Race Weekend Central

NASCAR’s Biggest Nightmare: Predictable

2014 Dover II CUP pack racing CIA

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2014)

It was supposed to be a history-making moment. NASCAR’s first ever “Chase elimination” race, the lynchpin of its new format was supposed to make Dover a “Game 7” atmosphere, knocking potential title contenders out of the prizefight early. After Loudon, where top drivers got knocked around like pinballs, the bar was set for aggression, strategy, …

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Quotes to Remember: AAA 400

2014 Dover II CUP Jeff Gordon wins CIA

Credit: CIA Stock Photography

“I don’t know what happened to Kevin Harvick. It was unfortunate for him. He was the class of the field. We were tuning on it to try to keep even with him. When I saw him go out, I knew we could compete with the No.2 (Brad Keselowski) car. The No. 2 was really good …

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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 …

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Chase Drivers Claw Themselves out of New Hampshire

2014 Loudon II CUP Jeff Gordon car CIA

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

As the Canadian National Anthem was invoked prior to the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire, NASCAR drivers did their best to pretend they were from Canada. The 43 drivers hit the track on an overcast Sunday afternoon, and evidently raced as aggressively as an NHL player fighting during a hockey match. The 300-lap spectacle was incredibly important, …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Sylvania 300 – Joey Logano Punches His Ticket While Others Punch the Wall

2014 Loudon II CUP Joey Logano burnout CIA

Key Moment – On the penultimate restart with 29 laps to go, Brad Keselowski started on the inside of leader Kevin Harvick. As they raced through turns one and two, Keselowski slipped up and made slight contact with Harvick, moving him up and out of the groove. Joey Logano pounced on the opportunity and swept …

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Friday Faceoff: Frontrunners, Backmarkers, and a Seat to Fill

2014 Chicago CUP pack racing CIA

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2014)

Welcome to Friday Faceoff! What do you get when you take some hot-button NASCAR topics and hand them over to our dedicated and… er, opinionated staff? A little disagreement and a whole lot of thought-provoking insight! Check out this week’s edition to see what everyone is arguing… um, we mean, discussing this week! Brad Keselowski …

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NASCAR Mailbox: Grand Jury or Grandstanding?

2014 Chicago CUP Tony Stewart car CIA

Credit: CIA Stock Photography

The news we have all been waiting for finally broke on Wednesday in regards to the Tony Stewart / Kevin Ward, Jr. story. With the investigation complete, Ontario County District Attorney Michael Tantillo has decided to present the case to a grand jury, despite the fact that those handling the investigation had previously said that they saw …

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Five Points to Ponder: Echoes of 2012, Logano’s Luck & Loudon Pt. 2

2014 Atlanta CUP Joey Logano CIA

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

ONE: ECHOES OF 2012 What a win that was for Brad Keselowski with a pass – if not quite for the ages, then certainly for highlight reels for 2014 — to take what ultimately proved to be a decisive lead albeit with one more restart at the MyAFibStory.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. Keselowski, it should …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: ESPN Shirking Other Responsibilities During Chase

2014 Loudon I CUP Jamie McMurray car CIA

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

When you think of Chase for the Sprint Cup coverage on TV broadcasts, what do you think of? Coverage of the playoffs, sure, but how about the other 27 drivers racing for something other than the title? Surely you expect some coverage thrown their way, right? If the first race of the Chase, held last …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in NASCAR: Chicago – New Hampshire Edition

2014 Richmond II CUP Clint Bowyer CIA

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2014)

The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup is a chance for 16 of the best drivers to start anew, but with only 10 races, divided into four segments, those drivers have very little time to make an impression and even less room for error before eliminations are made. It’s a fragile state that promises to …

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Racing to the Point: Separating the Chase Contenders & Pretenders

2014 Richmond II CUP Ford Chase drivers CIA

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

This new elimination-style playoff format has many people believing that some of the Chase underdogs have a chance at the title as along as they keep their noses clean and survive each round. I want to dispel that rumor right now. The cream is still going to rise to the top, as it always does. …

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