Race Weekend Central

Couch Potato Tuesday: The Need For NASCAR TV To Delve Deeper

2014 Loudon II CUP Jimmie Johnson eyes CIA

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

So, big news: Kansas Speedway’s NASCAR races were nowhere near as irritating TV-wise as Dover was. It feels great to not want to rip your hair out, doesn’t it? Of course, everyone can see my headshot to the right of the article. I don’t have that much to rip out. However, just because I stated …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Breaking Down NASCAR’s Kansas Chase Race

2014 Kansas II CUP Joey Logano confetti CIA

Credit - CIA Stock Photography

Key Moment – With 53 laps to go in the race Kevin Harvick thought he had a right front tire going bad. After the team swapped out all four skins on his ride it was determined that all four tires were good. The end result was Harvick slipping back into the upper 20s and having …

Read more

Will Youth Be Served… Now?

2014 Kansas II CUP Ricky Stenhouse Jr Kyle Larson racing CIA

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2014)

Two NASCAR drivers, and only two have made it through the first four Chase races unscathed. One of them has already won twice, boasts an average finish of 2.5 and has won nearly twice as many races, this season as the rest of his Cup career combined. The other, while not having won yet boasts …

Read more

Nationwide Breakdown: Kansas Lottery 300

2014 Chicago NNS Kyle Busch  Derrike Cope racing CIA

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2014)

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Or not. While seeing Kyle Busch win a NASCAR Nationwide Series race isn’t necessarily unusual, Busch winning at Kansas is more of a rarity. Though Busch does have a Nationwide Series victory at the track from back in 2007, a variety of bad luck and …

Read more

Fantasy Insider: Is Now Time to Think Outside the Fantasy Pit Box?

2014 Loudon II CUP Danica Patrick CIA

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

As we inch closer toward the finish line in this NASCAR season and the races become more important for drivers in real life, they also become more important for your fantasy team. If you are in a tight battle to win your league, or finish in the money, then every decision by a real life …

Read more

Did You Notice? … One Saving Grace That Lies Ahead

2014 Aaron's 499 Talladega Superspeedway Sprint Cup Mike Neff

Credit: Mike Neff

Did You Notice? … How much of a crapshoot Talladega makes the next round of this Chase? No one has an advantage on paper entering this three-race sprint as all 12 drivers are tied for the point lead. That means it’s nearly impossible to create a 47-point cushion, locking yourself into the next round before …

Read more

The Frontstretch Five: Most Likely Chase Spoilers

2014 Dover II CUP Kurt Busch CIA

(CIA Stock Photo, Inc. © 2014)

Welcome to the Frontstretch Five, a brand-new column for 2014! Each week, Amy Henderson takes a look at the racing, the drivers, and the storylines that drive NASCAR and produces a list of five people, places, things, and ideas that define the current state of our sport. This week, Amy has some drivers who could …

Read more

NASCAR Sprint Cup Power Rankings: Top 15 After Dover

2014 Dover II CUP Jeff Gordon woohoo CIA

The revised Chase format brought exactly what was expected to the first round of eliminations at Dover. Jeff Gordon earned his fourth win of the season, becoming the first non-Team Penske driver to win a Chase race. Meanwhile, Kevin Harvick dominated the day yet again, leading a race-high 223 laps before left front suspension issues …

Read more

Fantasy Insider: Defining Dover Dominance For Your Roster

2014 Dover I CUP Jimmie Johnson trophy CIA

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

The good news for NASCAR Sprint Cup competitors is that defending and six-time champion Jimmie Johnson hasn’t done much lately. The bad news for those same competitors is that Johnson still sits fourth in points and the even more bad news for them is that the race this week is at Dover. It’s a track …

Read more

Did You Notice? … A Monstrous Moment, Hendrick’s So-So Start And Quick Hits

2014 Loudon II CUP Jimmie Johnson eyes CIA

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

Did You Notice? … The Monster Mile is entering a crucial weekend? Lately, races at the one-mile oval have been duds; Goodyear’s tire compound, combined with a conservative mindset have minimized the yellow flags and maximized the boredom at the one-mile oval. Dover’s track used to be one of the trickiest on tour, a matter …

Read more

NASCAR Sprint Cup Power Rankings: Top 15 After New Hampshire

2014 Loudon II CUP Joey Logano burnout CIA

Penske Racing has asserted itself as the team to beat for the Championship. Joey Logano recorded his fourth victory of the season, first in the Chase and third consecutive win for Penske Racing overall. Both Brad Keselowski and Logano have automatically advanced to the top-12 Contender round. Survival was the name of the game Sunday …

Read more

Fantasy Insider: Look For A Slice Of NASCAR History Repeating

2014 Chicago CUP Brad Keselowski Paul Wolfe CIA

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

We could see some familiar faces back up front at New Hampshire. The end of last Sunday’s race at Chicagoland saw Brad Keselowski and Kyle Larson running up front for much of the event, with Keselowski winning and guaranteeing himself one of 12 spots in the next round of the Chase. Rookie Larson, through hard …

Read more