Race Weekend Central

Holding a Pretty Wheel: The 2 NHMS Gems You Probably Didn’t See

LOUDON, N.H. – Each Monday in the Frontstretch newsletter, Tom Bowles brings readers the “Secret Star of the Race.” This is the driver who has a great run but gets little mention on television, not getting the credit he deserves for a strong performance. Thinking about that this weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, I …

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The Yellow Stripe: Sizing Up the Standings, What’s Left to Decide in 2008 for NASCAR’s Top-3 Series

And then there were five. There are just 33 days left (and 14 races across all three series) in the 2008 NASCAR season, and we’re getting inexorably closer to the time of year the prizes are handed out. So, with a little over a month left in the season, let’s take a look at where …

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Tearing Apart the Trucks: NASCAR Announces an Engine Change & More

Horsepower Reduction Looks to Level Playing Field for Remainder of 2008 This week, NASCAR announced an engine change in the Craftsman Truck Series. Effective Sept. 3, 2008, Section 20B-5.10.4 of the rulebook now states, “At all Events, unless otherwise specified, all engines with a cylinder bore spacing less than 4.470 inches must compete using a …

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Tearing Apart the Trucks: No Truck Series – A Hypothetical ‘What If?’

This weekend, the drivers of the Craftsman Truck Series head to Michigan International Speedway for the Cool City Customs 200. Of course Kyle Busch will be running all three races, but I want to ponder a hypothetical question – what if there were no more Truck Series? Before you panic, let me explain where the …

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Did You Notice? Nice Guys Finish Last, NASCAR’s Diversity Nightmare & Chase Vulnerability

Did You Notice? That one of the compelling themes in NASCAR as of late is proof of the phrase, “Nice guys finish last?” David Reutimann is the latest example; known as a man who won’t bump anyone out of the way in order to get to the front, Reutimann got loose with Clint Bowyer oh-so-close behind …

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Mirror Driving: A Busch-Edwards Rivalry? Truck Series Prospects? & Judging the Season at Halfway

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: Tony Lumbis (Mondays/Rookie Report) Vito Pugliese (Tuesdays/Voice 0f Vito) Mike Neff (Wednesdays/Power Rankings & …

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Tearing Apart the Trucks: 2008 Truck Series Rookies Start to Improve

Last weekend at Mansfield Motorsports Park, Truck Series rookie of the year contender Donny Lia surprised himself and the world of NASCAR with his last-lap pass on David Starr to score his first career Craftsman Truck Series victory in just his eighth start. When Starr took the white flag for the final half-mile around the …

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Did You Notice? How to Start & Park, Why Nationwide Series is Dying & Crew Chief Free Agency

Did You Notice? All the talk about Nationwide Series teams looking to pull out of the series with the advent of the Car of Tomorrow? Well, it goes far beyond whether or not car owners will be able to afford the new car; frankly, the purse money for the series isn’t proving a justifiable reward for …

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Fan’s View: Sitting in NASCAR’s Victory Lane, Who Deserves to Be There?

I suppose the argument could be made that none of the drivers sitting in NASCAR’s victory lane this weekend should have been there. Over in the Truck Series, Donny Lia managed to make a name for himself on the national grid by doing what any modified driver does best; he moved the competition over in …

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Tearing Apart the Trucks: Truck Series’ Final Showdown for 2007

This is it. This is what you’ve been waiting all season for. Tonight, someone is going to be crowned the 2007 Craftsman Truck Series champion. In the very first “battle of the grandfathers” Ron Hornaday Jr. and Mike Skinner will face off for the final time. Going into the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Skinner …

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