Race Weekend Central

Racing to the Point: Separating the Chase Contenders & Pretenders

2014 Richmond Ii Cup Ford Chase Drivers Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

This new elimination-style playoff format has many people believing that some of the Chase underdogs have a chance at the title as along as they keep their noses clean and survive each round. I want to dispel that rumor right now. The cream is still going to rise to the top, as it always does. …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not: Richmond – Chicagoland Edition

2014 Richmond Ii Cup Jeff Gordon Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

With 26 races in the books there exist two distinct groups of drivers: those who qualified for the Chase and the many, many more who will have to wait until next year to lay stake over one of 16 playoff spots. The line was left anything but blurred after the regular season finale at Richmond …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Richmond – The Chase is Set, Brad Keselowski Dominates and a Drunk on a Fence

2014 Richmond Ii Cup Brad Keselowski Burnout Cia

Credit: CIA Editorial Photography

Key Moment – In a race where the winner leads 383 laps, including the final 274 in a row, there really aren’t any key moments in the race. Based on the practice sheets the key moment came between the first practice and the final practice. Brad Keselowski was 14th fastest in 10 lap average in …

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Aric Almirola to Return to Nationwide Series with Biagi-DenBeste Racing

2014 Sonoma Cup Aric Almirola Looking Down Cia

Credit: CIA Editorial Photography

On the heels of clinching his first Chase berth and first career Sprint Cup Series win at Daytona in July, Aric Almirola hopes some double duty when the Chase for the Sprint Cup begins at Chicagoland Speedway next weekend is the edge needed to propel his No. 43 car to the second round of the …

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Voice of Vito: Scouting Championship Scenarios in Pre-Chase Preview

2014 Dover I Cup Jimmie Johnson Woohoo Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

Saturday night’s Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway will mark the final event of the 26-week regular season and set the stage for the latest iteration of NASCAR’s Chase playoff system. It’s been 10 years and four championship scenarios now, of heading into RIR the first weekend of September to see who’s in …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud – Atlanta Oral-B 500: Stewart Makes His Return

2014 Atlanta Cup Tony Stewart Press Conference Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. Copyright 2014)

Key Moment – Kyle Busch and Martin Truex, Jr. had a dispute in Turn 1 with two laps to go. Busch hit Truex in the back bumper and put him into the wall. The resulting contact brought out the caution flag, which prompted a Green-White-Checkered finish. Kasey Kahne, who was headed to a potential victory …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in NASCAR: Bristol – Atlanta Edition

2014 Pocono I Cup Greg Biffle Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

Bristol Motor Speedway has been the measure for mental and emotional toughness in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series throughout much of the modern era. It certainly played the part during the IRWIN Tools Night Race as some potential Chasers lost their cool – and with it, their footing in the standings. On the flip side, …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Irwin Tools Night Race

2014 Richmond I Cup Joey Logano Champagne Cia

Credit: CIA Editorial Photography

Key Moment – With 67 laps to go the caution flag flew for what ended up being the final time on Saturday night. Matt Kenseth stayed on the track with four other cars while Joey Logano headed to pit lane and bolted on four fresh bolognas. When the race restarted, Logano took the green in sixth position and quickly sliced …

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Chasing the Chase Will Influence How Teams Hit the Bricks

Indy 2009

What is the most memorable Brickyard 400 moment of all time? Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR

The Sprint Cup Series returns to action at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Sunday after its final week off of the season. The question now with the Chase spots being on the line,  will they be racing the same way by being worried about nothing but wins, or concerned about points? Clearly, there are going to …

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Five Points To Ponder: 17 Weeks And NASCAR’s Eldora “Take II”

Ryan Blaney 2013 Eldora Speedway Camping World Truck Series Mike Neff

(Credit: Mike Neff)

ONE: 17 WEEKS IN A ROW After a weekend to rest up and recuperate for the Sprint Cup circus, it’s time for 17 consecutive weeks of top echelon racing until we crown the 2014 champion at Homestead-Miami Raceway on Nov. 16. With the race to the Chase over the next seven weeks – paired with …

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Happiness Is… Silly Season, Tweaks & Juan Pablo Montoya

2014 Daytona Ii Cup Pack Racing Ii Cia

(Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photo, Inc.)

The Coke Zero 400 is but a distant memory and it is barely a week old.  That race often sits as the wonderful spectacle that marks a sense of the midpoint of the season while marrying itself to the country’s holiday party, particularly with its old name, the Firecracker 400. Yet this one fell flat. …

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