Race Weekend Central

Did You Notice? Ganassi Kept the Wrong Guy, Logano’s a Little Too Shy & Money Talks

Did You Notice? That for all the Joey Logano hype, not everyone is jumping on the bandwagon quite yet? Certainly, Sunday’s race was a bonified step in the right direction for establishing the 19-year-old as a national superstar. But while Logano shattered the record for being the youngest race winner in NASCAR history, what we’ve …

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Sprint Cup Rookie Report: Out With the New & In With the Old for Phoenix Freshmen

Joey Logano Start: 31st; Finish: 21st Summary: Last Friday, Joe Gibbs Racing president JD Gibbs put to rest the rumors that had his team’s rookie driver out of a job before the end of his first season. But it looked like even a vote of confidence from the boss wasn’t going to be enough to …

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Thompson in Turn 5: Old Controversies, the No. 8 & Aric Almirola are Shelved

On Wednesday, it was reported that the No. 8 Chevrolet team of Earnhardt Ganassi Racing will be scuttled immediately, removing themselves off the entry list for the Subway Fresh Fit 500k at Phoenix International Raceway next Saturday night. And with the news everyone has expected for days now becoming official, two separate issues that had …

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What’s Vexing Vito: Economy or No Economy, Parking No. 8 Car for Phoenix Dumbest Thing Ever

Word has come down from on high at Earnhardt Ganassi Racing that the No. 8 Chevrolet now piloted by Aric Almirola – and formerly by some guy with a goatee and another one with a buzz cut – will be parked until adequate sponsorship can be found. Is this what NASCAR’s come to? As if …

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Who’s Hot/Who’s Not in Sprint Cup: 2009 Samsung 500 at Texas Edition

Jeff Gordon’s large winless streak came to an end Sunday in Texas – where everything is big. But while Gordon had a giant weight lifted off his shoulders, other drivers felt huge swings in the points. Greg Biffle gained eight spots in the standings after his third-place Texas run, while Mark Martin’s sixth-place finish gained …

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Beyond the Cockpit: Aric Almirola Makes a Sales Pitch, Mulls His Future & Signs a Shoe?

After earning a full-time ride for the 2009 season, this was the year Aric Almirola was to step out of the shadows and into the limelight of what’s expected to be a strong Sprint Cup future. Indeed, it’s been a career’s worth of ride sharing for the Florida driver, whose only win in NASCAR’s top-three …

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Bubble Breakdown: Paul Menard Showing Signs of Life While Joey Logano Remains Lifeless

Optimism ran rampant amongst several bubble drivers this weekend as Paul Menard, Sam Hornish Jr. and Joey Logano all posted top-12 qualifying runs. But qualifying pays no points and Texas is a big, fast, nasty track that some of the best drivers have yet to master. So, as the race began questions loomed for those with …

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Sprint Cup Rookie Report: Doomsday Looms Large Leaving Texas as Rookies Face Uncertain Futures

Joey Logano Start: 10th; Finish: 30th Summary: The weekend started out strong for the Joe Gibbs Racing newcomer when he recorded his second best Sprint Cup qualifying effort and his best under “normal” procedures (Logano’s career-high is a ninth-place start earned through the Gatorade Duels for the 2009 Daytona 500.) But 10th would be as …

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Sprint Cup Rookie Report: The Bristol Stomp on Joey Logano’s Solid Finish & Scott Speed’s Bubble Hopes

Joey Logano Start: 23rd; Finish: 38th Summary: In Sunday’s FOX “rookie profile,” Logano alluded to the fact he thought it was a crazy idea to make a half-mile track like Bristol – a place so small, yet so quick. Logano actually had a decent day going for him at Thunder Valley at one point, but …

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