Race Weekend Central

Beyond the Cockpit: David Ragan Talks UPS, Getting Aggressive & Roush’s Future

Much is expected of David Ragan in 2009 after having a breakthrough season in Sprint Cup in 2008. Coming within a Richmond wreck of making his first ever Chase for the Championship, the sophomore driver ended up 13th in the final standings, earning him a big-money reward in the form of new, top-tier sponsor UPS …

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Who’s Hot/Who’s Not in Sprint Cup: 2009 Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Edition

As the 2009 season wears on, some of the teams that have had early success are finding themselves in a points standings freefall. As they disappear from view, the composition of the top 12 is starting to take form, with annual contenders slowly creeping towards and into that coveted threshold. The season may be early …

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Frontstretch NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 After the 2009 Shelby 427 at Las Vegas

The Jewel in the Desert offered up some fast and furious competition on Sunday, with the Shelby 427 perhaps taking its place as the most competitive racing yet out in Las Vegas. In the end, the 1.5-mile oval took a rather unexpected toll on some motors, a more expected one on some nerves, and turned …

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Side by Side: Who’s a Chase Pretender – Bobby Labonte or Michael Waltrip?

Editor’s Note: The following is a special edition of Frontstretch‘s Side by Side. Occasionally throughout the season, two of your favorite Frontstretch writers will duke it out in a debate concerning one of NASCAR’s biggest stories. Don’t let us be the only ones to speak our minds, though… be sure to read both sides and …

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Who’s Hot/Who’s Not in Sprint Cup: 2009 Shelby 427 at Las Vegas

The first three races of 2009 have yielded surprising results at both the top and bottom of the point standings. Some drivers, like Mark Martin, are left scratching their heads after having fast cars at each race, but no top finishes to show for that. Likewise, teams like Michael Waltrip Racing in the top 12 …

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Frontstretch NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 After the 2009 Auto Club 500 at Fontana

While many people argued that Matt Kenseth stole or lucked into his Daytona 500 win, no one can deny he was truly worthy of winning the Auto Club 500 at Fontana this past weekend. That victory solidified Kenseth’s position at the top of the rankings, as he’s the first person since Jeff Gordon in 1997 …

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Beyond the Cockpit: Joey Logano on Patience, Pressure & His Personal Car?

Joey Logano entered Sprint Cup this season as the most talented 18-year-old in the NASCAR record books to date. At Kentucky last June, he set a record as the youngest driver ever to visit victory lane in the Nationwide Series, setting the racing community on notice that he was primed for superstardom earlier than anyone …

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Who’s Hot/Who’s Not in Sprint Cup: 2009 Auto Club 500 at Fontana Edition

Curtains have fallen on the first “real” race of the season, as NASCAR’s 2009 debut on the west coast proceeded as many Fontana races have before. Long green-flag runs and a strung out field are the best ways to describe an event where the majority of the cars struggled with handling, leaving only a select …

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Who’s Hot/Who’s Not in Sprint Cup: 2009 Daytona 500

Some teams came out of the block strong following good runs in Sunday’s Daytona 500. Due to the nature of restrictor-plate racing, fate can play a major role in which teams are successful and which head to California hoping to get their season on the right track. And while it’s easy to get caught up …

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Who’s Hot/Who’s Not: 2009 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona Edition

Considering the fact that a points-paying race has not yet taken place, gauging the true momentum of drivers and teams is a bit more of a daunting task than it is between races. So much flux and change has occurred in the garages of all three of NASCAR’s top series this offseason, mainly because of …

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2009 Season Preview: Can Anyone Keep Jimmie Johnson From Making History?

Editor’s Note: After another long offseason, NASCAR is set to return to our lives with the 31st Annual Bud Shootout this Saturday! That means it’s time to get the blood racing and your mind fixated on another year of our sport. Monday, Feb. 2 marks the last of our six-part season preview. If you missed …

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2009 Season Preview: Will NASCAR’s Big 4 Be Stopped?

After another long offseason, NASCAR is set to return to our lives with the 31st Annual Bud Shootout in less than two weeks! That means it’s time to get the blood racing and your mind fixated on another year of our sport. This week, we’ll get you thinking on six big questions facing NASCAR this …

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