Race Weekend Central

Matt McLaughlin Mouths Off: Is This Really Mark Martin’s Last Stand?

The jumbled pieces of this year’s silly season puzzle began falling together at Daytona this week, presenting a clearer picture of next year’s Cup lineup. It had already been announced that Casey Mears would be leaving Hendrick Motorsports and the No. 5 team next year. Rumors were rampant that the open seat in the No. …

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The Yellow Stripe: 18 Storylines After 18 Races – NASCAR’s Cup Series at Halfway

With the conclusion of the high-banked, 200-mph, 400-mile drama-fest at Daytona, we’re at the halfway point of the 2008 season. And while each week usually unfolds into its own unique episode in the 10-month epic of a soap opera NASCAR has become, there are always certain storylines that resonate across each season, from track to …

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Voice of Vito: Into the Flood Again – Why Mark Martin Came Back to Full-Time Cup Racing

I have never made any bones about it – I am a lifelong Alice In Chains fan. Hands down, they’re my favorite band… ever, quite possibly the most underrated yet often-imitated Seattle supergroup from the early 1990s. This was back during a time when music was worth listening to – songs that featured instruments and …

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10 Points to Ponder… After the 2008 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona

1. The Other Big Three – American automakers GM, Ford and Chrysler have just about reached the panic stage as their financial well-being becomes a critical concern. GM stock has lost approximately 75% of its value over the last year, Ford Motor Company has seen a 50% decline of stock value in the last three …

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Mirror Driving: The Busch-Montoya Scuffle, a Silly Season Shuffle & Saving the Truck Series With… the IRL?

Welcome to Mirror Driving. Every week, your favorite columnists sit down and give their opinion about the latest NASCAR news and rumors. Love us or hate us, make a comment below and tell us how you feel about what we’ve said! This Week’s Participants: Tony Lumbis (Mondays/Rookie Report) Vito Pugliese (Tuesdays/Voice of Vito) Mike Neff (Wednesdays/Power Rankings & …

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Fanning the Flames: Vague NASCAR Rules, Driver Moves & a Long Dry Spell

Thanks for the input this week, folks. The questions continue to keep me busy. Before we get going, I just have to say that I disagree with all the road course bashing I’ve heard over the last week. Was it really that boring at Infineon last Sunday? I thought it was a nice change of …

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Beyond the Cockpit: Regan Smith Optimistic About Future… Even Racing in Canada

Regan Smith has about seen it all during his first season and a half in the Sprint Cup Series. But despite seeing his team fold up in 2007 and working with a fourth different crew chief so far in his young Cup career, Smith is still battling hard with rookie rival Sam Hornish Jr. for …

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Thompson in Turn 5: Jeff Burton Flying Under the Radar

For those that haven’t noticed, Jeff Burton is presently second in the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers’ championship. It sounds like a fact that’s hard to miss; but really, it’s easy to overlook a man sandwiched in the standings between media darlings Kyle Busch – leading the points race due to his phenomenal on-track performances – …

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Mirror Driving: Mark Martin’s Big Move, Kevin Harvick’s Big Mistake & NASCAR’s Big Attendance Problem

Welcome to Mirror Driving. Every week, your favorite columnists sit down and give their opinion about the latest NASCAR news and rumors. Love us or hate us, make a comment below and tell us how you feel about what we’ve said! This Week’s Participants: Tom Bowles (Editor-In-Chief; Mondays/Bowles-Eye View & Wednesdays/Did You Notice?) Tony Lumbis (Mondays/Rookie Report) …

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Voice of Vito: U.S. Army Deserting Chevrolet & Defecting To… Toyota?

The rumors circulating in the garage area and beyond this week are that the Dale Earnhardt Inc. No. 8 Chevrolet team will be looking for a new sponsor for 2009 and beyond. The car that has been co-driven by veteran Mark Martin and rookie Aric Almirola currently has a year-to-year sponsorship agreement with the U.S. …

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