Race Weekend Central

Who’s Hot / Who’s Not in Sprint Cup: Talladega – Kansas Edition

Restrictor plate racing. It’s hard to describe the sensation it brings. Just when it appears evident that a dominant car/driver has prevailed, the field shuffles again.Brian Scott had it right when he said, “Love them or hate them, with the luck involved in superspeedway racing, you always feel like you have as good a shot as …

Read more

Who’s Hot / Who’s Not in Sprint Cup: Richmond – Talladega Edition

The Sprint Cup Series lit up the night in Richmond Saturday (April 26). Four of NASCAR’s best drivers put on an unforgettable show over the final laps before the most unlikely of the bunch ran away with the win. No matter; they each continued to lay the foundations for potential playoff pushes. Fire was a …

Read more

Who’s Hot / Who’s Not in Sprint Cup: Off Week-Richmond Edition

2014 Nascar Sprint Cup Series Bristol

Carl Edwards has quietly been leading Roush Fenway Racing back to prominence in the Cup Series this season.

Let’s get this one out of the way first: there was no NASCAR race to cover over Easter weekend. Sad, isn’t it? No worries, Hot or Not isn’t taking a break. Instead, here’s what to expect when the Sprint Cup Series returns to action at Richmond International Raceway in the coming days. Note: drivers featured in last week’s edition aren’t highlighted …

Read more

Who’s Hot / Who’s Not in Sprint Cup: Texas-Darlington Edition

The Duck Commander 500 at Texas Motor Speedway marked the second time that the Sprint Cup Series has visited a 1.5-mile track in seven races this season. Truth be told, there were clear similarities between the results from the Lone Star State and Las Vegas. Some organizations have the 1.5-milers figured out, while others encountered …

Read more

Who’s Hot / Who’s Not In Sprint Cup: Martinsville-Texas Edition

There’s a reason that Martinsville Speedway, the only residual NASCAR charter member, has been a fixture on the Sprint Cup schedule for the last 64 years: the tiny track continues to provide exhilarating action, and Sunday’s STP 500 was no exception. Drivers took to tight door-to-door beating and banging with a grandfather clock on the line, in a race …

Read more

Who’s Hot / Who’s Not in Sprint Cup: Auto Club – Martinsville Edition

Auto Club Speedway — once a “cookie-cutter” track in every sense of the term — has developed a unique identity, becoming notorious for exciting racing as its pavement has worn. The trade-off is accelerated tire wear caused by the tar-filled seams and rough, bumpy areas that populate the two-mile oval. Goodyear’s current Fontana tire compound …

Read more

Who’s Hot / Who’s Not In NASCAR Sprint Cup: Bristol-Fontana Edition

Bristol Motor Speedway presents a unique, early-season test for the Sprint Cup Series. The tightly packed, 0.533-mile bullring offers plenty of opportunities for passing, yet very little room for error. Those who kept their cars in good health were able to take advantage of NASCAR’s first scheduled short track. Of course, keeping the car in …

Read more

Who’s Hot / Who’s Not In NASCAR: Phoenix – Las Vegas Edition

2014 Dover I Cup Jimmie Johnson Pit Stop Cia

Tornadoes threatened the Daytona 500, but conditions were near-perfect in the desert Sunday. Nearly 27 years after a lightning strike ignited the main grandstand at Phoenix International Raceway, there was plenty of sunshine for The Profit onCNBC 500k. The track transformed into a refreshing desert oasis for certain drivers troubled by Daytona results, yet still, some …

Read more

Who’s Hot / Who’s Not In Sprint Cup: Daytona Speedweeks Edition

Who’s Hot and Who’s Not is ready to pick up where it left off last season. Defending champion Jimmie Johnson is the driver to beat in 2014 after rediscovering his title touch last year. Johnson starts his championship defense at Daytona International Speedway, where he is also the defending winner of the biggest race in …

Read more

Who’s Hot / Who’s Not in Sprint Cup: Talladega-Darlington Edition

After rain shortened the running of the Nationwide race at Talladega Superspeedway Saturday afternoon, Mother Nature struck again once the Sprint Cup Series took the track Sunday. The Aaron’s 499 may have taken most of the day to complete after a 3.5 hour weather delay, but nothing could dampen the 2.66-mile track’s ability to produce unpredictable finishes.

In the end, David Ragan crossed the finish line first after a daring set of moves left him ahead of the pack during the green-white-checker scenario brought about by the second massive crash of the afternoon.

Who’s Hot / Who’s Not in Sprint Cup: Richmond-Talladega Edition

Richmond International Raceway hosted the most unpredictable race of the season to date last weekend as the field was shuffled more than once before the checkered flag waved. Juan Pablo Montoya appeared to be ready to snap a multi-year winless streak before a late caution for Brian Vickers mixed up the leaders for a final time.

In the end, Kevin Harvick was able to surpass Jeff Burton and others during the resulting green-white-checker sequence to claim his first victory of the season, and third ever at the 0.75-mile track.