Race Weekend Central

Thompson in Turn 5: Kyle Busch – So Much & So Soon

Kyle Busch is on fire! The 22-year-old phenom has made NASCAR and its three highest racing divisions virtually his own personal playground during the first two stops on the 2008 race calendar. Rolling into Las Vegas this weekend – coincidentally Busch’s hometown – the first-year driver for Joe Gibbs Racing is leading the Sprint Cup …

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10 Points to Ponder… After the 2008 Auto Club 500 at Fontana

1. You’re Just Repeating Yourself! – Ahead of the running of the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway, International Speedway Corporation (ISC) announced that they had sold the naming rights to the track located in Fontana, Calif. to the Auto Club Speedway of Southern California. The 10-year deal was for an undisclosed amount rumored to …

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David Starr Driver Diary: Back in the Saddle at Red Horse Racing

It was a very busy offseason for me. Along with reacquainting myself with my old team and all the testing we did for the 2008 season, I got married to my beautiful bride Kim and went on an amazing honeymoon. It was absolutely gorgeous! Considering that I don’t ever get a chance to slow down, …

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Happy Hour: Giving Kurt Busch His Due & Other Thoughts

Yes, it’s time I got the respect I deserve, dang it! Just kidding. This isn’t about me, it’s about the infamous, oft-maligned, so-called “arrogant punk” in the Miller Lite Dodge. I’m not certain how Kurt Busch has gotten such a bad rep. I’ve been trying to come up with reasons beyond the Jimmy Spencer feud …

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Voices From the Heartland: The Daytona 500 – From Feel-Good Story to Bad Taste in My Mouth

Overall, last Sunday’s Daytona 500 seemed to go pretty well, from my standards anyway. The racing was OK, and while I do admit to catching a 60-lap mid-race nap, the ending, with the prospect of Sprint’s arch-rival AT&T-sponsored car capturing the checkers, almost made me wet my pants with delight. Fortunately for me, seeing as …

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Fanning the Flames: Casual Questions From “Hardcore” NASCAR Fans & Vice Versa

Another solid batch, guys and gals. The diversity of questions is just outstanding, so keep ’em rolling in, Thus far you all have absolutely topped yourselves from where we were at this point last season. And before we start, I just have to say that if Chubby Checker and his painted-on jeans, denim jacket and …

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Fantasy Picks ‘N’ Pans: 2008 Auto Club 500 at Fontana

The wild, frantic pace of Speedweeks and the Daytona 500 is now behind us, and for fantasy team owners, it’s time to get into the weekly grind of the 2008 Sprint Cup season. Unless you have a crystal ball on steroids, there is a pretty good chance your fantasy team took a hit last weekend …

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Mirror Driving: Dodging the Charger, Who Pulls the Next Upset & Questioning the Start Times at Daytona

Dodge took six of the top-10 spots in the Daytona 500. Were the Dodges merely in the right place at the right time or are they going to be a force this year?

Thompson in Turn 5: Ryan Newman Flies Under the Radar En Route to Returning as Cup Contender

By most accounts, the 50th running of the Daytona 500 lived up to its hype. The annual Florida speed extravaganza provided spectators with an above-average dose of exciting side-by-side racing, and it culminated in an almost-Cinderella like ending with a completely unexpected win by Ryan Newman. To say Newman’s win was an upset – despite …

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Who’s Hot/Who’s Not in Sprint Cup: 2008 Daytona 500 Edition

For three months the anticipation built up in preparation for the 50th running of the Daytona 500, all the way up until the green flag flew over 43 of the world’s best drivers to kick off the 2008 season Sunday afternoon. The expected Hendrick Motorsports dominance was overshadowed by the success of Joe Gibbs Racing …

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