Race Weekend Central

Bowles-Eye View: NASCAR’s Championship Battle of Who Could Care Less

As the sun set around the country Sunday, people sat glued to their television sets – sports were on their mind, and boy, were they ingesting a heavyweight prizefight for the ages. As the leaders of two great teams exchanged punch after punch, the crowd galvanized towards a frenzied climax, with the matchup hurtling toward …

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Voices from the Heartland: Sunoco Misses Yet Another Advertising Bonanza

Remember way back in February when Kevin Harvick was firmly ranked first in the Chase after winning the Daytona 500? Remember all the hoopla by racing pundits everywhere about how Kevin had the Chase all but sewn up? Me neither! What I do remember, though, is all the whining by Sunoco, The Official Fuel Supplier …

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Matt McLaughlin’s Driver Handicaps: 2007 Texas Fall Race Edition

Jeff Gordon – Quick; Gordon hasn’t won at which two tracks currently on the Cup schedule? That’s right… Homestead and Texas. Gordon did finish second at TMS in 2002 and has top-10 finishes in six of his 13 Cup starts here; however, his average finish in Fort Worth remains a paltry 16th. Jimmie Johnson – …

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Mirror Driving: Carl Edwards vs. The Media, Junior Flees Media Circus, And Dissecting The Memphis Massacre

After what’s happened with Carl Edwards over the past week or so, is it fair for people to withhold their opinions until they feel the timing is right?

Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in the Chase: 2007 Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta Edition

Nothing too surprising happened during Sunday’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Granted, there were the out of the blue late-race wrecks and tires mysteriously flying off cars; but, after the past few years of hair-raising last-lap finishes, you come to expect wild things at Atlanta when it comes time for the checkered flag. No matter …

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Matt McLaughlin’s Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2007 Atlanta Fall Race Recap

The Key Moment: Dale Earnhardt Jr. lost a left-rear wheel off the No. 8 car moments after a green-white-checkered restart at Atlanta, sealing the win for race leader Jimmie Johnson. Honestly, he did – Johnson had gotten such a good jump that it was doubtful Carl Edwards would have caught him. In a Nutshell: Tepid processional racing …

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Bowles-Eye View: Scraping Up Respect For a NASCAR Champion & Other Atlanta Odds ‘N’ Ends

As the smoke cleared from a wild and wacky Atlanta finish, I noticed a great story buried amongst the rubble of torn-up tires, terrifying restarts and tough luck for about a dozen drivers that should have won the race. So, instead of turning towards the mayhem, my eyes drifted instead to a man that had …

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Matt McLaughlin’s Driver Handicaps: 2007 Atlanta Fall Race Edition

Jeff Gordon – In 30 Cup starts at Atlanta, the points leader has posted four victories and 18 top-10 finishes. However, he finished 12th in the race this spring. Jimmie Johnson – Johnson won here in March to post his second Atlanta Cup victory. After 12 starts here, Johnson has eight top-10 results and an …

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