Race Weekend Central

Pace Laps: Chase Mess, Justin Boston’s Nationwide Debut, Cole Custer Makes History & More

Justin Boston Talladega Candid 2014 ARCA Mike Neff

Photo Credit: Mike Neff, Frontstretch

Sprint Cup Series: A Hodge-Podge for Chase Drivers – Let’s ignore the fact there were 15 cautions at Loudon, and that most of them happened in the second half of the race, leading to an event that felt like a stop-and-go commute downtown in a major city during rush hour.  The result of all the cautions …

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Slipstream Saturday: F1 Singapore Grand Prix Preview

lewis-hamilton_2703_630

(Photo: Getty Images)

It’s round 14 of the Formula One season, and with the European segment over, it’s time to move to other parts of the world.  This weekend: Singapore.  First begun in 1961, the country held races until 1973, and then fell from the schedule.  It resumed its place on the F1 calendar in 2008, with Fernando Alonso …

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Happiness Is… Relationships, Singapore, and Kentucky

2014 Pocono II CUP Brad Keselowski Dale Earnhardt Jr racing CIA

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

Was that an actual race at Chicagoland?  A track not known for well, anything, seemed to produce a finish that was worth remembering.  Brad Keselowski’s ballsy move, splitting Kevin Harvick and Kyle Larson as they raced for the lead, seemed to be just the type of thing that wasn’t supposed to be possible with the …

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Pace Laps: Roush Fenway’s Struggles, Truck Championship Contenders and Racing vs. Rain

2014 Chicago CUP Brad Keselowski Paul Wolfe CIA

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

Sprint Cup Series: Slow Start for Roush Fenway Racing – There has been a gap between Penske Racing and Roush Fenway Racing all season.  Though both teams use Ford engines, Penske has been gapping their counterpart, and never was it more evident than at Chicagoland on Sunday. While Brad Keselowski earned the win and Joey Logano …

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Happiness Is… Change, Being Invited & Lameness

2014 Michigan II CUP Clint Bowyer car CIA

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. © 2015)

With the Chase now set to begin (finally) this Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway, the focus can shift from who’s making the playoffs to who’s going to win the championship.  The hype and hoopla surrounding this newer format of NASCAR’s postseason has been with us this entire season.  In fact, it feels like it’s been all …

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Pace Laps: Congenial Richmond, KyBu Nationwide, other stuff

2014 Richmond II CUP Pack racing II CIA

(Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

Cup:  The Race That Wasn’t – No one did anything surprising in the race at Richmond.  Well, that’s not correct.  The idiot who climbed the catchfence in turn 4 surely did something surprising.  While many people have done idiotic things at a race track, it’s doubtful that anyone anticipated a fan climbing the fence bordering …

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Happiness Is… Drama, Not Fighting & Intelligence

2014 Daytona II CUP Kyle Larson JamieMcMurray CIA

(Photo: CIA Stock Photography © 2014)

One race to go until the Cup playoffs begin. That seems like a mismatched sentence, putting together autosport and hockey, but alas, that’s how things are now.  This whole season has seemed like one big Chase storyline, beginning with Dale Earnhardt, Jr.’s Daytona 500.  Almost immediately after he crossed the finish line, it felt like …

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Open Wheel Wednesday: Andretti Amiss, Ganassi Strong, Power Prevails

2014 IndyCar Auto Club Will Power Roger Penske Aussie flag

Matt:  So, just to start off, can we all agree that Fontana in its current state is pretty much the perfect IndyCar track? Toni:  I certainly agree. I think it’s such a great way to end the season too. A great 500-mile event. Huston:  Interesting way to begin…but yes, the match between the cars and …

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Pace Laps: Kahne In, Harvick Cruises, IndyCar Adieu, and More

2014 atlanta cup kasey kahne victory credit cia

Kasey Kahne stepped up in a big way late in Sunday's Cup race. (Credit: CIA)

Cup: Sweet Relief for Kahne          By racing for the Cup juggernaut Hendrick Motorsports, there are high expectations for Kasey Kahne.  That his brethren at the organization have all earned three wins apiece makes his season look all the worse.  In fact, with only two top-5 finishes in 2014, Kahne was looking like …

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IndyCar MAVTV 500:Will Power Clinches First Championship

2014 IndyCar Auto Club Will Power trophy kiss credit Huston Ladner

The MAV TV 500 from Auto Club Speedway In a Nutshell: For the ninth consecutive year, the last race of the season determined the IndyCar champion.  This time, Will Power, three times a runner-up, hoisted the Astor Cup by finishing ninth.  Tony Kanaan held strong all night, seemingly in the top five the whole event, …

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Castroneves earns Pole, Power 21st; Other Post-Qualifying Thoughts

2014 IndyCar Toronto 2 Power Castroneves

The qualifying session for the IndyCar series race at Auto Club Speedway took place in the heavy heat in the middle of the day in Fontana, California.  Helio Castroneves, going out last, earned the pole position with an average of 218.640 mph.  The track temperature during the session hovered around 136 degrees. Qualifying was based …

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Happiness Is… Denny Hamlin, the Schedule & Tony Stewart’s Return

2014 Bristol II CUP Denny Hamlin damage CIA

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

The schedule came out this past week and it gave everyone who follows NASCAR something to gripe about.  In truth, all the criticisms are valid because NASCAR, due to the way the business is run, is unable to make serious changes that would make people feel happy, though that can be a moving target. The …

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