Race Weekend Central

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2015 CampingWorld.com 500 at Talladega

2015 Talladega II CUP Joey Logano trophy CIA

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

Who’s in the headline – There are a few headlines coming out of Talladega, but the top story is Joey Logano sweeping the entire second round of the Chase. Logano led the race twice for 20 laps and survived an unsuccessful green-white-checkered start and then a very short run after a restart before the caution …

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Tech Talk: Bono Manion Talks Air Flow, Strategy and Teammates at Talladega

Kevin Bono Manion Cup Darlington 2015 Mike Neff

(Photo Credit: Mike Neff, Frontstretch)

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Talladega Superspeedway, where the crew chief has the least amount of input into the speed of the cars of any race weekend all season. Kevin “Bono” Manion, crew chief for Sam Hornish Jr.‘s No. 9, is this week’s crew chief for Tech Talk. He talks about the difficulty …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2015 Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas

2015 Kansas II CUP Joey Logano woohoo CIA

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

Who’s in the headline – Joey Logano and Matt Kenseth are going to dominate the headlines this week. Kenseth led the most laps in the race but, heading into turn 1 with five laps to go, Logano made a move to the bottom of the track and tapped the left-rear corner of Kenseth’s car. Kenseth spun …

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Tech Talk: Tony Gibson Talks Spring Rates and Rock Hard Tires

Tony Gibson Indianapolis Cup 2015 Mike Neff

Photo Credit: Mike Neff, Frontstretch

Coming out of Charlotte after a top-five run, Tony Gibson is feeling good about the No. 41 team driven by Kurt Busch and where they are heading into Kansas. While on the way to Kansas, the team took a detour through Phoenix for three days of testing. Monday and Tuesday teams tested for Goodyear in anticipation …

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Beyond the Cockpit: Regan Smith On… Hockey?

Regan Smith Charlotte Race For The Cure 300 2015 Mike Neff

(Photo Credit: Mike Neff, Frontstretch)

Regan Smith is the elder statesman at JR Motorsports, paired with “young gun” and reigning Xfinity Series champ Chase Elliott. This year, though it’s the old dog teaching everyone else new tricks, currently sitting third in points just 34 behind Chris Buescher. Smith finished fifth on Friday night and gained two points on Buescher, keeping …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2015 Bank of America 500 at Charlotte

Joey Logano Bank of America 500 Finish Cup Mike Neff

Photo Credit: Mike Neff, Frontstretch

Who’s in the headline – For the third week in a row, a driver led more than half of the laps in a race, and for the second week in a row that driver won. Joey Logano took the lead on lap 77 of the event and, outside of pit-stop cycles under green flags, Logano …

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Off the Wall With: Sam Hornish Jr.

2015 Darlington CUP Sam Hornish Jr vertical CIA

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

In the spotlight this week: NASCAR Sprint Cup driver and IndyCar champion Sam Hornish Jr. What’s fun besides racing? Sam Hornish Jr.: It all depends. Some days it is helping my daughters out with art projects or whatever they have going on. Other days it is building stuff out of wood or metal. I don’t …

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Austin Dillon Wins Race for the Cure 300, Sweeps Charlotte Xfinity Races in 2015

Austin Dillon Race for the Cure 300 2015 Charlotte Burnout 1 Mike Neff

Photo Credit: Mike Neff, Frontstretch

Austin Dillon earned the pole for Friday night’s Xfinity race at Charlotte Motor Speedway but when the green flag flew he had anything but a dominant car. Dillon led the first five laps but surrendered the lead to Kasey Kahne, as his car simply wasn’t handling to his liking and he drifted back into the field. His crew …

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Austin Dillon Wins 2015 Race for the Cure 300 Pole at Charlotte

Austin Dillon Race for the Cure 300 Charlotte 2015 Mike Neff

Photo Credit: Mike Neff, Frontstretch

Austin Dillon climbed the ladder during Xfinity Series qualifying and reached the top run in the final session to claim the pole for Friday night’s Race for the Cure 300. Dillon turned a lap of 29.424 seconds at a speed of 183.524 mph to put himself on the pole. Kasey Kahne will start alongside Dillon …

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Kurt Busch Fastest in 2nd Practice for 2015 Bank of America 500 at Charlotte

Kurt Busch Bank of America 500 Charlotte 2015 Mike Neff

(Photo Credit: Mike Neff, Frontstretch)

The first of two practice sessions on Friday saw Kurt Busch lay down the fast lap of the session. Busch ran 45 laps during the session, but it was the very first lap that was the quickest. Busch tripped the timing and scoring light with a lap of 28.606 seconds (188.772 mph). Second on the …

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Tech Talk: New Father Matt Puccia Talks Charlotte, Gear Ratios

Matt Puccia Indianapolis Cup 2015 Mike Neff

Photo Credit: Mike Neff, Frontstretch

The Chase for the Championship in the Cup Series is stressful and intense. When teams are not in that mix, the focus changes to preparing for next year and trying to win a race for your sponsor and team in the current season. Matt Puccia is trying to finish the season strong with his driver …

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Kasey Kahne Fastest in Final Practice for the 2015 Drive for the Cure 300 at Charlotte

Kasey Kahne Race for the Cure 300 Charlotte 2015 Mike Neff

Photo Credit: Mike Neff, Frontstretch

The top drivers in Xfinity Series practice were Cup drivers, but the best NXS drivers were right there with them when the red and black flags flew for final practice. Kasey Kahne ran 41 laps in practice, but it was the very first lap that was the quickest. Kahne tripped the timing beam at 29.928 …

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