Race Weekend Central

10 Points to Ponder… After the 2007 Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond

1. The Dale Earnhardt Jr. 400 – Oh, you mean that wasn’t the name of Saturday night’s race at Richmond? Could have fooled me. Earnhardt’s odds of making the Chase were ridiculously slim going into Richmond, making ESPN/ABC’s singular focus on him both ridiculous and way over the top. 2. Abracadabra – And presto, chango. …

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Matt McLaughlin’s Driver Handicaps: 2007 Richmond Fall Race Edition

Jeff Gordon – Gordon has won here twice and has top-10 finishes in 17 of 29 starts… but his track record lately at Richmond is worrisome. His fourth-place finish in the spring arrested a streak of four straight finishes of 30th or worse, including a disastrous performance in 2005 that locked him out of NASCAR’s …

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Fantasy Picks ‘N’ Pans: 2007 Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond Edition

For 12 drivers, it all comes down to this. OK, that’s overstating the drama heading into this Saturday’s race at Richmond; but by the end of the night, the remaining positions in the Chase will be filled before the points are reset for the top 12. Unfortunately, for most fantasy owners, there isn’t a redo …

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Matt McLaughlin’s Driver Handicaps: 2007 Fontana Summer Race Edition

Jeff Gordon – Gordon won the inaugural race at Fontana in 1997 and has won two additional Cup races here. He finished second at the track this spring and has top-five finishes in half of his 14 Cup starts. Denny Hamlin – Hamlin has been lukewarm to mildly hot at Fontana. In three Cup starts, …

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Who’s Hot/Who’s Not in Nextel Cup: 2007 Sharpie 500 at Bristol Edition

For some, the racing at Bristol Saturday night was the best it has been in years. For others, it was a Bristol race in name only, with no fireworks and little excitement. But no matter which side of the fence you are on, there were plenty of winners and losers coming out of the annual …

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Matt McLaughlin’s Driver Handicaps: 2007 Bristol Night Race Edition

Jeff Gordon – Gordon has won five Cup races at Bristol, but only one of those wins was in the August Night Race. Still, with 18 top-10 finishes in 29 starts here, Gordon figures to be a factor Saturday night. Denny Hamlin – Hamlin finished sixth in this race last year. This spring, he led …

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Matt McLaughlin’s Driver Handicaps: 2007 Michigan Summer Race Edition

Jeff Gordon – Gordon has two wins at Michigan, with the most recent triumph coming in 2001. Overall, he has 20 top-10 finishes in 29 Cup starts in the Irish Hills, with an average finish of 10th… not too shabby. Denny Hamlin – Hamlin has run moderately well at Michigan in his short career, with …

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Matt McLaughlin’s Driver Handicaps: 2007 Watkins Glen Race Edition

Jeff Gordon – Gordon is one of the better NASCAR road racers. While he has four wins at Watkins Glen, oddly enough he hasn’t had a top-10 finish here in five races – he’s finished outside the top 20 in three of those events. But don’t be fooled; Gordon also has five wins at Sonoma, …

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Holding a Pretty Wheel: Jeff Gordon Won AGAIN?! & Is Dale Earnhardt Jr. Going to Be Any Good? It was 10 Years Ago…

The world tilted when Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced he was leaving Dale Earnhardt Incorporated and headed for the sun when he announced he was going to Hendrick.