Race Weekend Central

Nuts for Nationwide: 28 Down, 7 to Go in NASCAR’s 2nd Series in 2008

In a sure sign that life moves pretty fast and I’m getting older by the day, we’re down to just seven races to go before the crowning of the inaugural NASCAR Nationwide Series champion. I feel like it was only yesterday that I wrote a Nuts for Nationwide column entitled 4 down, 31 to go. …

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Did You Notice? Stewart’s Sabotage, Ragan Rattled, Bowyer’s Cheap Shot & Richmond Beauty

Did You Notice? How much better the racing was at Richmond when just a handful of cars were racing for points? All over the track on Sunday, it looked like drivers were shot out of a cannon, released from the shackles of having to calculate what’ll happen if they play it safe and run 17th. …

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Frontstretch NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 After the 2008 Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond

The regular season has come to an end, and like it or not, the fifth year of the Chase is upon us. There are 12 drivers now eligible to win the Cup Series title, unlike the two or three who’d be in contention under the old points system. But even though the list has expanded, …

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The Yellow Stripe: A NASCAR Chase Dream Broken – Who Just Missed, Who Just Didn’t Make It & Who Busted Up Trying

It’s postseason time in NASCAR, and despite it being the only points-paying system I’ve ever known, I still find it weird to hear the announcers, commentators, and analysts throwing around words like “postseason,” “playoff berths” and “wildcards.” That’s football or baseball terminology – even to this Brit. But here we are, I suppose, and regardless …

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And Then There Were 12: Richmond Unkind to David Ragan & Kasey Kahne

After 26 races, over 7,000 laps and waiting out a tropical storm; Sunday’s Chevy Rock & Roll 400 was the final chance for seven drivers to take their best shot at claiming one of the five remaining positions left in the 2008 Chase for the Championship. In the end, 12 drivers and teams can celebrate …

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Mirror Driving: California Snoozin’ While Jimmie Johnson’s Cruisin’

Welcome to Mirror Driving. Every week, your favorite columnists sit down and give their opinion about the latest NASCAR news and rumors. Love us or hate us, make a comment below and tell us how you feel about what we’ve said! This Week’s Participants: Amy Henderson (Fridays/Holding a Pretty Wheel) Bryan Davis Keith (Thursdays/Picks ‘N’ Pans & …

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Did You Notice? Ragan’s Rise Equals Kenseth’s Fall? A Chase Race to Safety & Stewart’s Success

Did You Notice? How different things look now for David Ragan now than at this point a year ago? Let’s take a look at the stats through 25 races of his rookie season: Zero wins, one top five (Daytona 500 in February), one top 10 (that same Daytona), two DNFs, 22nd in driver points and getting …

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Thompson in Turn 5: Richmond a “Must-See” Event

NASCAR’s long schedule has always become tedious for race fans who, as the season wears on, invariably suffer from stock car “burnout” to one degree or another. Expecting fans to sit through all 36 scheduled points races and the two exhibition races in a 52-week year is asking way too much and generally won’t happen. …

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Frontstretch NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 After the 2008 Pepsi 500 at Fontana

California is a wide-open track with plenty of room to run. The drivers had to struggle with the sun as it was going down and ultimately struggled with making their cars handle as the track cooled off. The end result was Jimmie Johnson won the race and moved up two spots in the rankings this …

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Who’s Hot/Who’s Not in Sprint Cup: 2008 Pepsi 500 at Fontana Edition

One race is all that remains between now and this year’s much anticipated Chase. While half of the top 12 head to Richmond with a win-or-lose mentality after locking in their place in the Chase, a number of teams must run smart and post a solid finish to simply make the playoffs. Clint Bowyer holds …

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