Race Weekend Central

Jimmie Johnson Soars to 6th Fontana Victory

2016 Las Vegas Cup Jimmie Johnson Chad Knaus Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade NKP)

Jimmie Johnson flew to victory in the Auto Club 400 after passing Kevin Harvick with two laps to go at Auto Club Speedway. Draped in Superman red, Johnson brought the Man of Steel to Victory Lane for the sixth time at Fontana and second time in the 2016 Sprint Cup Series season. “I knew we …

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Two-Headed Monster: Is a Move to Ford the Right Move for Stewart-Haas?

2014 Phoenix Ii Cup Tony Stewart Danica Patrick Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2014)

No one saw it coming. Shocked is the reaction that immediately came to mind as the NASCAR collective woke up on Wednesday morning to news that Stewart-Haas Racing would no longer be fielding Chevrolets, and beginning in 2017, Fords. What were team co-owners Gene Haas Tony Stewart thinking? Why would he abort a partnership with Hendrick Motorsports, …

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The Frontstretch 5: Drivers Who Need to Up Their Game in 2016

Every year, there is a group of drivers who, for a variety of reasons, needs to step up the game.  It could be a contract year, a need for a comeback from a slump, a matter of living up to expectations.  Sometimes it’s all three, sometimes it’s a self-inflicted pressure that simply stems from not …

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Stewart-Haas Racing to Field Fords Beginning in 2017

Bye-bye, bow tie. hello, blue oval. Stewart-Haas Racing announced Wednesday that its four teams will run Ford Fusions in the Sprint Cup Series beginning in 2017. SHR has spent its entire existence with General Motors since the team’s non-Stewart inception under just Gene Haas in 2002, utilizing both the Pontiac and Chevrolet brands. The team has won two …

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

The 2016 season is off to a running start and as expected there are plenty of hots and not-so-hots after a weekend at Daytona International Speedway. Just don’t expect every race this year to have the kind of finish we saw Sunday. HOT It’s often been said that baseball is a game of inches, but …

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4 Burning Questions: With Tony Stewart Out, Who Is Daytona’s Sentimental Favorite?

Zach Catanzareti takes a look at the four most important storylines entering Sunday’s Daytona 500: 1. WHAT TEAM WILL GEL BEST ON SUNDAY? Contrary to some popular beliefs, you must have friends to compete in plate racing. Without them – as seen in Saturday night’s Sprint Unlimited – you’ll go nowhere. Approaching 2016, the big …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2016 Sprint Unlimited at Daytona

Who’s in the headline – After being involved in an early caution Denny Hamlin played pit strategy to get to the front of the pack and stretched his fuel to the end of a green-white-checkered finish to take his third Sprint Unlimited victory. The vast majority of cars had damage during the evening but Hamlin’s …

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. Tops First 500 Practice

Dale Earnhardt Jr Bank Of America 500 2015 Charlotte Cup Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff, Frontstretch)

Some things never change: An Earnhardt led Daytona practice. Dale Earnhardt Jr. paced the first Sprint Cup practice for the Daytona 500 on Saturday morning with a fast lap of 194.116 mph. Joining Earnhardt in the top 5 were defending 500 champion Joey Logano (193.853), 2009 and 2012 race winner Matt Kenseth (193.782), rookie Chase …

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NASCAR Announces Eligible Drivers for Sprint Unlimited

Sprint Unlimited Daytona

(Credit: NASCAR)

On Monday, NASCAR announced the eligibility criteria for this year’s Sprint Unlimited, scheduled for Feb. 13.  While winning a pole during the previous season will get you into the race, it’s not the only way into the 75-lap show.  Regardless of circumstances, 25 cars will start the 187.5-mile race. The first criteria to qualify for …

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2015 NASCAR Rewind: Danica Patrick

Danica Patrick Bank Of America 500 2015 Charlotte Cup Mike Neff

(Photo Credit: Mike Neff, Frontstretch)

Poor Danica Patrick. Her 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season went about as well as could be expected. Not that it would take much to improve on what we saw during 2014, but, alas, the most recent year ended with what has become pretty much all-too-familiar results. No wins, no top fives, two top 10s …

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Tweet ‘N’ Greet: What Kobe Bryant and Jeff Gordon Have In Common

Joey Logano in the infield at Bristol Motor Speedway before the Irwin Tools Night Race

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

Who knew Joey had two brothers hanging out in Houston as everyone knows @joeylogano is in Vegas today @WarrenVigus pic.twitter.com/XvBdq8ZJXB — Paul Stanifer (@PaulStanifer) December 1, 2015 I'm everywhere! Ha https://t.co/G3REFaPq0O — Joey Logano (@joeylogano) December 1, 2015 Joey Logano received an interesting tweet from one of his fans on Tuesday: a fan discovered who …

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Stewart-Haas Racing Announces Personnel Changes for 2016

2015 Dover Ii Cup Tony Stewart Danica Patrick Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

At Championship Media Day in Florida, Tony Stewart hinted at changes for Stewart-Haas Racing. On Monday, the team made those changes public. The No. 4 team for Kevin Harvick and the No. 41 team for Kurt Busch will remain unchanged.  However, the Nos. 10 and 14 will see new leadership. Michael Bugarewicz has been named the …

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