Race Weekend Central

Friday Faceoff: Tony Stewart’s Final Season

2015 Chicago CUP Tony Stewart helmet ICA

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

Two of the heavy Sprint Cup title favorites, Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch, are in danger of falling out of contention after Dover.  Is this harmful to the sport and/or the current Chase format? Vito Pugliese, Senior Writer: If the television ratings are to be believed, not really sure what could make things any worse. …

Read more

Pace Laps: Kevin Harvick Throws It All Away, Others Redeem Themselves

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series SYLVANIA 300

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Sprint Cup Series: Harvick’s Horror Story – New Hampshire Motor Speedway won’t be remembered so much for who won as who lost. Sure, Matt Kenseth continued a hot streak for Joe Gibbs Racing but we knew he was in solid position to make the next round of NASCAR’s Chase playoff anyway. Most of the racing up front …

Read more

2015 Frontstretch Cup: Staff Predictions for the 2015 Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire

2015 Loudon II CUP Kevin Harvick close vertical CIA

Welcome to our eighth year of staff predictions! Each week, our experts attempt to tell you who the winner of each Cup race will be. Take a look to see who your favorite writers think will win it all (or at least score some points) this week! Think you can out-prognosticate our staff? Leave your …

Read more

Friday Faceoff: Is Kevin Harvick Toast?

2015 Chicago CUP Kevin Harvick Josh Wise racing CIA

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

Kevin Harvick finished 42nd at Chicago after a mid-race crash. Can he rebound and make the cut after Dover, or is his repeat bid toast? Mark Howell, Senior Writer: As the dearly departed Yogi Berra used to say, “It ain’t over ’til it’s over.” That said: Harvick must win one of the next two races; …

Read more

Pace Laps: Xfinity Frustration, Historic Finals, F1 Changeup & More

NHRA 2015 Charlotte Brittany Force thanks Jeff credit Toni Montgomery

Photo Credit: Toni Montgomery, Frontstretch

Sprint Cup Series: Denny Hamlin Joins In on JGR Dominance – Joe Gibbs Racing has been on a surge since the beginning of the summer, rattling off eight wins in the 11 races leading up to the 2015 Chase for the Sprint Cup. Kyle Busch claimed four victories, Matt Kenseth reeled off three wins, and Carl …

Read more

2015 Frontstretch Cup: Staff Predictions for the MyAFibRisk.com 400 at Chicagoland

2014 Chicago CUP Jamie McMurray pack racing CIA

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2014)­

Welcome to our eighth year of staff predictions! Each week, our experts attempt to tell you who the winner of each Cup race will be. Take a look to see who your favorite writers think will win it all (or at least score some points) this week! Think you can out-prognosticate our staff? Leave your …

Read more

Friday Faceoff: Who Are the Early Chase Favorites?

Matt Kenseth leads the NASCAR Sprint Cup field to a restart during the 2015 Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Speedway

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)­

The race at Richmond International Raceway last weekend was tame by short track standards. What caused the lack of action, and should fans be worried? Jerry Jordan, Contributor: There was plenty of action at Richmond. No, it wasn’t what most are accustomed to when they go to a short track, but there were a lot …

Read more

Pace Laps: Ending Winless Streaks and Kickoff Media Tours

2015 Martinsville I CUP Chase Elliott credit NASCAR via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Sprint Cup Series: Kenseth Creeps Into Contention. Matt Kenseth is a modern man’s Terry Labonte: cool, calm, collected under pressure. Kenseth, like Texas Terry used to be the model of consistency, top 10ing his way to a championship in 2003 while making surviving bad days the hallmark of his driving style. Now, over a decade …

Read more

2015 Frontstretch Cup: Staff Predictions for the Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond

2014 Richmond II CUP Paul Menard blur CIA

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2014)­­

Welcome to our eighth year of staff predictions! Each week, our experts attempt to tell you who the winner of each Cup race will be. Take a look to see who your favorite writers think will win it all (or at least score some points) this week! Think you can out-prognosticate our staff? Leave your …

Read more

Friday Faceoff: Can NASCAR Sustain Southern 500 Success?

Kurt Busch goes for a spin during the 2015 Bojangles' Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

The Bojangles’ Southern 500 was by most counts a success with the new aero package and tires matched to it; ratings were the best for a Labor Day weekend show since 2007. Can NASCAR sustain the success of the Southern 500 and in general, and what could be done differently? Summer Bedgood, Senior Editor: I …

Read more

Pace Laps: Southern 500 Success, Denny Hamlin’s Dominance and the Busy NHRA Weekend

2015 Darlington CUP Carl Edwards celebrates CIA

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

Cup Series: Darlington Lives Up to the Hype – All of the hype leading up to Sunday night’s Southern 500 put NASCAR in a win or lose situation. With so much excitement brewing for the throwback weekend theme, the action on the track, desperately needed to entertain, and entertain it did. Leading up to the race …

Read more

2015 Frontstretch Cup: Staff Predictions for the 2015 Southern 500

Fans fill the stands at Darlington Raceway for the 2013 Southern 500

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2013)­­

Welcome to our eighth year of staff predictions! Each week, our experts attempt to tell you who the winner of each Cup race will be. Take a look to see who your favorite writers think will win it all (or at least score some points) this week! Think you can out-prognosticate our staff? Leave your …

Read more