Race Weekend Central

The Frontstretch 5: Random Foods for Thought

2015 Texas II CUP Jeff Gordon final rodeo CIA

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

1. Quintessential… wait, WHAT? Color me confused. Brian France called Joey Logano’s move to win at Kansas, where Logano got into a hard-blocking Matt Kenseth, “quintessential NASCAR” and the fans booed.  Kenseth called Jimmie Johnson’s ultra-clean pass for the win at Texas “quintessential,” and the fans cheered. When, exactly, did that happen? And how long …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2015 Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500 at Martinsville

Martinsville Keselowski Harvick Busch Pit Road 2015 Cup Mike Neff

Photo Credit: Mike Neff, Frontstretch

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? So many drivers had strong finishes Sunday, but the real praise belongs to Martinsville Speedway. One of the last short tracks on the NASCAR schedule, it’s still the best of the best, and Sunday’s show had it all: drama, hard racing, underdogs, and a legend of the sport …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2015 Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500 at Martinsville

Martinsville Jeff Gordon Team Victory  2015 Cup Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff, Frontstretch)

Who’s in the headline – Martinsville resurrected the emotions of both fans and competitors that it has not incited in a decade. In the end, while there is much buzz about retribution and championship ramifications, the most important story of the weekend is that Jeff Gordon will be one of the four competitors vying for the …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2015 Bank of America 500 at Charlotte

2015 Bank of America 500 Jeff Gordon Charlotte Cup Mike Neff

Photo Credit: Mike Neff, Frontstretch

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? It seems like a lifetime ago (and maybe in some ways, it was) that a baby-faced kid in a rainbow-striped uniform and a cheesy mustache broke down in tears following his first career win in NASCAR’s premiere series. Jeff Gordon took the checkers at Charlotte in the 1994 …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2015 Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire

2015 Loudon II CUP Danica Patrick crash damage CIA

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)­

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? In the midst of a terrible season, small gains are something to hang your hat on, and for three-time Cup champion Tony Stewart, any small gain is worth a small measure of relief. Stewart finished 11th on Sunday, posting his best run since Pocono in August, despite bringing …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2015 Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond

2015 Richmond II CUP Matt Kenseth grin CIA

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)­

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? For some drivers, Saturday night represented one last chance to grab a Chase spot with a win, and one driver who gave it everything he had was Aric Almirola. Almirola drove his way forward for most of the night, but managed only fourth. While he didn’t make the final …

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NASCAR 101: Can Anyone Clinch a Chase Spot with a Win?

2015 Darlington CUP Jeff Gordon car CIA

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

You’ve heard it all year: win and you’re in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Well, this weekend marks the final chance for a driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series to do so. By scoring a victory, while also being inside the top 30 in points and having attempted every race of the season …

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2015 Chase for the Sprint Cup Clinch Scenarios

2015 Richmond I CUP Kurt Busch wins credit NASCAR via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will invade Richmond International Raceway this weekend for the final regular season race on the 2015 calendar. That means numerous drivers who have not already locked themselves into the Chase will be eager to do so on Saturday night. NASCAR released the clinch scenarios for this weekend’s race: Regardless of …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2015 Bojangles’ Southern 500

2015 Darlington CUP Carl Edwards trophy CIA

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? Let’s give credit where credit is due. The race on Sunday night was one of the best in a long time. There was close racing, authentic cautions, and attrition. Yes, Brad Keselowski was dominant, but dominance is part of racing sometimes. Ned Jarrett once won this race by …

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JTG Daugherty Racing Extends Sponsorship Deal With Bush’s Beans

2015 Martinsville I CUP AJ Allmendinger car credit Amy Henderson

(Photo: Amy Henderson, Frontstretch)

Bush’s Beans will continue as a primary sponsor for the No. 47 of JTG Daugherty Racing and driver AJ Allmendinger, Allmendinger announced Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway. The team and sponsor have inked a multi-year deal. “They have been with the company for over a decade, said Allmendinger.  “It’s one of the best sponsors that …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: NBCSN Narrows the Focus at Watkins Glen

Greg Biffle leads a group of cars during the Cheez-It 355 at the Glen at Watkins Glen International

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)­

Watkins Glen International is an interesting place. You have rolling hills that many people don’t realize just how steep they are (seriously, driving up the hill between turns 2 and 3 is like scaling a wall). You have high speeds and lap times that are long enough to seriously stretch out the field. That creates …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2015 Cheez-It 355 at the Glen

Joey Logano poses with the trophy after winning the Cheez-It 355 at the Glen at Watkins Glen International

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

Who’s in the headline – Weekend sweeps seem to happen quite frequently these days, with some of the winning drivers from the Cup Series running the companion races that are scheduled on many race weekends. Surprisingly, this weekend featured the first time such a sweep took place at Watkins Glen. Joey Logano had never run a …

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