Race Weekend Central

Who’s Hot/Who’s Not in Sprint Cup: 2008 Samsung 500 at Texas Edition

It’s been a while since there’s been a scary accident in any of NASCAR’s three premier series; so, needless to say, Michael McDowell‘s qualifying crash at Texas raised a few eyebrows when it comes to safety in the sport. It’s a wreck he could have easily not walked away from; but luckily, the improvements have …

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Fantasy Picks ‘N’ Pans: 2008 Samsung 500 at Texas Edition

After two weeks of short-track racing, the Sprint Cup Series heads to the wide open spaces of Texas Motor Speedway for this weekend’s Samsung 500. They say things are often bigger and better in Texas; but that does that equate for success for your fantasy team? With only one repeat winner in 13 races at …

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Frontstretch NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 After the 2008 Goody’s Cool Orange 500 at Martinsville

After another session of good ol’ rubbin’ and racin’ at Martinsville, the votes are in on where the Frontstretch staffers feel the drivers fall in the hierarchy of the current Power Rankings. The results may surprise you: Dale Earnhardt Jr. has scaled the mountain even though he hasn’t won a race yet, while teammates Jeff Gordon …

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Happy Hour: Hendrick’s Recent Performance at Martinsville Inspirational

Much has been said and written about the perceived fall from dominance of Hendrick Motorsports. It is the farthest they’ve gone into a season without a victory since 2003. Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson are out of the top 12, Casey Mears is struggling to stay in the Top 35, etc. It seems as though this …

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Fantasy Picks ‘N’ Pans: 2008 Goody’s Cool Orange 500 at Martinsville

The quiet Easter break comes to a screeching halt this Sunday as the Sprint Cup drivers take to the Virginia paperclip known as Martinsville Speedway. Festively painted Easter eggs give way to brightly painted stock cars; and you can bet that on the circuit’s smallest track, more than one car will end up cracked by …

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Mirror Driving: Veterans Driving Junk, Who’s in a Funk & Will Chrissy Wallace Flunk?

Chrissy Wallace, daughter of driver Mike Wallace, is set to make her debut in one of NASCAR’s top-three series this week. Has Wallace proven her talent?

Holding a Pretty Wheel: Dog & Pony Show for Sponsors Can Leave NASCAR Fans With a Flea Circus

Over the years, the sponsor landscape has changed drastically, from one of small, mostly local automotive-driven businesses to one of billion-dollar international corporations who pump millions into the race teams for the right to paint their logo on the hood of a racecar. And in return, they get a polite, smiling racecar driver to come …

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Mirror Driving: Toyota Triumphs, Penalties Confuse & Hendrick Heartache?

Toyota broke through with their first Sprint Cup win as a manufacturer on Sunday. What else can we expect from them throughout 2008?

Matt McLaughlin Mouths Off: What is Right with NASCAR Racing

More than occasionally, I am chided by readers for being too negative about the sport I cover. I am labeled a prophet of gloom and doom; though all too often, my predictions have borne out. That raises a question in some reader’s minds as to why I continue covering a sport that gets me so …

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Fantasy Picks ‘N’ Pans: 2008 Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta

After a weekend in Sin City, there are always those select few who fly home happy after hitting the jackpot… and just as many who wind up empty handed after going bust. Case in point: if your fantasy team last week had Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth on it, you’re probably feeling a bit …

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