Race Weekend Central

Beside the Rising Tide: Short Takes & Short Tracks 

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Typically this time of year, things are quiet on the NASCAR news front as the sport and the country slowly begin emerging from the summer doldrums. As the long hot August summer afternoons give way to the earlier sunsets of September, leaves changing color and occasional morning chills punctuated by noisy flocks of Canadian geese …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2020 Federated Auto Parts 400

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who… should you be talking about after the Federated Auto Parts 400? Brad Keselowski predicted earlier in the week that he would win at Richmond Raceway. The 2012 Cup Series champion made good on his word Saturday night (Sept. 12). Keselowski led four times for a total of 192 laps in the Federated Auto Parts …

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4 Burning Questions: NASCAR Is Doing What In California?

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

They’re doing what to Fontana? This week, after The Athletic broke the news, NASCAR confirmed that they are pursuing plans to effectively turn the 2-mile Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California into a half-mile short track. The course looks to be a hybrid of all three of the current NASCAR Cup Series short tracks in …

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Jimmie Johnson Joins Chip Ganassi Racing’s IndyCar Program

2020indianapolisindycarjimmiejohnsonfaceindycarmeda(4)

(Photo: IndyCar Media)

Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson will be joining Chip Ganassi Racing in the NTT IndyCar Series for the next two years. The official announcement was made Wednesday morning (Sept. 9) as Johnson confirmed his foray into open-wheel racing. Johnson recently tested an IndyCar vehicle for the team in July at the Indianapolis Motor …

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The Frontstretch 5: Memorable NASCAR Playoff Moments

2015 Nascar Martinsville

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

1. Joey, Wall. Wall, Joey. Who can forget Matt Kenseth intentionally wrecking Joey Logano at Martinsville Speedway in 2015? This favorite moment of mine was all set because Logano, who was right in the thick of the championship hunt, drew the irk of Kenseth from a previous incident at Kansas Speedway, which took out the …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2020 Cook Out Southern 500

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who… should you be talking about after the Cook Out Southern 500? Winning at Darlington Raceway isn’t always about beating the competition. Kevin Harvick won his second Darlington race of 2020 by racing the Lady in Black herself, while ahead of him, two drivers forgot that cardinal rule and raced each other instead. Martin Truex …

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Frontstretch Podcast: Intensity in Daytona, Justin Haley Reflects on Xfinity Win

Nascar Xfinity Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Subscribe: iTunes In this week’s edition of the Frontstretch Podcast, Dustin Albino and Mike Neff discuss an intensity-filled weekend of racing at Daytona International Speedway, while debating if the race should remain the regular-season finale for the NASCAR Cup Series (spoiler: one says yes, the other didn’t enjoy the race). William Byron solidified his spot into the playoffs by winning …

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Did You Notice?: 3 NASCAR Legends Forever Stuck at 7 Titles

Jimmie Johnson & Richard Petty

(Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Did You Notice? … Jimmie Johnson’s 2020 playoff miss means he’ll officially end his NASCAR Cup Series career without an eighth championship. The 44-year-old Johnson, retiring at the end of the season, will remain tied with Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Richard Petty at seven. This trio of NASCAR Hall of Famers had one thing in common: …

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NASCAR Mailbox: Should Daytona Remain a Cutoff Race or Should NASCAR Rotate It?

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

This season was the first year that NASCAR decided to have a superspeedway be the final decider in who would make it into the playoffs. With it being the biggest wildcard we have seen in many years, everyone knew the energy and excitement would be ramped up. It’s safe to say the race did not …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Daytona Brings Overpowering Cutoff Coverage, More Desire for Inclusiveness

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Daytona is always an interesting race weekend. This one was shocking for two reasons. One, I was actually home for it. This was the first time I’ve actually been home for the Coke Zero Sugar 400 since 2009. The previous 10 years, I was either at the race, in Watkins Glen for the Sahlen’s Six …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2020 Coke Zero Sugar 400

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who…should you be talking about after the race? William Byron began the race on the playoff bubble, and one way he could assure himself a spot was to win. And win he did, taking his first Cup Series victory in his 98th try. Byron held off teammate Chase Elliott and Daytona 500 champ Denny Hamlin for …

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Stock Car Scoop: William Byron Wins at Daytona, Jimmie Johnson Misses Playoffs

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

William Byron won the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday night, Aug. 29, to clinch his spot in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. What did he say after his first career victory at the sport’s top level? Find out in this edition of Stock Car Scoop. Frontstretch’s newest podcast focused on …

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