Race Weekend Central

4 Burning Questions in Talladega: What Should We Expect from Dale Earnhardt Jr.?

Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

1. Is the Current Rules Package for Plate Races the Best It’s Been? Plate racing is a tough business for NASCAR. It may be exclusive to the sport, but we don’t seem to have a strong handle of what makes “good” plate racing. From the introduction to the restrictor plate in 1988, to tandem-style racing, …

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NASCAR 101: The Sprint Cup Series’ Best on Restarts

2015 Bank of America 500 Kevin Harvick Charlotte Cup Mike Neff

(Photo Credit: Mike Neff, Frontstretch)

Let’s say this weekend’s race at Talladega Superspeedway ends with a green-white-checkered finish. Not a given, but not unlikely, either. In the last five years, the Sprint Cup Series has gone over the scheduled distance of 500 miles 10 times, while others – like last year’s Aaron’s 499, which was set up for a green-white-checkered until …

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Did You Notice? Why Talladega Is Still NASCAR’s Heart Attack In Waiting

2015 Talladega I CUP Austin Dillon fire credit NASCAR via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Did You Notice? The number of green-white-checkered finishes has been reduced for Talladega? NASCAR announced Tuesday it’s down to one instead of the standard three to help curb the carnage seen since the rule was put in place last decade. The change has its merit although it’s less likely to be used than you think. The …

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Frontstretch NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 After the 2015 Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas

2015 Kansas II CUP Joey Logano Flag Chris Trotman/NASCAR via Getty Images

(Photo: Chris Trotman/NASCAR via Getty Images)

Joey Logano will be the only driver sleeping well this weekend at Talladega. After contact with leader Matt Kenseth in the closing laps, Logano took his second straight checkered flag and is the only driver with a win in the Contender Round. Hendrick Motorsports put three drivers in the top 10 led by non-chase contenders …

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Bowles-Eye View: Hendrick’s Chase Of Horrors

2015 Dale Earnhardt Jr Bank of America 500 Charlotte Cup Mike Neff

Photo Credit: Mike Neff, Frontstretch

Hendrick Motorsports is still considered the New York Yankees of Sprint Cup. With 11 total championships, a record five in a row by Jimmie Johnson and 237 career victories on the Cup circuit they are unquestioned leaders in modern NASCAR performance. Even during their down years, the team has come up big for Stewart-Haas Racing, …

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4 Burning Questions in Kansas: Can Busch Brothers Bring It Home In Kansas?

Kyle Busch Bank of America 500 2015 Charlotte Cup Mike Neff

Photo Credit: Mike Neff, Frontstretch

1. Should Kansas be overlooked heading to Talladega? Heck. No. In fact, if you have forgotten about this weekend’s race at Kansas shame, shame, shame on you. Still hot off a repave in 2012, this intermediate has come into its own as one of the series’ best. The 1.5-mile oval has become a center of misfortune, producing …

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Friday Faceoff: Revamping Rules and Racetracks

2008 O'Reilly Raceway Park NNS Landscape NASCAR Media

(Photo: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

After a Saturday night rainout, the Bank of America 500 ran on Sunday afternoon. Should NASCAR consider making it a day race, as it was through 2002? Mike Neff, Short Track Coordinator: At this point, I don’t know. I hate night races. There should be two night races per season: the Bristol night race and …

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2-Headed Monster: Should NASCAR Get Rid of Night Races?

2014 Bristol II CUP Paul Menard Kyle Larson Joey Logano racing CIA

(Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

Night races used to be a main highlight of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule. From the old Winston to August’s Bristol night race, every event NASCAR held under the lights had added significance. Fans showed up early and burned the midnight oil at their favorite tracks as races ran well into the evening. Unfortunately for …

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Frontstretch NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 After the 2015 Bank of America 500 at Charlotte

2015 Moffitt Annett Busch Bank of America 500 Charlotte Cup Mike Neff

Photo Credit: Mike Neff, Frontstretch

If Kevin Harvick is the championship favorite, Joey Logano is the “sleeper”… or at least he was. After a dominating performance last weekend in Charlotte Motor Speedway, if anyone had forgotten about the 25-year-old driver as a potential championship contender, they certainly are looking at him now. Though Harvick mounted a strong charge, he wasn’t …

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Tweet ‘N’ Greet: Kasey Kahne Becomes Newest Father in NASCAR

2015 Richmond II CUP Kasey Kahne smile CIA

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

I officially became a dad at 1:11 AM to Tanner Lee Kahne. Mom and tanner are doing great. On no sleep but we can't put this little guy down — Kasey Kahne (@kaseykahne) October 13, 2015 Kasey Kahne became the newest father in the world of NASCAR on Tuesday. Kahne shared the news on his …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in NASCAR: 2015 Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Edition

2015 Joey Logano Bank of America 500 Charlotte Cup Mike Neff

Photo Credit: Mike Neff, Frontstretch

It was sort of back to the beginning again for the 12 drivers who advanced to the second round of the Chase. It just means what they did to make into the final 12, didn’t hold any water when it comes to trying to make the final eight. And already, after one rain-delayed race, there …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2015 Bank of America 500 at Charlotte

Joey Logano Bank of America 500 Finish Cup Mike Neff

Photo Credit: Mike Neff, Frontstretch

Who’s in the headline – For the third week in a row, a driver led more than half of the laps in a race, and for the second week in a row that driver won. Joey Logano took the lead on lap 77 of the event and, outside of pit-stop cycles under green flags, Logano …

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