Race Weekend Central

Casey Mears Re-Signs with Germain Racing Through 2018

Casey Mears Bank Of America 500 2015 Charlotte Cup Mike Neff

Photo Credit: Mike Neff, Frontstretch

It’s been a slow silly season so far in the Cup Series but today business picked up a little bit when it was announced that Casey Mears has signed a multi-year extension with Germain Racing. Mears will be with the organization, driving the team’s No. 13 in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, through the 2018 season. The …

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The Frontstretch 5: Random Foods for Thought

2015 Texas Ii Cup Jeff Gordon Final Rodeo Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

1. Quintessential… wait, WHAT? Color me confused. Brian France called Joey Logano’s move to win at Kansas, where Logano got into a hard-blocking Matt Kenseth, “quintessential NASCAR” and the fans booed.  Kenseth called Jimmie Johnson’s ultra-clean pass for the win at Texas “quintessential,” and the fans cheered. When, exactly, did that happen? And how long …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2015 Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas

2015 Kansas Ii Cup Austin Dillon Crash Damage Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? It has to be difficult to know that you’ve run well almost everywhere you’ve raced, despite running for a part-time, underfunded team, and to still not know where you’ll be racing next year. That’s Ryan Blaney‘s reality; unless he’s picked up by an established team like Roush Fenway …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2015 AAA 400 at Dover

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Photo Credit: Zach Catanzareti, Frontstretch

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? While the focus Sunday was on the Chase, there were a few non-Chase drivers looking to make a splash, and Aric Almirola played the spoiler fairly well, grabbing a top-five finish. Almirola didn’t miss the Chase by much while running for a team with much less funding than …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2015 Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire

2015 Loudon Ii Cup Danica Patrick Crash Damage Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)­

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? In the midst of a terrible season, small gains are something to hang your hat on, and for three-time Cup champion Tony Stewart, any small gain is worth a small measure of relief. Stewart finished 11th on Sunday, posting his best run since Pocono in August, despite bringing …

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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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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2015 myAFibRisk.com 400 at Chicagoland

2015 Chicago Cup Pack Racing Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? With the Chase underway, it’s hard to be a fan of a driver who didn’t make the cut because if he’s not winning a race or tangling with a Chase driver, he’s going to be largely ignored for the rest of the season. Such was the case in …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2015 Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond

2015 Richmond Ii Cup Matt Kenseth Grin Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)­

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? For some drivers, Saturday night represented one last chance to grab a Chase spot with a win, and one driver who gave it everything he had was Aric Almirola. Almirola drove his way forward for most of the night, but managed only fourth. While he didn’t make the final …

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Kyle Larson and Kevin Harvick Win 2015 Federated Auto Parts 400 Practices at Richmond

2015 Darlington Cup Kyle Larson Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

One driver needs a win to make the Chase. The other is already in. Both paced a practice on Friday. Who are they? Kyle Larson and Kevin Harvick. Larson, last year’s Rookie of the Year, led the first of two Sprint Cup practices at Richmond International Raceway with a lap of 125.525 mph. He was …

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NASCAR 101: Can Anyone Clinch a Chase Spot with a Win?

2015 Darlington Cup Jeff Gordon Car Cia

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

You’ve heard it all year: win and you’re in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Well, this weekend marks the final chance for a driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series to do so. By scoring a victory, while also being inside the top 30 in points and having attempted every race of the season …

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2015 Chase for the Sprint Cup Clinch Scenarios

2015 Richmond I Cup Kurt Busch Wins Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will invade Richmond International Raceway this weekend for the final regular season race on the 2015 calendar. That means numerous drivers who have not already locked themselves into the Chase will be eager to do so on Saturday night. NASCAR released the clinch scenarios for this weekend’s race: Regardless of …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2015 Irwin Tool Night Race at Bristol

2015 Bristol Ii Cup Joey Logano Burnout Ii Cia

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? NASCAR is a high-pressure business, and that goes double when a driver is looking for a ride. This week, Clint Bowyer performed admirably under that pressure. Making it clear from the beginning he had a fast car, Bowyer showed he was a top-five threat. When he spun with teammate …

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