Race Weekend Central

Joe Nemechek Replacing David Ragan at Atlanta

2014 Loudon I Cup David Ragan Cia

Photo: CIA Stock Photography

The speculation can end: Front Row Motorsports announced today that Joe Nemechek will drive the No. 34 CSX-Play It Safe Ford Fusion in the Folds of Honor QuickTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend. According to FRM’s Twitter account, Nemechek will be filling in for David Ragan, who is substituting indefinitely for an injured Kyle …

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NASCAR Sprint Cup Power Rankings: Top 15 After Daytona

2015 Daytona I Cup Joey Logano Woohoo Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

After a Speedweeks that can be described as nothing else but crazy, Sunday saw a somewhat tame Daytona 500…if you can call multiple laps of three-wide racing for the lead at 200 mph tame. The race ended under yellow for a multi-car accident after the field took the white flag. Joey Logano, who led 31 …

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The Frontstretch Five: Drivers Who Need a Strong Run in Atlanta

2014 Talladega Ii Cup Jimmie Johnson Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

(Credit: 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 has a few drivers who need a strong showing this …

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NASCAR Mailbox: Daytona, Atlanta, and the Busch Brothers

2015 Daytona I Cup Joey Logano Trophy Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

(Credit: NASCAR via Getty Images)

What else can fans ask for out of the official start of our season? Daytona brought firsts in terms of victories for two young drivers; in the Camping World Truck Series for 19 year-old Tyler Reddick in the No. 19 Ford for Brad Keselowski, and in the XFINITY Series for 21 year-old Ryan Reed in …

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UPDATE: David Ragan, Erik Jones to Replace Kyle Busch; Busch Released from Halifax Health Medical Center, Transferred

Fronstretch Feature Image

Getty Images for NASCAR

The hunt continues to find a driver to replace Kyle Busch in the No. 18 M&M’s Toyota. Tuesday morning, however NBC Sports is reporting David Ragan has emerged as the leading candidate, set to split the ride with Erik Jones. Ragan’s emergence was a surprise with his ties to Ford. Under a full-time contract to drive the No. …

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Holding a Pretty Wheel: The Triumph & Pain of the Budweiser Duels

2014 Daytona Duels Cup Trevor Bayne Justin Allgaier Kurt Busch Landon Cassill Cia 430

(Photo: CIA Stock Photography)

There’s always tension surrounding the qualifying races for the Daytona 500 – after all, at stake is inclusion in the season’s biggest and first event. Under the current rules, few teams are 100 percent safe, and for some of the smaller teams hoping to make the show, it’s downright nerve-wracking. At the end of the …

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The Frontstretch Five: Underdogs to Watch in Daytona

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 has a few drivers who you might not look at …

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CSX Transportation Renews Sponsorship with David Ragan

2014 Martinsville Ii Cup David Ragan Wendell Scott Car Cia

Today at Daytona 500 Media Day, David Ragan and Front Row Motorsports announced an eight-race sponsorship deal with CSX Transportation. The company, which has been a sponsor the last two seasons on the No.34 Front Row Motorsports Ford, will promote its Play It Safe campaign. ““I’ve really enjoyed working with all the great people at CSX,” …

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Did You Notice? … Distinguishing NASCAR Dreams From Reality

2014 Texas Ii Cup Ricky Stenhouse Jr Face Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

Did You Notice? … The audience increased for this year’s version of the Chase? Homestead ratings, released Tuesday wrapped up the latest ten-race version of NASCAR’s playoff, a 3.1 Nielsen number flat year-to-year but still good enough to keep the audience rising. Yes, executives around the sport are trumpeting how much this postseason boosted interest. …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in NASCAR: Martinsville – Texas Edition

2014 Chicago Cup David Ragan Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

The Eliminator Round is underway and already multiple drivers are in trouble. The tight confines of Martinsville Speedway proved challenging for some as new rivalries were ignited and older ones brought back to life. Yet, some championship hopefuls escaped with little more than a scratch and one driver – unfulfilled by last week’s restrictor plate …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500

2014 Martinsville Ii Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr Burnout Cia

Credit: CIA Stock Photography

Key Moment – During the caution flag that flew for the third incident between Kasey Kahne and Brian Vickers on lap 278, Steve Letarte realized that Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was going to restart in the fourth position, which would have put him in the outside line. Letarte called Earnhardt in, put four tires on his …

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