Race Weekend Central

Frontstretch NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 after the 2015 GEICO 500 at Talladega

2015 Talladega I CUP pack racing III credit NASCAR via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Man, Talladega is a doozy, huh? Dale Earnhardt Jr.‘s first victory of the season – and first at Talladega in 11 years – was great for the sport and meant, for a moment, that all was right in the racing world. However, the monster that is ‘Dega was also very unkind to several other drivers …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2015 GEICO 500 at Talladega

2015 Talladega NSCS Dale Earnhardt Jr. checkered flag credit nascar via getty images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Who’s in the headline – It took 11 years but Dale Earnhardt Jr. finally won another Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega. After some spirited racing for much of the first part of the race, the last third turned into a mind-numbing parade with little to no action at all. Earnhardt pitted with a few …

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The Big One Swallows 14 Cars Early at Talladega

2014 Talladega II CUP pack racing CIA

(Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

They say it’s only a matter of time until the Big One hits at Talladega Superspeedway. On lap 45 of Sunday’s GEICO 500, a small aero-loose scenario between Trevor Bayne and Kurt Busch sparked a massive accident on the backstretch, swallowing up 14 drivers. “When the [No.] 27 went around us on the top there …

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Jeff Gordon Takes Pole for 2015 GEICO 500 at Talladega

2015 Talladega I CUP Jeff Gordon pole credit NASCAR via Getty Images

Photo Credit: NASCAR via Getty Images

It came down to the last car in qualifying, but on Saturday there was no doubt who was the fastest car in Talladega. Jeff Gordon‘s No. 24 Chevrolet set a blistering time of 194.793 mph to take the pole for Sunday’s GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. It’s Gordon’s 80th career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pole …

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Erik Jones Fastest in Lone 2015 Winn Dixie 300 Practice at Talladega

2015 Phoenix I NXS Erik Jones vertcal credit NASCAR via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

A day after being announced as Kyle Busch‘s replacement in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Erik Jones was back in a race car. Piloting the No. 20 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, the 18-year-old was quickest in the lone practice session of the weekend at Talladega Superspeedway for the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Putting up a …

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Frontstretch NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 After the 2015 Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond

2015 Richmond I CUP Kurt Busch Jamie McMurray racing credit NASCAR via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Ask anyone and they would tell you that a win was inevitable once Kurt Busch returned behind the wheel of the No. 41. He came close a few times but finally closed the deal, leading 291 laps and winning his first race of the season at Richmond. Oh, and by the way, he’s now all …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2015 Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond

2015 Richmond I CUP Jamie McMurray pack racing credit NASCAR via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Looking for the who, what, when, where, why and how behind Sunday’s race? Amy Henderson has you covered each week with the answers to six race-day questions, covering all five Ws and even the H… the Big Six. Who… gets my shoutout of the race? One challenge that short tracks present is that track position …

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Joey Logano Wins 3rd Pole of Cup Season at Richmond for Toyota Owners 400

2015 Richmond I CUP Joey Logano pole credit NASCAR via Getty Images

Photo Credit: NASCAR via Getty Images

Since NASCAR announced the new format for Sprint Cup Series qualifying in 2014, Joey Logano and Team Penske have been showing the competition how it’s done. Logano will start on the pole for Saturday night’s Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond International Raceway. It’s his third pole of the season and fifth front-row start in nine …

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Brad Keselowski, Kasey Kahne Fastest in 2015 Toyota Owners 400 Practices at Richmond

Brad Keselowski Martinsville 2015 Mike Neff-032

(Photo: Mike Neff, Frontstretch)

After the Team Penske cars dominated at Richmond International Raceway in 2014, the duo has continued to pace the field. Brad Keselowski was the quickest car during Friday’s first practice session, with a time of 21.414 seconds. In an extended final practice session, Kasey Kahne led the way after putting up the fastest lap of …

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Happiness Is… Welfare, Sarcasm & Barber

2015 Bristol I CUP Kasey Kahne window vertical credit Amy Henderson

Photo Credit: Amy Henderson, Frontstretch

In the column last week, Happiness Is railed against the concept of safety within NASCAR by questioning the rule change that allows teams to forego hitting all give lugnuts when slapping four fresh Goodyears on a car. Sure, allowing the teams to, in essence, police themselves has worked out so far in theory, which can …

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Frontstretch NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 After the Food City 500 at Bristol

2015 Bristol I CUP Matt Kenseth burnout credit NASCAR via Getty Images

Photo Credit: NASCAR via Getty Images

I’d like to take this opportunity to pass along my condolences to the entire Byrnes family. #ByrnesStrong It was almost a carbon-copy of the 2014 spring race at Bristol: delay after delay due to rain. However, thanks to lights, the entire race was able to be run… and then some. Matt Kenseth finally broke his …

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Kasey Kahne, Kurt Busch Lead Saturday 2015 Food City 500 Practices at Bristol

2015 Bristol I CUP Kurt Busch window vertical credit Amy Henderson

Photo Credit: Amy Henderson, Frontstretch

Sprint Cup teams had two sessions to dial their cars in for Sunday’s Food City 500 in Support of Steve Byrnes and Stand Up to Cancer. The two practices were eventful, with drivers running up next the wall, side by side and some getting physical. Kasey Kahne picked up from where he left off in …

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