Race Weekend Central

Nitro Shots: Final Shot

Nhra 2016 Connie Kalitta Lifetime Achievement Award Courtesy Kalitta Motorsports

What are you still doing here? The season is over. Nothing more to see here. Go on. Take some time off and get recharged for 2017 like everyone else is doing. It will be here before you know it. Just a scant three months until NHRA hits the track again in Pomona in February. OK, …

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Nitro Shots: Crunch Time Approaches

Nhra 2016 Erica Enders Stevens Car Shot Courtesy Nhra

Chicago got its origins as a hub between the East and the West back in the 1800s, and for the NHRA, at least, it’s still serving the same purpose. It’s the site of this weekend’s K&N Filters Route 66 NHRA Nationals, the final stop before the famed Western Swing. That must mean that the regular …

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The Frontstretch 5: Championship Performances From 2015

Scott Dixon at Sonoma celebrating his win and championship (credit: INDYCAR)

(Photo credit: INDYCAR Media)

NASCAR will crown its season champions this weekend in Homestead, but several other series have already seen their title battles draw to a close. Here’s a look back at the IndyCar and NHRA titlists for 2015. From the stunning finish to the IndyCar season to the NHRA finals in Pomona, there were surprises and fantastic …

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Nitro Shots: Champions of Diversity

Nhra 2015 Las Vegas Antron Brown Celebrates Championship Photo Courtesy Nhra Media

Photo Credit: NHRA Media

Recently, I overheard a colleague talking about a situation where someone who knew he covered NHRA called out the league for not having a diversity program. This individual is absolutely right; the NHRA has no such program, no special incentive to put diversity drivers in a car, no audition process to identify potentially talented diversity …

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Pace Laps: Revenge, Free Agency, and Champions Crowned

Nhra 2015 Las Vegas Erica Enders Celebrates Championship Courtesy Nhra Media

Photo Credit: NHRA Media

Sprint Cup Series: They’re at it again. Just as Joey Logano had visions a fourth consecutive win of 2015 and first at Martinsville Speedway, Matt Kenseth came back on track multiple laps down and all the eyes turned to the other yellow car of Kenseth. Heated from the Kansas spin off Logano’s bumper two weeks …

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Nitro Shots: Another Update For Your Scorecard

Nhra 2015 Charlotte Don Schumacher Shawn Langdon Credit Toni Montgomery

(Photo: Toni Montgomery, Frontstretch)

Here’s how it shakes out in case you’ve missed it: Just prior to the U.S. Nationals, Don Schumacher Racing parted ways with driver Spencer Massey. Last week, sponsorless Alan Johnson Racing announced they would not run the remaining races in 2015. The next day, a deal was announced that put AJR driver Shawn Langdon in …

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Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals in the Books, Countdown Field Set

Nhra 2015 Indianapolis Winners Circle Savoie Enders Beckman Lucas Courtesy Nhra Media

(Photo Courtesy NHRA Media)

Racing action at the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, the biggest race of the NHRA season, wrapped up on Monday with elimination rounds. At the end of the long weekend, Morgan Lucas, Jack Beckman, Erica Enders-Stevens and Jerry Savoie ended up on the podium hoisting the Wally. Lucas is racing just a part-time schedule in Top Fuel …

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Pace Laps: Hot Streaks, New Faces, Contenders & Jumping Series

Slugger Cover

(Photo: RCR Team Relase)

Sprint Cup Series: “Slugger’s” New Assignment: Swing For The Fences To End Sophomore Slump – Swept under the rug during a week where NASCAR announced a new rules package is an important crew chief change at Richard Childress Racing. It’s a strange time at RCR, an organization whose trio of teams are so-so despite their …

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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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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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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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Pace Laps: Xfinity Excellence, Short-Track King & Other News

2015 Bristol I Nxs Joey Logano Car Credit Amy Henderson

(Photo: Amy Henderson, Frontstretch)

Xfinity Series: It’s Super Joey – Dominating efforts happen often in the Xfinity Series, but it’s rare to happen at a track as difficult as Bristol. However, Joey Logano did the unthinkable on Saturday afternoon – leading every single one of the 300 laps. But that wasn’t the biggest story during the race. The Xfinity …

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