Race Weekend Central

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Takes First Budweiser Duel; Gordon 2nd

2014 Phoenix Ii Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr Serious Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photography)

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is back on top at Daytona. After starting from the rear, Earnhardt pulled himself all the way up front and led a Hendrick Motorsports one-two finish in the first Budweiser Duel. Penske Racing’s Joey Logano tried to spoil the party, getting up to second entering the final lap but couldn’t make the …

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JTG-Daugherty Racing, AJ Allmendinger Focus on Consistency for 2015

2014 Watkins Glen Cup Aj Allmendinger Car Cia

JTG-Daugherty Racing had its best NASCAR season in 2014, with AJ Allmendinger winning his and the team’s first Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen in August. The win put the No. 47 in the Chase, where Allmendinger ended the year 13th in points. As part of a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing, Allmendinger was …

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The P2’s and the DeltaWing Could Steal the Rolex 24 from the DP’s

2015 Daytona Tusc Oswaldo Negri Jr. Aj Allmendinger Credit Imsa

Credit: IMSA

Finally, the cursed offseason is coming to a close. Despite the onslaught of big announcements recently in NASCAR’s sphere of influence (Jeff Gordon announcing the end of his full-time tenure in Sprint Cup at the end of the season, Brian Vickers announcing his return at Las Vegas, Rico Abreu moving to K&N Pro Series East, …

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The Frontstretch Five: Memories to Keep From 2014

2014 Homestead Cup Kevin Harvick Tony Stewart Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

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 2014 memories that …

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NASCAR Sprint Cup Power Rankings: Top 15 After Phoenix

2014 Phoenix Ii Cup Kevin Harvick Champagne Cia

Credit: CIA Stock Photography

And then there were four. The drivers competing for the Championship at Homestead next week are set, and as the other Chase races have proven, it wasn’t without drama. Kevin Harvick’s only option was to win, and win he did, in dominating fashion by leading the most laps. Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano needed top-10 finishes …

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NASCAR Sprint Cup Power Rankings: Top 15 After Texas

2014 Texas Ii Cup Jimmie Johnson Crew Checkered Flag Cia

For the second time during the Chase, on-track contact has led to a post-race fight. The one common denominator: Brad Keselowski. This time, Keselowski made a bold three-wide move between Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon which resulted in a cut tire for Gordon and a 29th place finish. Understandably, Gordon was upset after seeing a …

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Did You Notice? … Stories Outside The Chase, A Fork In The Road For Harvick And Quick Hits

2014 Martinsville Ii Cup Kyle Larson Eew Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

Did You Notice?… There’s still plenty more going on these days than the Chase? As we enter the final three races of 2014, here’s a quick look at some great stories going on that have been buried by NASCAR’s “playoffs, playoffs, playoffs…” Kyle Larson. Yeah, he was terrible at Martinsville but Larson, who has wrapped …

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NASCAR Sprint Cup Power Rankings: Top 15 After Martinsville

2014 Martinsville Ii Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr Wins Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

Dale Earnhardt Jr.‘s win at Martinsville last weekend marked the first non-Chase contender to win a race in the Chase this season. After being eliminated from championship contention last weekend at Talladega, Earnhardt Jr. held off a hard-charging Jeff Gordon to claim his fourth win of the season, first at Martinsville and 22nd overall for …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500

2014 Martinsville Ii Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr Burnout Cia

Credit: CIA Stock Photography

Key Moment – During the caution flag that flew for the third incident between Kasey Kahne and Brian Vickers on lap 278, Steve Letarte realized that Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was going to restart in the fourth position, which would have put him in the outside line. Letarte called Earnhardt in, put four tires on his …

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Holding A Pretty Wheel: Allmendinger All the Way

AJ Allmendinger

(Credit: CIA)

As teams were gearing up for the Chase in August 2013, AJ Allmendinger was looking for a future in NASCAR — any future. He’d been running part time in the Sprint Cup Series for midpack JTG-Daugherty Racing; a couple of Nationwide Series starts with Team Penske, the team that had released him from a full-time …

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NASCAR Sprint Cup Power Rankings: Top 15 After Charlotte

2014 Charlotte Ii Cup Kevin Harvick Burnout Credit Yvonne Leonard

Credit: Yvonne Leonard

Kevin Harvick exorcised his demons Saturday night, winning his third race of the season, but more importantly locking himself into the eight-driver Eliminator Round. Harvick won the pole and led the most laps, as usual.  This time, however, he was able to survive a late-race caution which set up a two-lap shootout to win the …

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