Race Weekend Central

By Stephen Stumpf

Stephen Stumpf is the NASCAR Content Director for Frontstretch, and his weekly columns include “Stat Sheet” and “4 Burning Questions.” Stephen also writes commentary, contributes weekly to the “Bringing the Heat” podcast and is frequently at the track for on-site coverage. A native of Texas, Stephen began following NASCAR at age 9 after attending his first race at Texas Motor Speedway.

Follow on Twitter @stephen_stumpf.

Stat Sheet: Daytona 500 Madness Strikes Again

Stephen Stumpf
Michael McDowell, Ryan Preece, Martin Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick, Chase Briscoe crash in Big One at Daytona 500, NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

After a relatively tame 190 laps, chaos broke out in the final 22. Again.

4 Burning Questions: Which Non-Daytona 500 Winner Will Have the Best Performance on Sunday?

Stephen Stumpf
Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

With only seven former winners in the 2023 Daytona 500, it’s the perfect opportunity for a new face to take home glory in the biggest race of the year.

2023 Preseason Power Rankings: Nos. 10-1

Anthony Damcott, Luken Glover, Jack Swansey, Bryan Gable, Stephen Stumpf, Joy Tomlinson, Mark Kristl and
Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

It’s February, which means the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season is finally upon us. Cars will take to the track later this week at Daytona International Speedway for the 65th running of the Great American Race. With a wide array of driver and team changes from Silly Season alongside more minor personnel tweaks — or …

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2023 NASCAR Preseason Power Rankings: Nos. 20-11

Mark Kristl, Bryan Gable, Dalton Hopkins, Anthony Damcott, Joy Tomlinson, Stephen Stumpf, Jack Swansey and Andrew Stoddard
Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Frontstretch staff continues with its ranking of the 2023 top 30 NASCAR Cup Series drivers.

NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers: Gone Too Soon

Phil Allaway, Frank Velat, Stephen Stumpf, Joy Tomlinson, Luken Glover and Bryan Gable
Davey Allison Rookie 28 Havoline Ford Thunderbird At Michigan David Bryant

(Photo: David Bryant)

NASCAR is celebrating its 75th anniversary all throughout the 2023 season. In 1998, NASCAR had a panel select a list of its 50 greatest drivers for its golden anniversary. Likewise, we at Frontstretch decided to put together our own list of the 75 greatest NASCAR drivers in honor of this year’s milestone. Seventeen of our …

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NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers: Exceptional Longevity

Phil Allaway, Luken Glover, Joy Tomlinson, Bryan Gable, Josh Calloni and Stephen Stumpf
Harry Gant

16 February 1992, Daytona Beach, Florida USA Harry Gant © 1992, Nigel Kinrade NKP

Some of NASCAR’s greatest aren’t just such because of their win totals — it’s also all about the length of their staying power.

Friday Faceoff: Will Drivers Race More Aggressively at the Clash?

Mark Kristl, Mike Neff, Stephen Stumpf and
Nascar Cup Series Busch Light Clash Qualifying Heat

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 06: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 DoorDash Toyota, Harrison Burton, driver of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, and Austin Cindric, driver of the #2 eCascadia Ford, are involved in an incident during the last chance qualifying race prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on February 06, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Joey Logano won the Clash and Cup championship in 2022. Is it a mere coincidence, or are there parallels?