Race Weekend Central

Kickin’ the Tires: Hey Toyota Haters, Get Over Yourselves

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Photo Credit: Zach Catanzareti, Frontstretch

Oh my goodness, Ethyl, NASCAR is going to Hell in a hand basket ‘cuz one of them Toyoder drivers stole the championship. And what’s with a guy missing 11 races and still being able to race for the championship, anyway? That’s downright un-American. That Kyle Busch feller ain’t got no right to be a champion …

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Kickin’ The Tires: Is #TheChase Helping Or Hurting NASCAR?

2015 Richmond II CUP Chase selfie CIA

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)­­

AVONDALE, Ariz. – So, now that the field is set for four drivers to do battle in the final race of the NASCAR season next week at Homestead-Miami Speedway the big questions are whether #TheChase lives up to the hype and whether this format really does build drama and put it on the same level …

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Kickin’ the Tires: Penske Pariahs?

2015 Texas II CUP Brad Keselowski Paul Wolfe car bumper CIA

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)­

As the closing laps ticked off at Texas Motor Speedway and Jimmie Johnson edged into the lead, you could hear the cheers from fans not wanting to see Brad Keselowski move easily into the final round of #TheChase at Homestead-Miami Speedway. It was a heartbreaker, for sure, considering Keselowski led 312 of the 334 laps …

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Kickin’ the Tires: Accidents Happen, Maybe

Martinsville Logano Pit Crew Thrash 2015 Cup Mike Neff

Photo Credit: Mike Neff, Frontstretch

There are obviously several different ways for the Joey Logano – Matt Kenseth debacle to play out, but I can’t blame Kenseth for doing what he did, even if it was wrong – perhaps justifiable but wrong… unless the splitter really was dragging and he couldn’t steer going into turn 1. If that is the case, then …

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Kickin’ the Tires: Why Confusing Talladega Still Delivered

2015 Talladega II CUP pack racing CIA

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)­

While some hardcore Dale Earnhardt Jr. fans may disagree, any notion that this weekend’s restrictor-plate action at Talladega Superspeedway was disappointing or boring couldn’t be further from the truth. Sure, the sport’s most popular driver was knocked out of contention for the 2015 Sprint Cup championship, but his battle throughout the race to hold point …

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Kickin’ the Tires: Joey Logano Dumped Matt Kenseth Out of Fear

2015 Kansas II CUP Matt Kenseth Joey Logano racing CIA

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)­

KANSAS CITY, Ka. – The fact Joey Logano dumped Matt Kenseth with five laps to go in the Hollywood Casino 400 proves Logano is afraid of what the Toyota driver is capable of and that he wanted to do all he could to ensure they wouldn’t battle each other in the final race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. …

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Kickin’ the Tires: Dale Earnhardt Jr. vs. NASCAR A Slippery Situation

2015 Bank of America 500 Dale Earnhardt Jr Charlotte Cup Mike Neff

Photo Credit: Mike Neff, Frontstretch

The official word may be that there was no oil on the track in turn 1 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but the sport’s most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., adamantly disagrees and in the court of NASCAR public opinion – he is going to be judged by the fans as being right. Since I am …

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Kickin’ the Tires: Many In NASCAR Breathe a Sigh of Relief

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Photo Credit: Zach Catanzareti, Frontstretch

  No one of any official capacity will ever admit it publicly, but secretly they are cheering and acknowledging that a great thing happened in the auto racing world, on Sunday, at Dover International Raceway: Dale Earnhardt Jr. advanced in #TheChase and Jimmie Johnson didn’t. Not that I am criticizing Johnson in any way. It would …

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Kickin’ the Tires: Was Brad Keselowski Singled-out By NASCAR?

2015 Chicago CUP Paul Wolfe Brad Keselowski CIA

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

Whether or not Brad Keselowski was singled out by NASCAR is actually irrelevant, because there is always a difference between reality and whatever the perception of reality is. And in Keselowski’s case, he perceived that he was being picked on and penalized for jumping the restart as an example. From the beginning, this column has been accused …

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Kickin’ the Tires: What Did We Learn at Chicagoland Speedway?

2015 Chicago CUP Kevin Harvick car CIA

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

There were some great teaching moments to come out of this weekend’s kickoff to the Chase for the Sprint Cup Series Championship at Chicagoland Speedway – most notably DeLana Harvick doesn’t put up with any crap. Following the race, Kevin Harvick was upset over his dismal finish, which occurred because he and Jimmie Johnson got …

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Kickin’ the Tires: Roush Fenway Racing Disappoints by Missing the Chase

2015 Richmond II CUP Ricky Stenhouse Jr car CIA

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

Early in the season the big concern was how well Joe Gibbs Racing had turned things around from 2014 and whether it was enough to be a factor in the 2015 Chase for the Championship. As the season played out, it became very clear the JGR was a powerhouse, but the same could not be …

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Kickin’ the Tires: Past Failures Lead to Success in Low-Downforce Package

2015 Darlington CUP Pack racing vertical II CIA

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

Perhaps it was fitting that Carl Edwards won the Bojangles’ Southern 500 after being such a huge supporter of NASCAR’s decision to try a low-downforce package, especially since the high-drag, higher downforce package appeared to be a failure in both of its outings. Edwards was the first to address the new package when the cars …

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