Race Weekend Central

NASCAR Sprint Cup Power Rankings: Top 15 After Chicago

2014 Chicago CUP Brad Keselowski trophy CIA

Credit: CIA Editorial Photography

If starting first, leading all but seven laps, winning the race and claiming the top seed in the Chase at Richmond was enough for Brad Keselowski to make a championship statement, no one told him. He came from 25th place Sunday afternoon, led 62 laps and claimed his fifth overall and series-leading victory. On top …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in NASCAR: Chicago – New Hampshire Edition

2014 Richmond II CUP Clint Bowyer CIA

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2014)

The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup is a chance for 16 of the best drivers to start anew, but with only 10 races, divided into four segments, those drivers have very little time to make an impression and even less room for error before eliminations are made. It’s a fragile state that promises to …

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NASCAR Sprint Cup Power Rankings: Top 15 After Richmond

2014 Richmond II CUP Brad keselowski woohoo CIA

After 26 races and 13 race winners, the 2014 Chase field has been set. Brad Keselowski made a championship statement Saturday night, leading 383 of the 400 laps en route to his season-leading fourth victory. With his win, Keselowski claimed the number one seed as the Chase standing reset heading to Chicago. Results were mixed …

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Racing to the Point: Separating the Chase Contenders & Pretenders

2014 Richmond II CUP Ford Chase drivers CIA

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

This new elimination-style playoff format has many people believing that some of the Chase underdogs have a chance at the title as along as they keep their noses clean and survive each round. I want to dispel that rumor right now. The cream is still going to rise to the top, as it always does. …

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Mirror Driving: Best In Show, Can Kasey Contend & Screening Smoke

2014 Atlanta CUP Kasey Kahne burnout CUA

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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Fantasy Insider: Chasing NASCAR’s New Chase Game

2014 Atlanta CUP Kevin Harvick Tony Stewart CIA

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. © 2014)

NASCAR introduced its new fantasy game that will begin next week called the Perfect Chase Grid Challenge. It will give fans a chance to predict which drivers will make it through each round of the Chase, with four being eliminated after the Dover race, four more being finished after Talladega and then four more after …

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NASCAR Mailbox: The Lack of Negativity Surrounding Tony Stewart’s Return Was Refreshing

2014 Atlanta CUP Tony Stewart cockpit CIA

(Credit: CIA)

Tony Stewart’s return to NASCAR was a story that wasn’t just a big deal to the NASCAR community. It was a big deal to a lot of people who rarely pay attention to the sport, if ever. Mainstream news organizations were present at Atlanta Motor Speedway, from Friday afternoon when Stewart made his first public …

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Five Points to Ponder: A Debut For One, One Veteran’s Record And One Race Left

2014 Atlanta CUP Ty Dillon car CIA

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

ONE: ONE TO GO: RICHMOND And then there was one. Just 300 miles and 400 laps at Richmond International Raceway separate us from the end of the regular season and the start of the newfangled Chase for the Sprint Cup format. Kasey Kahne became the 13th driver to win a race this season at Atlanta …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in NASCAR: Atlanta – Richmond Edition

2014 Bristol II CUP Jimmie Johnson car CIA

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

The Chase bubble wasn’t a major area of focus entering the Oral-B USA 500 after Bristol seemingly divided the haves from the have-nots. But as the Sprint Cup Series has shown, things can change in a hurry. After wild-card placeholder Clint Bowyer went to the Atlanta Motor Speedway garage, several drivers who were all but …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud – Atlanta Oral-B 500: Stewart Makes His Return

2014 Atlanta CUP Tony Stewart press conference CIA

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

Key Moment – Kyle Busch and Martin Truex, Jr. had a dispute in Turn 1 with two laps to go. Busch hit Truex in the back bumper and put him into the wall. The resulting contact brought out the caution flag, which prompted a Green-White-Checkered finish. Kasey Kahne, who was headed to a potential victory …

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Playoff Success: Winless Wonders Have Their Day at Atlanta

2014 atlanta cup kevin harvick matt kenseth lead racing action credit cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

Last week, a running theme from Bristol revolved around teams missing their season-long opportunity to capitalize on a win. Several winless drivers, whose best shot might have been at Thunder Valley, instead looked like they were struck by lightning, thrown backwards while the sport’s best teams padded their playoff spots. My, what a difference eight …

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