Race Weekend Central

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2015 CampingWorld.com 500 At Phoenix

2015 Phoenix I Cup Kevin Harvick Wins Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Who’s in the headline – Kevin Harvick is starting off the 2015 season in dominating fashion – the first person since Richard Petty in 1974 to start off a season with four straight top-two finishes. Sunday’s victory was his seventh straight, dating back to 2014 and is also second only to The King all-time. Harvick …

Read more

Team Penske Duo Paces 1st 2015 CampingWorld.com 500 Practice at Phoenix

2015 Phoenix I Cup Joey Logano Blake Shelton Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

Photo Credit: NASCAR via Getty Images

The Sun was shining down on Phoenix International Raceway Friday afternoon. For Team Penske, the brightness carried a sense of optimism for of this weekend. Daytona 500 winner Joey Logano set the pace for the first practice session of the weekend in preparation for the Campingworld.com 500. Running a time of 25.942 seconds, Logano took his …

Read more

Four Burning Questions at Phoenix: Busch’s Return and Harvick’s Quest for Four

2015 Las Vegas Cup Kevin Harvick Woohoo Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

The second leg of NASCAR’s new look western swing is on tap for this weekend as the series heads to the quirky Phoenix Int’l Raceway in Avondale, AZ. Phoenix is one of the few truly unique tracks left on the circuit, as it’s slightly banked, dog-leg layout has no equal in auto racing. No track …

Read more

Happiness Is… Competition Cautions, Confusion & Consistency

2014 Texas Ii Cup Paul Wolfe Brad Keselowski Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

Ah, NASCAR.  All professional sports that receive any modicum of attention get to enjoy their tales being played out in the media.  That’s part of the reason that we all pay attention.  This idea isn’t new.  One of the reasons that baseball fascinated people was the offseason, which is how the phrase ‘hot stove’ came …

Read more

NASCAR Issues Penalties Following Las Vegas

Brad Keselowski

Getty Images for NASCAR

NASCAR announced infractions discovered at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway that involve two teams that compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The violations handed down by the sanctioning body affect the No. 2 Miller Lite Ford, driven by Brad Keselowski and the No. 51 Chevrolet, driven by Justin Allgaier. The No. 51 Sprint Cup Series …

Read more

NASCAR Mailbox: Vegas, Inspection and Who will win the West?

Brad Keselowski

Getty Images for NASCAR

With three races down in the 2015 season (two if you’re only counting the new rules package), it’s clear to see this year has picked up pretty much right where 2014 left off. Kevin Harvick in the No. 4 Chevrolet is as fast as he was when he took the title  in Homestead at the …

Read more

NASCAR Sprint Cup Power Rankings: Top 15 After Las Vegas

2015 Las Vegas Cup Kevin Harvick Woohoo Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

After two weeks, Kevin Harvick was tired of being the bridesmaid. For the second week in a row he led the most laps, but this time that number included the most important lap winning the race at Las Vegas. With his third top-2 finish of the season, Harvick further solidified his lead in the points but …

Read more

Did You Notice? … NASCAR’s “Status Quo”

2015 Las Vegas Cup Kasey Kahne Kyle Larson Racing Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

Photo Credit: NASCAR via Getty Images

Did You Notice? … Three of the top 5 drivers in laps led this season are from Hendrick Motorsports? So far this season, as NASCAR evaluates its new rules package, it’s been a case of “status quo” near the top of the leaderboard. A quick look at the top 5 in laps led… Kevin Harvick …

Read more

Five Points to Ponder: Double Centuries, Points Mean Prizes & NASCAR Fantasy

2014 Texas Ii Cup Brad Keselowski Sharpie Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photography)

200 and Counting for Brad Keselowski Brad Keselowski finished his 200th Cup race with a seventh-place finish and nine laps led on Sunday in Las Vegas. The eight-year veteran has picked up 16 victories in his double century of appearances, along with 50 top-5s, 81 top-10s, 3,110 laps led and that all-important maiden championship in …

Read more

The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2015 Kobalt 400 at Las Vegas

2015 Las Vegas Cup Pack Racing Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

Looking for the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How behind Sunday’s race? Amy Henderson has you covered each week with the answers to six race-day questions, covering all five Ws and even the H… the Big Six. Who… gets my shoutout of the race? Racing has never been easy for Brian Vickers. He lost …

Read more

Kyle Larson Leads Friday Las Vegas Cup Practice

2014 Phoenix Ii Cup Kyle Larson Car Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

The intermediate tracks fell right into Kyle Larson‘s hands during his rookie season, and that continued Friday, with Larson setting the pace during the first practice session for the Sprint Cup Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Friday afternoon (March 6). Running a speed of 191.646 mph at 28.177 seconds, Larson’s Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates …

Read more

The Frontstretch Five: Reasons for Optimism in 2015

Crown Royal Presents The John Wayne Walding 400 Practice

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Welcome to the Frontstretch Five! Each week, Amy Henderson takes a look at the racing, the drivers, and the storylines that drive NASCAR and produces a list of five people, places, things and ideas that define the current state of our sport. This week, Amy says there are some good reasons to be optimistic about …

Read more