Race Weekend Central

NASCAR Driver Report Cards: Part I

Clint Bowyer Martin Truex Jr Kyle Larson Cup Sprint Showdown 2015 Charlotte Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff, Frontstretch)

Since I’ve been away for a while, there’s a whole lot of writing to do on how each Sprint Cup driver has been performing in 2015. In this day and age of the “new” Chase, looking at the point standings to gauge a driver’s performance is often an optical illusion; once someone wins, scoring points …

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Frontstretch NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 After the 2015 Spongebob 400 at Kansas

2015 Kansas I CUP Jimmie Johnson trophy credit NASCAR via Getty Images

(Photo Credit: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Another rain delay and another late finish. This time Jimmie Johnson took advantage of a late-race caution and chose track position over tires/fuel to claim his season-leading third victory. Kevin Harvick led the second-most laps (53), but after pitting and taking two tires, was unable to catch Johnson in the few laps remaining. He managed another …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in NASCAR: 2015 Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Edition

2015 Kansas I CUP Jimmie Johnson wins credit NASCAR via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Burnouts (Hot) You know how to tell when a NASCAR team is suddenly hot? Here’s the formula: Drop to the back of the pack due to an early-race incident. Then gradually work your way toward the front. Then, when what turns out to be the final caution comes out, instead of pitting with the other …

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Did You Notice? Consistency, Hello Underdogs & Quick Hits

2015 Talladega I CUP fans credit NASCAR via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Did You Notice? That Richard Petty Motorsports had both drivers – Sam Hornish Jr. and Aric Almirola – finish in the top 15 in Sunday’s GEICO 500 at Talladega? For Almirola, the consistent top-20 finish is nothing new. Through 10 races in 2015, the No. 43 Ford has only one finish worse than 20th (26th at …

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Frontstretch NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 after the 2015 GEICO 500 at Talladega

2015 Talladega I CUP pack racing III credit NASCAR via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Man, Talladega is a doozy, huh? Dale Earnhardt Jr.‘s first victory of the season – and first at Talladega in 11 years – was great for the sport and meant, for a moment, that all was right in the racing world. However, the monster that is ‘Dega was also very unkind to several other drivers …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not: 2015 Spongebob Squarepants 400 at Kansas Edition

2015 Bristol I CUP Dale Earnhardt Jr vertical credit Amy Henderson

Photo Credit: Amy Henderson, Frontstretch

Burnouts (Hot) It’s no surprise that Dale Earnhardt Jr. is leading this column this week. Yes, he won the race, but it was about so much more than winning for Junior. First, there was a question of whether crew chief Greg Ives might have to go home when finding out his daughter broke her arm. She …

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Frontstretch NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 After the 2015 Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond

2015 Richmond I CUP Kurt Busch Jamie McMurray racing credit NASCAR via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Ask anyone and they would tell you that a win was inevitable once Kurt Busch returned behind the wheel of the No. 41. He came close a few times but finally closed the deal, leading 291 laps and winning his first race of the season at Richmond. Oh, and by the way, he’s now all …

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Frontstretch NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 After the Food City 500 at Bristol

2015 Bristol I CUP Matt Kenseth burnout credit NASCAR via Getty Images

Photo Credit: NASCAR via Getty Images

I’d like to take this opportunity to pass along my condolences to the entire Byrnes family. #ByrnesStrong It was almost a carbon-copy of the 2014 spring race at Bristol: delay after delay due to rain. However, thanks to lights, the entire race was able to be run… and then some. Matt Kenseth finally broke his …

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Frontstretch NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 After the 2015 Duck Commander 500 at Texas

2015 Texas I CUP Jimmie Johnson six guns credit NASCAR via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Saturday night at Texas Motor Speedway might have foreshadowed the battle for the 2015 Sprint Cup championship between Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick. It was a riveting battle for the win in the final 15 laps. And if Harvick didn’t push his car a bit too far and scrape the wall, it might have been an …

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Aric Almirola, Sam Hornish Jr. Running More Xfinity Races for Biagi-DenBeste

Aric Almirola

Getty Images for NASCAR

Richard Petty Motorsports and Biagi-DenBeste Racing announced today that the two teams will continue their partnership with Aric Almirola and Sam Hornish Jr. in the Xfinity Series. The two drivers will pilot the No. 98 Ford in 10 more Xfinity races. Hornish, who returned to the Sprint Cup Series full-time this season after some time in …

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Frontstretch NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 After the 2015 STP 500 at Martinsville

2015 Martinsville I CUP Denny Hamlin woohoo credit NASCAR via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

It seems, for the time being, that Joe Gibbs Racing is back. JGR cars took three of the top-five finishing positions at Martinsville including David Ragan (fifth), Matt Kenseth (fourth) and winner Denny Hamlin. Carl Edwards finished in 17th position. Hamlin did not lead the most laps, but he led the one that mattered most, …

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Tweet ‘N’ Greet: Aric Almirola, Clint Bowyer, Plus More!

2015 Fontana CUP Kyle Larson Kurt Busch racing credit NASCAR via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Frontstretch will scour Twitter weekly looking for some of the best social media posts from your favorite drivers, crews and NASCAR personalities. These were some of our favorite tweets from the previous week and we hope you enjoy them as well! As I was walking out the door for DC trip today I heard ole …

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