Race Weekend Central

The Yellow Stripe: Drought Busters – Who’s Gone the Longest Without a Trip to NASCAR Victory Lane?

In the 1930s an epic drought, caused in part by primitive farming techniques, triggered a unique weather phenomenon called the Dust Bowl. It was a period of severe dust storms that blackened the sky, wreaked havoc on the land and reduced visibility to only meters in some instances. These storms reached as far as New …

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Nuts for Nationwide: Pretenders & Contenders for the 2008 Nationwide Series Crown

With 16 races down and 21 remaining in the Nationwide Series, we have a long way to go. But after two straight maiden victories for two of the most promising young drivers in the sport, there is a lot to like about this year’s Nationwide Series championship. After a couple of blowout seasons – Kevin …

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The Yellow Stripe: Baby Steps for Sam Hornish Jr. In More Ways Than 1

Right about the time Sam Hornish Jr. might have been starting to feel comfortable in a stock car this June, he got what Bill Weber described as “the full Pocono experience.” The veteran commentator was referring to the series of scrapes Hornish endured across the weekend, none of which appeared to validate his choice to …

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Sliced Bread: Yep, I’m a Logano Believer…

“I do not go to the racetrack to finish second. Me and second don’t get along. I don’t worry about anything but winning races.” – Joey Logano Sport – of whatever flavor or variety you prefer – is littered with cases of unfulfilled promise. Youthful exuberance and unfettered possibility generates unbelievable enthusiasm and expectation, but more …

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The Yellow Stripe: Will the Real Gillett Evernham Motorsports Please Stand Up, Please Stand Up…

If you were starting a new three-car team in NASCAR next season – and let’s just set aside the financial burden and inevitable sponsorship woes that come with a startup outfit for a minute – you could do a lot worse than to assemble your own trio of wheelmen from the sort of stable of …

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Sprint Cup Report Cards: Grading the NASCAR Pack 1/3 of the Way Through the 2008 Season

In the immortal words of one Ferris Bueller, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you might miss it.” The star of the 1980s silver screen was right: life does move fast – and so does NASCAR. With the checkered flag flying on the Coca-Cola 600, we’re …

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The Yellow Stripe: Shooting TV Ads With the NASCAR Stars – My Memories Behind the Scenes

Advertising is a fickle business at even the best of times. Long hours, low pay, huge stress and the odd co-worker who’d stab you in the back at the drop of a hat are just some of the daily occupational hazards. Believe me when I say it’s not all martinis at lunchtime on Madison Avenue …

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The Yellow Stripe: 7 Golden Rules for a Rookie NASCAR Columnist

The NASCAR season is an unrelenting, unremitting grind. It doesn’t matter who you are – whether you’re a driver, complete with your private planes and entourage of “handlers,” – or you’re a pit crew, one that travels countless thousands of miles and spend weeks and months on the road away from their family, friends and …

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Are We Primed For the Closest Nationwide Series Championship Race in Years?

In the five weeks since I last penned (or should that be typed) a Nuts for Nationwide column, we’ve seen racing in a variety of different venues encompassing short tracks, road courses, superspeedways and the more traditional 1.5-mile tracks. The schedule has tested both the skills of the drivers as well unearthing numerous logistical challenges …

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The Yellow Stripe: They Come in All Shapes & Sizes – Ranking the Types of NASCAR Tracks Across America

“If God had made us all the same, life would have been boring, Daniel.” So said my dearly departed Grandfather, the legend that was William Peters. And the old boy was right; he usually was, to be fair. And if it’s true about people, it’s certainly true about sport and NASCAR, in particular. Can you …

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