Race Weekend Central

Eyes on Xfinity: Road-Course Racing and Its Benefits

2015 Mid Ohio Nxs Chris Buescher Alex Tagliani Racing Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

Turning right on some weekends is great, especially for those that love making fun of NASCAR for going left all the time. Let’s face it, it gets redundant hearing these poor schlubs complain about the sport we all love to watch. The month of August is a dream for anyone that likes to see a …

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Xfinity Series Breakdown: 2015 Food City 300 at Bristol

Kyle Busch Xfinity Victory Lane 2015 Bristol Mike Neff

Photo Credit: Mike Neff, Frontstretch

Chris Buescher took Kyle Busch to school on restart after restart. Let that sink in for a moment… an NXS regular out-jumped a master restarter time after time. It was a green-white-checkered finish that was Buescher’s downfall… his car lost fuel pickup for just a moment coming to the white flag, allowing Busch to get …

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Friday Faceoff: Who’s Paying the Bills?

2015 Loudon I Cup Sam Hornish Jr Car Front Cia

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

Nature’s Bakery, a sponsor new to the sport, signed on to sponsor Danica Patrick in 28 races next season. Is this reason for optimism about new sponsors entering the sport, or more of an isolated instance? Amy Henderson, Senior Editor: I think sponsor shelling out the $20 million or so for a top-flight team like …

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Eyes on Xfinity: An Oval Reprieve in Tennessee

2015 Bristol I Nxs Daniel Suarez Racing Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

August is a peculiar month for the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Typically known for companion races with the Sprint Cup Series, the NXS entered the month with three standalone events on the schedule. Primarily an oval tour, the series planned to run three road courses – the only right turns on the schedule – in the span of …

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Xfinity Series Breakdown: 2015 Nationwide Children’s Hospital 200 at Mid-Ohio

Regan Smith in front at Mid-Ohio in the XFINITY series

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)­

There was nothing acceptable about Saturday’s result for Regan Smith unless he crossed the finish line ahead of everyone else. After aggressively going after Ty Dillon following a wild race at Watkins Glen, the former full-time Cup Series driver was determined to get back into Victory Lane. The sweat and tears were visible in one …

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Ty Dillon Leads Early Xfinity Series Practice at Mid-Ohio

2014 Richmond Ii Nns Ty Dillon Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photography)

During a late mock-qualifying run, Ty Dillon vaulted to the top of the charts to lead opening NASCAR Xfinity Series practice at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Dillon put down the only sub-85 second lap, an 84.976, to top the first of two Friday practice sessions for Saturday’s Nationwide Children’s Hospital 200. Brian Scott ended the …

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Friday Faceoff: Paving, Plates & Payback

Joey Logano, winner of the Cheez-It 355 at the Glen, officially starts a repaving project for Watkins Glen International

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)­­

After the race at Watkins Glen, a sold-out event, the track began a repaving project that will be complete by the 2016 season. Will the repave hurt the racing, or will fans still get a good show? Amy Henderson, Senior Editor: I’m not a fan of repaving any track if it’s not absolutely necessary, but …

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Happiness Is… TV, Ohio & Bills

2015 Pocono Ii Cup Jeff Gordon Pack Racing Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

The nightmare season continues.   With another lackluster finish at Watkins Glen, Jeff Gordon continues his magical mystery tour, with the mystery being how far back in the field he’ll finish each race. Even the race before, at Pocono, Gordon and co. appeared lost, hanging out midpack for much of the event before their fuel-mileage …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2015 Cheez-It 355 at the Glen

Joey Logano poses with the trophy after winning the Cheez-It 355 at the Glen at Watkins Glen International

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)­­

Who’s in the headline – Weekend sweeps seem to happen quite frequently these days, with some of the winning drivers from the Cup Series running the companion races that are scheduled on many race weekends. Surprisingly, this weekend featured the first time such a sweep took place at Watkins Glen. Joey Logano had never run a …

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Pace Laps: Missing Expectations, Flying Fists, and Surprise Contenders

2015 Watkins Glen Cup Jeff Gordon Car Cia

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

Sprint Cup Series: Oh, What Might Have Been… Watkins Glen is sold every year as the last regular season “wild card” race, the last place an underdog can work his way into the Chase under the right circumstances. There were high hopes entering the weekend for defending winner AJ Allmendinger, Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon and …

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Xfinity Series Breakdown: 2015 Zippo 200 at the Glen

2015 Watkins Glen Nxs Joey Logano Burnout Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

Dominance is an understatement. It’s more like destroying the competition at this point. Team Penske’s incredible 2015 season continued at Watkins Glen International for the Zippo 200, where the team brought a second car to the track for the first time this year. Well, the decision paid off for the organization. Joey Logano took control at …

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Regan Smith, RCR Drivers Tangle at the Glen

2015 Watkins Glen International Nxs Ty Dillon Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Throughout recent years, road courses have produced short track tempers, and Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Watkins Glen was no exception. This time it was JR Motorsports driver Regan Smith and Richard Childress Racing drivers Brendan Gaughan and Ty Dillon. On a lap 40 restart, Dillon made an aggressive move going into turn one, …

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