Race Weekend Central

Tech Talk: Matt McCall Talks Tires, Fuel Strategy & Rule Adaptations

Matt McCall Martinsville 2015 Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

Pocono Raceway is unlike any other race track. Not only does it have three turns, but each one is also unique in terms of radius and banking. Setting a car up is all about compromise and finding a fast way through all three corners while maximizing the turn that a team feels gives them the …

Read more

The Little 500 Sets Multiple Firsts as Kody Swanson Wins

Kody Swanson Little 500 Got Milk Anderson Speedway Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

The path to the Indianapolis 500 used to be paved through the USAC ranks. While some drivers still climb to the top of the open wheel mountain via Midgets, Sprints and Silver Crown cars, it is not nearly as common as it used to be. A current driver in the USAC ranks who could take …

Read more

Dean Stoneman Takes Indy Lights Win at Indianapolis

There have been some close finishes in the storied history of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but the Indy Lights series has taken “close” to a whole new level. In 2013 the four-wide run to the finish ended with .0024 between first and second. The next year it was .005 difference between the top pair. Saturday, …

Read more

Kanaan Paces Carb Day At Indy, Castroneves Pit Crew Champ

JDC_3216-A

(Photo: John Cote/INDYCAR)

Every year, Carb Day at Indianapolis seems to take on its own personality. Sometimes, you will have drivers avoiding each other on the track like the plague while other times, drivers will test the limits of their cars to see how they’ll react in traffic. This year, it was the latter and it happened in …

Read more

Tech Talk: Jason Ratcliff Discusses Tire Wear for the Season’s Longest Race

Jason Ratcliff Bank of America 500 2015 Cup Charlotte Mike Neff

Photo Credit : Mike Neff

Jason Ratcliff guided the No. 20 Dollar General team for Joe Gibbs Racing, driven by Matt Kenseth, to their first win of the season at Dover International Speedway two weeks ago. Last weekend he tried to utilize pit strategy to help his team overcome a poor qualifying position in the All-Star Race, but it backfired. He now prepares …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud – Joey Logano Makes Late-Race Pass to Claim First All-Star Victory

2016 Charlotte All Star CUP Joey Logano champagne John Harrelson NKP

Who’s in the headline – The No. 22 of Joey Logano was festooned with a myriad of pictures from the 50 years of Team Penske. On a full moon Saturday night, the collective spirits of all of the drivers who have piloted a car for “The Captain” rode along with Logano as he navigated the …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: A Monstrous Matt Kenseth Comeback

2016 Dover I CUP Matt Kenseth Jason Ratcliff trophy Matthew T Thacker NKP

Who’s in the headline – The 2016 season has been anything but stellar for Matt Kenseth. After a near miss at Daytona he’s only managed one top 5 finish before Sunday, and that as a fourth last weekend at Kansas. Sunday Kenseth was in the mix but didn’t look like he’d be in contention for …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Kyle Busch Kills His Kansas Curse

kansas green

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Who’s in the headline – Reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Kyle Busch is doing his best to put himself in position to repeat. Busch started the race in sixth Saturday night and was a top-10 mainstay outside of green-flag pit cycles. Busch moved into the second spot on lap 175 after a restart and was inside the top …

Read more

Tech Talk: Splitters & Airborne Cars with Matt McCall

Matt McCall Martinsville 2015 Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

Matt McCall notched his first top 5 of the season with Jamie McMurray at Talladega Superspeedway last weekend, leading his team through repairs from the lone crash they were caught up in and repairing the car successfully enough to compete for the win. As he and his team prepare to head to Kansas Speedway, he …

Read more

Sign up for the Frontstretch Newsletter

A daily email update (Monday through Friday) providing racing news, commentary, features, and information from Frontstretch.com