What’s …

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Nitro Shots: The Junior Road to the Championship

Nhra J.r. Todd Junior Dragster Photo Courtesy J.r. Todd And Kalitta Motorsports

(Photo courtesy of JR Todd)

Stock car racers have quarter midgets, open-wheelers have go-karts and aspiring young drag racers have Junior Dragsters. The cars are scaled down versions of a Top Fuel dragster, and competitors as young as 5 race them in the NHRA’s Jr. Drag Racing League, a league that has 3,000 participants according to the NHRA. It’s family …

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Nitro Shots: Drag Racing, Home of the True Gearheads

Nhra 2015 Spencer Massey Car Shot Courtesy Nhra Media

(Photo courtesy NHRA Media)

You can make a pretty good argument for the idea that drag racing fans are the true gearheads of the motorsports world. NASCAR fans absolutely feel manufacturer loyalty; some will even switch long-standing driver loyalties because their guy went from Chevy to Ford. But it’s something different for drag racing fans. Something more than just …

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Open-Wheel Wednesday: American Pride a Shot in the Arm for IndyCar

Indycar 2015 Barber Josef Newgarden And Firehawk Credit Chris Jones

(Photo: Chris Jones)

American driver Josef Newgarden drove to his first career victory at Barber Motorsports Park last weekend with fellow American Graham Rahal in hot pursuit in second. It was a stellar closing segment as Rahal dashed furiously through the field, getting by Scott Dixon on the final lap and set to reeling in Newgarden, who was …

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Pace Laps: A 2nd Chance to Make a 1st Impression, Ending a Dry Spell

2015 Richmond I Nxs Green Flag Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

Photo Credit: NASCAR via Getty Images

Sprint Cup Series: We all need a second chance sometimes – For 19-year-old Chase Elliott, Sunday afternoon at Richmond International raceway was his second-career Sprint Cup Series start – the first he will like to remember after a troublesome Martinsville debut in March. Advancing to Round 2 of Coors Light qualifying on Friday afternoon, Elliott …

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Ashley Force Hood Named VP of John Force Racing, Inc.

Nhra 2015 Ashley Force Hood Family Courtesy Jfr

(Photo Courtesy: John Force Racing)

In an effort to streamline corporate operations and cut costs, John Force Racing, Inc. CEO John Force announced that Ashley Force Hood would be taking on the role of Vice-President of John Force Racing, Inc. She previously served as President of John Force Entertainment, but the two companies will now be consolidated into a single …

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Nitro Shots: The NASCAR Snipe Hunt

Nhra 2015 Shane Gray In Black Gray Motorsports Car Courtesy Gray Motorsports

(Photo Courtesy: WinLight Communications/Gray Motorsports)

The discussion began in our Open-Wheel Wednesday roundtable chat, but on further thought, it has some bearing on NHRA too. It was put forth that the rain delay for NASCAR last weekend, in spite of providing a perfect window for the IndyCar race, did not actually garner a lot of crossover traffic. Matt Stallknecht pointed …

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Open-Wheel Wednesday: Taking Stock of the 2015 IndyCar Season After 3 Races

Indycar 2015 St. Pete Juan Pablo Montoya Will Power Racing Credit John Cote

(Photo: John Cote/INDYCAR)

Open-Wheel Wednesday – This week is a group chat with Matt Stallknecht, Toni Montgomery, Huston Ladner, and Aaron Bearden.   Huston: What you got to start us off with? Anyone‏? Toni: Well let’s see there’s the new aero kits.‏ Matt: I’d say the aero kits have been a modest success thus far‏. Toni: I’d say …

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