Race Weekend Central

Who’s Hot/Who’s Not in Sprint Cup: 2009 Daytona Summer Speedweeks Edition

The July 4 bash at Daytona International Speedway literally ended with a bang, as Kyle Busch’s attempt at blocking Tony Stewart from taking the race win sent him bouncing off the frontstretch wall. While the finish stole the headlines, the plights of Chase-contending drivers permeated other post-race storylines. Drivers Juan Pablo Montoya, Kasey Kahne, Mark …

Read more

Bubble Breakdown: Part-Time Schedule Yielding Big-Time Results for Furniture Row Racing

Rain washed out qualifying for Daytona last Friday, meaning the field was set by owner points. This was not good news for our bubble drivers, as the teams outside the Top 35 not only had to start at the rear of the field – they also had to do so in their qualifying setup, as …

Read more

Happy Hour: NASCAR Consistency Still Rules Over Wins, Especially in 2009

Despite that most general managers in the NFL know never to let the fans or media pick their quarterback (which can be a flawed tenet if the fans are smarter), NASCAR has responded in many ways to fans’ and media behest to place more emphasis on winning. It hasn’t been as pronounced of late as …

Read more

Voices From the Heartland: Bad Economy or Bad Decisions?

Hey look, I know times are tough, but has this sport finally reached a point where a man must sell his soul for a sponsor? I speak mainly of Joe Nemechek, Kevin Conway, Steve and Rusty Wallace and their current sponsors, ExtenZe and U.S. Fidelis respectively. Now, unless you have been living under a rock …

Read more

Thompson in Turn 5: Double-File Restarts Are a Big Hit – Now Let the Kids in for Free

It has been almost one month since NASCAR revamped its restart procedure at Pocono Raceway, a decision that most agree has served to add at least a smidgen of excitement to the traveling circus that we know as NASCAR Sprint Cup racing. The change has not been met with unanimous support by drivers or motorsport …

Read more

Fanning the Flames: The Hall of Fame, the Chase & Jeremy Mayfield’s Big Win

I was just putting the finishing touches on this column when word came to me that Jeremy Mayfield’s indefinite suspension had been lifted by U.S. District Court Judge Graham Mullen in Charlotte. The injunction, which NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said the sanctioning body would not appeal, would allow Mayfield to participate in this weekend’s Coke …

Read more

Frontstretch Fantasy Insider: Red, White & Checkers at Daytona

It’s Independence Day weekend! As millions of Americans across the country will be celebrating that hallowed day back in 1776 when our Founding Fathers led the charge in declaring themselves free from a tyrannical foe (only back then it was a foreign government, not domestic), stock car racing will be celebrating a return to its …

Read more

Mirror Driving: Joey Logano a Legend Already?, Loudon’s Last Gasp & Who’s Hall of Fame Worthy

Joey Logano’s surprise win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway made him the youngest driver ever to win a Sprint Cup race.