Race Weekend Central

Sprint Cup Rookie Report: Patrick Carpentier Makes the “Best” Out of a Bad Day

Rookies in the Starting Lineup: Patrick Carpentier (19th), Marcos Ambrose (20th), Sam Hornish Jr. (23rd), Joey Logano (28th), Regan Smith (35th) Unofficial Finishing Positions: Carpentier (29th), Smith (32nd), Hornish (33rd), Ambrose (36th), Logano (39th) Rookie of the Race: Carpentier. The weekend started out on a positive note for Carpentier, who put his Dodge in the top …

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Fanning the Flames: Ganassi’s Woes, Gibbs’s Rookie & Gordon’s Typical Loudon Stunts

For those of you that did not catch last week’s Fanning the Flames, I have to share one of the funnier post-article comments I’ve seen in a year and a half of writing for Frontstretch. In response to a question and subsequent answer by yours truly concerning the Tony Stewart Rolling Stone article, a poster …

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Did You Notice? Owners Gain Power, Sponsors Turn Sour, NASCAR Goes F1 & Logano’s Bad Run

Did You Notice? Or wonder why one of Formula 1’s top race managers is headed over NASCAR’s way? Steve Hallam, the head of race operations for McLaren, is moving overseas to take what AutoSport termed a “similar position within NASCAR.” No official word from Daytona Beach as to what, exactly, that position might be, though …

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10 Points to Ponder… After the 2008 Sylvania 300 at Loudon

1. Not Keepin’ Up With the Times – This past week, Kyle Petty took on NASCAR for not being able to control the number of teams an owner operates, as well as keeping a level playing field for smaller organizations. Petty cited the recent alliance of Stewart-Haas Racing with Hendrick Motorsports as an example, nicknaming …

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Sprint Cup Rookie Report: Joey Logano Makes His Debut, But Aric Almirola Steals the Show

Rookies in the Starting Lineup: (Qualifying lineup set by points due to inclement weather) – Aric Almirola (15th), Regan Smith (29th), Michael McDowell (35th), Sam Hornish Jr. (36th), Patrick Carpentier (39th), Joey Logano (40th), Chad McCumbee (41st) Unofficial Finishing Positions: Almirola (18th), Smith (23rd), McDowell (27th), Hornish (30th), Carpentier (31st), Logano (32nd), McCumbee (42nd) Rookie of the …

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NASCAR Confidential: Insider Dishes on Chasers, Tony Stewart, the CoT & New Hampshire

Over the final two months of the season, Frontstretch is proud to debut its newest column: NASCAR Confidential. Once every three weeks, we’ll have one of our Cup-driving friends stop by and give us his take on what’s going on in the series today. Don’t ask us who he is, because we won’t be telling …

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Fanning the Flames: Joey Logano’s Debut, Kyle’s Karma & Tony’s Ravioli

Here’s to hoping the 10 Chase races are as cool as the one we saw in Richmond. It’s a long shot, I know… but here’s to hoping. Q: Matt, my question last week was about Joey Logano and how you thought he would do in his first race. Well, like you alluded to God and …

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Sprint Cup Rookie Report: Michael McDowell Has Magnificent Return With Career-Best Finish

Rookies in the Starting Lineup: (Qualifying lineup set by points due to inclement weather) Regan Smith (29th), Sam Hornish Jr. (36th), Michael McDowell (38th), Patrick Carpentier (39th) Unofficial Finishing Positions: McDowell (20th), Smith (23rd), Carpentier (25th), Hornish (38th) Rookie of the Race: McDowell. After a three-race layoff, McDowell returned to the seat of the No. 00 …

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10 Points to Ponder… After the 2008 Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond

1. How Low? – “When times are tough, there are certain things that are lower on the priority list than others,” said Dodge Motorsports senior manager Mike Delahanty in announcing that the company would not support any Craftsman Truck Series teams beginning next year. Actually, the only truck team that the manufacturer still funds was …

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Fanning the Flames: Recent Hires Show NASCAR Owners Heading in a Familiar Direction

And with that, the Open Wheel Invasion has ended. If you’re wondering about the “that” of which I speak, it’s Chip Ganassi Racing’s announcement that Dario Franchitti will return to full-time IRL competition in 2009 – leaving behind Sprint Cup aspirations that lasted all of half a season. Yes, I know a few drivers whose …

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