Race Weekend Central

Thinkin’ Out Loud – The Off Week Season Review

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Dale Earnhardt, Jr.‘s win started the season with a bang. But will interest remain throughout the year?

Key Moment – The key moment of the 2014 season came during the Media Tour in Charlotte, when Brian France came to the podium and announced more changes to the Chase. NASCAR’s tried in vain, for years to emphasize winning, and it never came to fruition… until that very speech. The adjustments announced that cold day in January, ever …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2014 Duck Commander 500 at Texas

Key Moment – As Joey Logano came out of turn 4, heading to the flagstand for the white flag, Kurt Busch’s car that had lost a left rear tire began spreading debris on the track and race control called for a caution. The ensuing pit stops saw Jeff Gordon take two tires, along with Brian Vickers. …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2014 STP 500 at Martinsville

Key Moment – The caution flew with 40 laps to go. Teams came to pit road with Clint Bowyer in the lead, but Jimmie Johnson had it when the pit stops completed, a slow stop on the right-rear dooming the No. 15 Toyota to mid-pack. Kurt Busch came out in the third spot, which let …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2014 Auto Club 400 at Fontana

Key Moment – When five drivers lost tires between laps 193 and 197, a caution finally came out. All of the lead lap cars except for Landon Cassill hit pit lane. Kurt Busch, Tony Stewart and Paul Menard took two tires, moving to the front while the remainder of lead-lap cars took four. In the …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2014 The Profit on CNBC 500 at Phoenix

2014 Dover I Cup Kevin Harvick Helmet Cia

Key Moment – Kevin Harvick missed the final 12 in “knockout” qualifying by .001 seconds and started the race 13th based on that result. While Harvick won practices and the race, his stumble in qualifying was the only thing that added any excitement to the weekend. In a Nutshell – Harvick won everything but qualifying at Phoenix …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2014 Daytona 500

Key Moment – On the final restart of the race, Dale Earnhardt Jr. chose to start in front of teammate Jeff Gordon. When the green flag flew, Gordon stayed tight to Earnhardt’s bumper while Kyle Busch was several feet off of the bumper of Brad Keselowski. The resultant push put Earnhardt solidly in the lead …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2014 Budweiser Duels at Daytona

JOIN OUR FANTASY RACING LEAGUE!! Frontstretch has a big league on Yahoo!, once again and we’d like you to be a part of it. Come compete with your favorite racing experts by clicking here and signing up. Our Group ID is 10532 and the password is stenica… so don’t miss out! Key Moment – The …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2013 Aaron’s 499 at Talladega

NASCAR used all of the tools at their disposal to restart the race and run it to the advertised distance of 499 miles, plus a few more, rather than calling it when the red flag flew for rain on lap 124. That threw out a ho-hum finish, turned it wild and gave the Davids a chance to beat up on Goliath.

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Kansas Race Recap

*Key Moment* – The caution flag flew on lap 219 when *Brad Keselowski’s* rear bumper cover flew off his car in Turn 4. When the pit stops on that final caution of the race were completed, *Matt Kenseth* was the first car off pit lane and the rest of the day was all but academic.

*In a Nutshell* – From Friday morning, *Matt Kenseth* had the car to beat at Kansas this weekend. Everyone tried. No one could.

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Texas Race Recap

*Key Moment* – Martin Truex Jr. was comfortably ahead, in position to break a six-year drought since his lone Cup win when the caution flew with 21 laps to go. As the cars came off pit road, Kyle Busch screeched out in front and from there, it was all she wrote. He went on to lead the final 20 laps and take the win.

*In a Nutshell* – Dominance for Kyle Busch. Heartbreak for Truex. Waiting for Fontana’s action that never came.

*Dramatic Moment* – During pre-race inspection, both cars fielded by Penske Racing were told that the tech inspectors did not like their rear end housings. The No. 2 and 22 cars had to change their rear ends in order to pass technical inspection. After the No. 22 swapped their rear end, it took them three tries to get through a laser inspection. By the time they got to the grid, the command to start engines had been given and Joey Logano had to start at the back.