Race Weekend Central

Tweet ‘N’ Greet: Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Niece Gets Driver’s Permit

2015 Loudon Ii Cup Brad Keselowski Family Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

ATTENTION local North Carolinian residents. My niece @KarsynElledge3 passed her drivers Ed test. Proceed with caution! Congrats Karsyn!! ?? — Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) September 23, 2015 Dale Earnhardt Jr. posted a disclaimer for those who live in North Carolina. Earnhardt then announced the news of his niece passing the state’s drivers’ education test on …

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Frontstretch NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 After the 2015 Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire

2015 Loudon Ii Cup Denny Hamlin Window Cia

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

Two races into the Chase and the Challenger Round continues to surprise and excite. After trouble in Chicago, Kevin Harvick knew he had to win to advance to the Contender Round. It looked like he was going to just that as he dominated most of the race, but he couldn’t stretch his fuel mileage far enough, …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in NASCAR: 2015 AAA 400 at Dover Edition

2015 Loudon Ii Cup Greg Biffle Car Cia

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

We’re at the place in the Chase where the pressure is really on when the Sprint Cup Series goes to Dover next weekend. It’s the first elimination race and we will see who the first four out will be. And after Sunday’s race at New Hampshire, it’s just not really clear cut who will be …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Chase Focus Continues to Haunt NBCSN

2015 Loudon Ii Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr Pack Racing Cia

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

Loudon is traditionally a quick race by Sprint Cup standards. As a result, there isn’t quite as much action to show on broadcasts. The track itself also doesn’t necessarily equate to the most competitive outing. It’s hard as heck to pass. Just because it’s Loudon doesn’t mean you get a pass on these things. Sylvania …

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Beside the Rising Tide: A Fine Line For Brad Keselowski On Restart

2015 Loudon Ii Cup Brad Keselowski Paul Wolfe Cia

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

Down here it’s just winners and losers, baby, And don’t get caught on the wrong side of that line… -Bruce Springsteen- Be Careful of What You Wish For – Everyone from the drivers right down to us lowly fans asked NASCAR to start policing their own restart rules after some very controversial calls the last …

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Matt Kenseth Wins 2015 Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway

2015 Loudon Ii Cup Matt Kenseth Woohoo Cia

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

It was a wild and controversial Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday. It came down to fuel strategy as Kevin Harvick‘s No. 4 Chevrolet was out in front of the field in the closing stages. Harvick and had a miscommunication and stayed out when the final caution fell on lap 237 after …

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Kickin’ the Tires: Was Brad Keselowski Singled-out By NASCAR?

2015 Chicago Cup Paul Wolfe Brad Keselowski Cia

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

Whether or not Brad Keselowski was singled out by NASCAR is actually irrelevant, because there is always a difference between reality and whatever the perception of reality is. And in Keselowski’s case, he perceived that he was being picked on and penalized for jumping the restart as an example. From the beginning, this column has been accused …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2015 Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire

2015 Loudon Ii Cup Matt Kenseth Wins Cia

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

Who’s in the headline – The headlines are crowded after Loudon, but Matt Kenseth gets the bold print. Kevin Harvick tried to stretch fuel but came up two laps short and Brad Keselowski was penalized for jumping a restart, which took him out of contention for the win. Kenseth was the driver who conserved his equipment …

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4 Burning Questions at New Hampshire: Will Kevin Harvick Play Nice?

2015 Richmond Ii Cup Kevin Harvick Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

1. WHO CAN BEAT JOE GIBBS RACING? Following the first race of the Chase, Joe Gibbs Racing is sitting pretty. The team’s four cars are sitting first through fourth in points, injured driver Denny Hamlin is through to the next round by virtue of his win at Chicagoland and they have won nine of the …

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Did You Notice? 2nd Really is the 1st Loser

Joey Logano And Kevin Harvick Bristol 2015 Cup Mike Neff

(Photo Credit: Mike Neff, Frontstretch)

Did You Notice? Kevin Harvick’s year of “almosts” is finally catching up to him? The reigning champ’s Chase is in serious jeopardy after contact with Jimmie Johnson led to a wreck and a 42nd-place finish. The incident was clearly not Harvick’s fault; it was a case of wrong place, wrong time on a hectic restart …

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Frontstretch NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 After the 2015 Myafibrisk.com 400 at Chicagoland

2015 Chicago Cup Denny Hamlin Hot Dog Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)­­

One race into the Chase and fists are already flying. The incident between Kevin Harvick and Jimmie Johnson might have been unintentional, but the results could take Harvick out of Chase contention after the first round… unless he wins within the next two weeks, of course. Then will all be forgiven? Denny Hamlin made the “spin-and-win” …

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The Frontstretch 5: Ridiculous Racing Fights

2015 Chicago Cup Danica Patrick Helmet Cia

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

Notice that the title of this column is “ridiculous fights,” and not actual, intense or compelling fights. These are short-lived, one-sided, wimpy, “what just happened there?” fights that make the highlight reel because because they’re ridiculous. 1. Harvick vs. Johnson, Chicago 2015 We all saw this one go down on Sunday at Chicago, and it …

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