Race Weekend Central

Nuts for Nationwide: 24 Down; 11 to Go in the Nationwide Series

It’s hard to believe there are only 11 scheduled races left in the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series and, unlike in the previous two seasons, we actually have a genuine title chase. Who needs the manufactured excitement of the senior circuit’s Chase for the Sprint Cup when you have a three-way shootout for the inaugural championship …

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Did You Notice? Junior Stressed Out? Said Rained Out? & Why Did McDowell Pout?

Did You Notice? That Dale Earnhardt Jr. looks a little haggard lately? In virtually every single interview I’ve seen him do over the past two months, Junior’s answers are so slow and meticulously constructed it feels like he’s processing the question in slow motion. I feel like it’s either one of two things – it’s either …

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Voice of Vito: Deep NASCAR Thoughts from the Professor of the Obvious

Well, it’s another fairly slow news cycle for the second week of August. Silly Season has quieted down a bit, although we’re all pretty much waiting to hear Ryan Newman make it official that he will be driving for Tony Stewart – and of course, we’re still waiting with bated breath to hear where Casey …

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Happy Hour: NASCAR Gets 1 Right – No Mas in Ciudad de Mexico

NASCAR announced last week that they will not be running Nationwide Series races at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez road course in Mexico City next year. Finally, a change in the schedule we can applaud. Granted, it’s only the Nationwide Series, but we’ll take whatever victories we can get. It would probably be an understatement to …

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Fanning the Flames: NASCAR Fines, Carl Edwards’s Flips & Some Canadian Love

Your questions were all over the board this week, which was a welcome respite after last week’s Goodyear bashing, er… I mean, questions. As always, shoot whatever you got my way, and I’ll either answer it or make light of it next week! In case you’re wondering, that last part was a joke… nevermind, let’s …

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Did You Notice? NASCAR & Politics, Raining on Goodyear & Penske’s Nasty Divorce

Did You Notice? That on the heels of Barack Obama’s decision to withdraw his sponsorship of a Sprint Cup car – remember, Pocono was the weekend he was supposed to put his name on the side of the No. 49 BAM Racing Toyota – another political party was spotted making waves at the Speedway. Presumptive Republican …

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Mirror Driving: Fuel-Mileage Snooze, What Did Roush Lose? & Grading Rain Tires

Welcome to Mirror Driving. Every week, your favorite columnists sit down and give their opinion about the latest NASCAR news and rumors. Love us or hate us, make a comment below and tell us how you feel about what we’ve said! This Week’s Participants: Tom Bowles (Editor-in-Chief; Mondays/Bowles-Eye View & Wednesdays/Did You Notice?) Tony Lumbis (Mondays/Rookie Report) …

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Talking NASCAR TV: Cup Race Good but ESPN Stands Alone with Poor Nationwide Coverage in Montreal

Editor’s Note: Talking NASCAR TV columnist Doug Turnbull is on vacation, so Frontstretch newsletter contributor Phil Allaway filled in for this week’s edition. Look for Doug to be back next Tuesday with another long list of critiques that’ll keep those producers, directors, and announcers both honest and accountable for their TV coverage of the sport! …

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10 Points to Ponder… After the 2008 Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono

1. Midget Money – Frequent NASCAR “bad boy” Tony Stewart was fined $10,000 after reportedly becoming angry at officials during a USAC midget race when they made a competition-related decision that adversely affected Tracy Hines, who drives for Stewart’s open-wheel team. Witnesses said that Stewart charged a USAC official – knocking his headset off – …

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Nationwide Series Breakdown: 2008 NAPA Auto Parts 200 at Montreal

In a Nutshell: The NAPA 200 didn’t really start until lap 8, when rains descended on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. But rather than postponing the event, NASCAR red-flagged the field and allowed teams to change their cars over to a rain package, putting on grooved tires and installing windshield wipers, brake lights and …

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