Race Weekend Central

Fantasy Insider: NASCAR Flat Track Fortunes

2014 Pocono I CUP Dale Earnhardt Jr trophy CIA

Can Dale Earnhardt, Jr. complete the Pocono sweep this weekend at Pocono?

This is generally considered the hottest time of the year in most parts of the nation and when you’re looking for good fantasy picks for your team, you’re looking for who the hottest drivers will be. One driver in the past capable of running off a rare winning streak in NASCAR was Jeff Gordon. He …

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Four Burning Questions at the Brickyard: The Drive for Five and an IndyCar Ringer

2014 Loudon I CUP Jimmie Johnson garage CIA

(Photo: CIA Stock Photography, Inc. ©2014)

Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Simply reading those three words in succession should incite a fit of shivers up the spine of any race fan worth his/her salt. NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series will invade the historic facility today for the 21st annual Brickyard 400. It seems wild to think that Indianapolis has been on the schedule for …

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Holding A Pretty Wheel: Everyone’s Got An Achilles’ Heel

2014 Kentucky CUP Jimmie Johnson car CIA

(Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

It seems as though the 2014 Sprint Cup Series season started just last week, but suddenly it’s midsummer and the countdown to the Chase is in the single digits and clicking lower. It’s been a quirky season — teams who looked unbeatable early faded, teams who looked out to lunch surged into the spotlight. A …

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Going By the Numbers: Final 7 Races Offer Dividends for Kahne, Kenseth Among Others

2014 Loudon I CUP Kasey Kahne smiling CIA

Say what you will about the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule — no, really; there’s a lot to say — but one thing it’s been as of late is consistent. As the series comes off its final off-weekend of the 2014 season, there are but 17 races left in the season. A quick glance at …

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Voices from the Cheap Seats: After Giving It Some Thought…

2014 Kentucky I NNS Kevin HArvick trophy CIA

(Credit: CIA)

There have been a few issues arising recently in the world of NASCAR about which I have been loquaciously silent. Loquacious is sort of like deafening silence, for those of you still wondering what it means (or maybe the opposite… look it up!). However, as anyone who knows me personally will tell you, I don’t …

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Four Burning Questions on the Off-Week: Title Favorites, Silly Season Rumors, and Chase Predictions

Jimmis Johnson and Casey Mears race at Kentucky Speedway July 2014.

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2014)­­

It’s a rare off-week in NASCAR-land, and as the men and women who make up the Sprint Cup Series enjoy some well-earned vacation time, the sport’s observers are left to reflect on the season that’s been as we sit at the de facto halfway point of the schedule. The 2014 season has been an interesting …

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Happiness Is…Ford, Foreign Countries and Getting Paid

2014 Loudon I CUP Joey Logano spin CIA

Joey Logano and Morgan Shepherd spin at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. (Credit: CIA)

It’s time to hammer down on NASCAR’s superficial Topic of the Week, sponsored by Prune Candy.  For this week’s edition, it’s the Joey Logano – Morgan Shepherd incident.  Heard enough about it?  Read enough about it?  Any fan of the sport should be able to check the Yes box on that one. Much of the …

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Voice of Vito: Mid-Season Musings

2014 Loudon I CUP Joey Logano spin CIA

Joey Logano and Morgan Shepherd spin at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. (Credit: CIA)

Morgan’s Meltdown      Wow the kids sure got angry over the incident with Morgan Shepherd and Joey Logano this Sunday at New Hampshire! Not sure why – between this and Jimmie Johnson blowing two tires in less than 15 laps, it was the only real action of the day. Logano’s ire was understandable, though the age …

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Mirror Driving: Dominance, Age Limits, and This Is Only a Test?

Pack racing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2014)­­

Welcome to Mirror Driving. Every week, your favorite columnists sit down and give their opinion about the latest NASCAR news, rumors and controversy. 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 (Mondays / The Big Six & Wednesdays / …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not: New Hampshire – Off Week Edition

2014 Loudon I CUP Kyle Busch car CIA

Kyle Busch in his No. 18 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. (Credit: CIA)

A stop at New Hampshire Motor Speedway marked the end of TNT’s Summer Series and a served as a precursor to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ last off-week, or calm before the storm that is the wicked countdown to the Chase and the highly anticipated playoff eliminators. This edition of Who’s Hot and Who’s Not …

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Five Points to Ponder: A Week Off, the Lost Shepherd and Burton’s (Possibly) Final Run

2014 Loudon I CUP Brad Keselowski Roger Penske CIA

(Credit: CIA)

ONE: A MUCH DESERVED WEEK OFF It’s a temporary respite this weekend for the Sprint Cup circus as NASCAR’s top series goes dark for one final time before the stretch run to the finish in November. For the drivers, crews and teams it’s a chance to catch their collective breath ahead of a grueling 17 …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud – New Hampshire – Keselowski Turns the Competition Redd

2014 Loudon Brad Keselowski Trophy Credit CIA

Key Moment – The Penske cars were both strong at New Hampshire, with Brad Keselowski being the strongest. Joey Logano was looking better as the race progressed and seemed to be poised to make Keselowski earn his win when the the two teammates caught Morgan Shepherd to put him yet another lap down. Shepherd slid …

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