By Mike Neff

What is it that Mike Neff doesn’t do? The writer, radio contributor and racetrack announcer coordinates the site’s local short track coverage, hitting up Saturday Night Specials across the country while tracking the sport’s future racing stars. The writer for our signature Cup post-race column, Thinkin’ Out Loud (Mondays) also sits down with Cup crew chiefs to talk shop every Friday with Tech Talk. Mike announces several shows each year for the Good Guys Rod and Custom Association. He also pops up everywhere from PRN Pit Reporters and the Press Box with Alan Smothers to SIRIUS XM Radio. He has announced at tracks all over the Southeast, starting at Millbridge Speedway. He's also announced at East Lincoln Speedway, Concord Speedway, Tri-County Speedway, Caraway Speedway, and Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Frontstretch NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 After the 2009 Daytona 500

May 31, 2022February 17, 2009 Mike Neff

Like it or not, after just 380 miles the first race of the 2009 Sprint Cup season is officially in the books. Matt Kenseth was crowned the winner of just the fourth rain-shortened Daytona 500 in history, taking the lead one lap before the weather with a generous push from runner-up Kevin Harvick. But was that last-lap pass enough to leave Kenseth number one in the eyes of our staff this week? After all, Kyle Busch dominated the race, only to become an innocent victim of the day’s big wreck on lap 125. And where did AJ Allmendinger land after starting the year with a career-best third – driving for a team that doesn’t even know if it’ll exist two months from now? Find these answers, and more, by examining our first Top-15 Power Rankings poll of the year.

Full Throttle: FOX, It’s Just a Freaking Camera

May 31, 2022February 17, 2009 Mike Neff

Not even a year ago, I penned an article about the incessant force feeding of NASCAR fandom the idiotic rubbish that is Digger, an in-track camera that wasn’t even the original idea of FOX. It actually came from ESPN and the good ol’ days of Thursday Night Thunder. Well just when we thought it couldn’t …

Full Throttle: Never Take NASCAR Safety for Granted

May 24, 2022February 10, 2009 Mike Neff

This column comes after hearing the terrible news that Jeremy Lusk passed away in Costa Rica after failing to complete a double-grab backflip on a motorcycle. Lusk landed short and went over the handlebars headfirst. The end result was brain and possible spinal damage after his body flipped over his head. He succumbed to his …

Full Throttle: Bud Shootout, Revell’s Departure Not Exactly Embracing Our Past

May 16, 2022February 3, 2009 Mike Neff

Last year, the mantra that was spewing forth from Daytona was that the sport was going to embrace its past. Drivers were encouraged to show emotion and individuality, the kind of things that would bring back some of the legions of hardcore NASCAR fans that built the sport but then left when so many changes …

2008 NASCAR Driver Review: Martin Truex Jr.

November 6, 2021January 14, 2009 Mike Neff

Martin Truex Jr. was the standard bearer for DEI in 2008 – but that wasn’t saying much.

2008 NASCAR Driver Review: Ken Schrader

November 6, 2021January 11, 2009 Mike Neff

Ken Schrader’s season was marked by seat time for four different teams. He began the year by reuniting with BAM Racing, a team he drove for in 2003-05 with modest success.

2008 NASCAR Driver Review: Kevin Harvick

November 6, 2021December 3, 2008 Mike Neff

Kevin Harvick’s season was more successful than most of his other previous seasons in Cup, tying his career-high points finish of fourth.

Full Throttle: Giving NASCAR Thanks Where Thanks is Due

May 16, 2022November 27, 2008 Mike Neff

As a NASCAR fan, I have many things that I am appreciative of in my life. This column is just to share some of the many things that have brightened my life.

Frontstretch NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 After the 2008 Ford 400 at Homestead

May 16, 2022November 19, 2008 Mike Neff

After 36 points-paying events, nine months and 14,493 miles of racing, the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup season is finally in the books. When the smoke cleared at Homestead, it was Jimmie Johnson winning his third consecutive championship, tying Cale Yarborough as the only drivers in history to accomplish that feat. Behind him, Carl Edwards finished …

Full Throttle: Time to Tighten NASCAR’s Purse Strings

May 16, 2022November 18, 2008 Mike Neff

The economy in the United States, and for that matter around the world, has taken a drastic downturn during the past NASCAR Cup season. The resulting struggles of teams trying to acquire sponsorship have already been well documented. The massive layoffs that many predicted to befall the Cup garage this past Monday did not fully …

Frontstretch NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 After the 2008 Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix

May 15, 2022November 12, 2008 Mike Neff

The desert Southwest held a couple of different surprises for the racers this weekend. Rain and gale force winds threw a lot at the teams; but when all was said and done, it was status quo for the No. 48. Jimmie Johnson led the most laps and won the race at Phoenix handily, all but …

Fantasy Picks ‘N’ Pans: How to Pick Your Team Wisely in NASCAR’s Penultimate Race

May 10, 2022November 6, 2008 Mike Neff

The penultimate race of the NASCAR season takes place this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. Unfortunately for our loyal readers, Bryan Davis Keith has been knocked out of commission by the tropical depression that is beating up the North Carolina coast tonight, so Mike has been left to enlighten the gaming world alone. Phoenix is …