Race Weekend Central

Tech Talk: Jason Ratcliff Talks Segment Strategies, Multi-Zone Tires and Turn Radii

Jason Ratcliff 2016 Cup Darlington Mike Neff

Three races into 2017 and crew chiefs are still in the early stages of figuring out the latest edition of the low-downforce package. Aside from Daytona International Speedway, which is a restrictor plate race, the other two events have been the first real tests with the new package. It is a learning experience for teams …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Martin Truex Jr. Hit the Trifecta in Las Vegas

Who’s in the headline – For the first time since the advent of segment racing, a driver has won all three of them. Martin Truex Jr. won the first two segments but looked to as though he was going to have to settle for a runner-up finish. With two laps to go Brad Keselowski was comfortably …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Brad Keselowski Overcomes Loose Lug Nuts, Takes Advantage of Others Speeding to Win Atlanta

2017 Atlanta Cup Joey Logano Pack Racing Barry Canrrell Nkp

(Photo: Barry Cantrell / NKP)

Who’s in the headline – For most of the race Sunday, it looked like Kevin Harvick would be the the whole story of the QuikTrip Folds of Honor 500. Unfortunately for him, a pit road speeding penalty on Lap 311 put an end to the storybook day for the 2014 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2017 Daytona 500

Kurt Busch Daytona Cup Team Victory Celebration 2017 Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

Who’s in the headline – Kurt Busch guided a badly damaged race car to the finish line first, ending an 0-for-15 drought in the sport’s Great American Race. He was the third of three leaders in the final three laps, taking control when others around him ran out of gas. In a Daytona 500 that was …

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Daytona 500: Final Thoughts Heading In

2017 Daytona Cup Zach Catanzareti Dale Earnhardt Jr.

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

The Cup Series technically has kicked off the 2017 season already thanks to the awarding of points in the Duels on Thursday evening. The biggest race of the season looms on the horizon at 2:00 Eastern Sunday and there are a handful of things weighing on everyone’s mind. Cars have raced in anger twice already, …

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Tech Talk: Crew Chief Tony Gibson Breaks Down New NASCAR Rules and Transitioning to Ford

Tony Gibson Martinsville Cup 2016 Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

Mike Neff: Tech Talk is back for another season on Fronstretch.com. This week’s edition was recorded before the Duels Thursday night. Unfortunately Tony Gibson’s car didn’t have much of an opportunity to show what it had on Sunday during the Clash. He felt like the car was strong and was going to have something at …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2017 Can-Am Duels at Daytona

Denny Hamlin Checkered Flag Daytona Cup 2017 Mike Neff

Who’s in the headline – With all but two positions filled for the Daytona 500, the Can-Am Duels are more about who races their way in rather than who wins. Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin won the Duels, but the story was Corey LaJoie and DJ Kennington racing their way into the Great American Race. …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2017 Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona

Joey Logano Clash Victory Lane

(Photo: Lesley Ann Miller/NKP)

Who’s in the headline – The 2017 season took an extra day to kick off thanks to rain on Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway, but The Clash did not disappoint. Joey Logano has proven to be a strong plate racer since joining Team Penske, and it showed again on Sunday. Avoiding the spinning cars …

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2016 NASCAR Rewind: Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.

2016 Pocono I Cup Ricky Stenhouse Jr Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: NIgel Kinrade/NKP)

The future looked bright for Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. a few years ago. After all, he won back-to-back NASCAR XFINITY titles in 2011 and 2012 and followed that with a Cup Series rookie of the year title in 2013. Unfortunately for Stenhouse the next two years were sideways rather than improvements over that freshman campaign. That …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Sudden Shift Hands Johnson Record-Tying Title

Jimmie Johnson

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Who’s in the headline – The elite level of NASCAR has increased by 50%. There are many gauges to judge the greats but championships are a huge differentiator. Jimmie Johnson took advantage of circumstances that fell his way, led the final three laps, and notched his seventh career title. Johnson shares the headline with Tony …

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