Race Weekend Central

The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2014 Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond

Kyle Larson continued to show that he’s not only a threat for Rookie of the Year honors, but also for winning. Larson got the top starting spot by virtue of his practice speed after qualifying was rained out, part of showing speed and prowess all weekend long. Unfortunately for Larson, he got tagged by Bowyer on the first lap of the race which dropped him to the rear of the field. Larson was able to recover somewhat to finish 16th, still good for Rookie of the Race honors, but clearly lacked the confidence and speed to get back to the front after that moment.

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2014 Duck Commander 500 at Texas

Key Moment – As Joey Logano came out of turn 4, heading to the flagstand for the white flag, Kurt Busch’s car that had lost a left rear tire began spreading debris on the track and race control called for a caution. The ensuing pit stops saw Jeff Gordon take two tires, along with Brian Vickers. …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2014 Duck Commander 500 at Texas

On a weekend when, once again, rain changed the game, in the end, the real game changer was Kurt Busch’s blown tire just before the white flag. At first, many questioned the caution as it appeared that Busch had gotten his slowing car onto the apron, but television replays showed that the left rear tire on the No. 41 came apart, shredding the car’s quarterpanel. Debris quickly spewed all over the asphalt, and some made its way onto the racing surface. The caution was a good call, and it set up a green-white-checkered run that a year or two ago would have been much different.

The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2012 Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead

For possibly the first time ever, Dale Earnhardt Jr. snuck up for a good finish. Usually, it’s impossible for Earnhardt to fly under the radar in a race. But this week, with the spotlight on his teammate and his former employee running for the Cup, Earnhardt did just that, finishing 10th after running mid-pack for most of the day.

The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2012 GEICO 400 at Chicagoland

The Chase is on… and for 12 drivers that means the chance at standing at the pinnacle of NASCAR in November. For everyone else, unfortunately, it means toiling in relative anonymity for the next two months, especially when seven of the top-10 finishers in the race are in the Chase as was the case in Chicago. Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin was not among them; but both of his teammates were. Kyle Busch and Joey Logano finished fourth and seventh, respectively, though neither received much recognition during a television broadcast that was clearly more concerned with the Chase contenders.

The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2012 AdvoCare 500 at Atlanta

If not for a badly-timed tire problem for Jamie McMurray, Martin Truex Jr. wouldn’t be getting my shoutout — because he’d have won the race. Instead, Truex had to settle for fourth after a wild restart. Adding insult to injury, Truex, who has flown under the media’s radar all year long despite being a fixture in the top 10 in points, garnered relatively little television attention compared with the night’s other race leaders.

The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2012 Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma

While Clint Bowyer was holding off all comers for the win, his Michael Waltrip Racing teammates were having a strong race of their own, solidly in the top 10. Although Martin Truex Jr. got caught in a late-race traffic jam that forced him off the road and into 22nd place after leading 15 laps early on, it was Brian Vickers who really shined in just his third Cup race of 2012. Vickers drove his way through the field from a 21st-place starting spot, inserting himself into the top 10 and then the top five, muscling past Jimmie Johnson in the late laps to take home a fourth-place finish.

What’s Vexing Vito?: Will Kurt Busch’s Slight Score Phoenix Racing a Sponsor?

Might Kurt Busch’s slight towards The Sporting News’s Bob Pockrass end up landing the No. 51 Phoenix Racing team a sponsor after all? The Jerry Springer Show has expressed an interest in sponsoring the team and driver who’s turbulent tenure in James Finch’s machine nearly saw him committing career suicide for the second time in …

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