Race Weekend Central

Going By the Numbers: NASCAR Bubble Drivers “Chasing”… What, Exactly?

2014 Daytona Ii Cup Kyle Larson Jamie Mcmurray Conversation Cia

(Credit: CIA)

You’re well aware by now of the talk surrounding the Chase for the Sprint Cup – and, most particularly, the drivers who will make it into NASCAR’s version of a playoff system. Who’s in? Who’s out? Who’s out but could make their way in? Hold on. Is there really any reason to ask that last …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Irwin Tools Night Race

2014 Richmond I Cup Joey Logano Champagne Cia

Credit: CIA Editorial Photography

Key Moment – With 67 laps to go the caution flag flew for what ended up being the final time on Saturday night. Matt Kenseth stayed on the track with four other cars while Joey Logano headed to pit lane and bolted on four fresh bolognas. When the race restarted, Logano took the green in sixth position and quickly sliced …

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Four Burning Questions in Bristol: Bristol’s Rebirth & Contentious Confrontations

2014 Michigan Ii Cup Kyle Larson Car Cia

(Credit: CIA)

It’s got history, it’s got action and it brings out the very best and very worst of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ drivers. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, tonight is the Bristol night race. Frankly, this event needs no introduction; the track’s history precedes itself. The race has long been one of the marquee races on …

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Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson Pace Bristol Nationwide Series Practices

2014 Loudon I Nns Chase Elliott Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

After two consecutive weeks of turning left and right, the Nationwide Series returned to the high banks of the Bristol Motor Speedway on Thursday for practice sessions in preparation for tomorrow night’s Food City 300. Championship points leader Chase Elliott was the fastest man in town in opening practice, piloting his No. 9 NAPA Chevrolet …

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Fantasy Insider: The Short and Long of It All at Bristol

2014 Michigan Ii Cup Matt Kenseth Travos Kvapil Racing Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

I had the pleasure of being in the Charlotte area this week and spent one of those days doing something that I had wanted to do for quite some time. That was take a tour (of sorts) of several NASCAR team buildings and shops. These weren’t scheduled, it was just sort of a random thing …

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NASCAR Sprint Cup Power Rankings: Top 15 After Michigan

2014 Michigan Ii Cup Jeff Gordon Trophy Cia

Give Jeff Gordon enough chances and he’ll eventually beat you. That’s what happened to Joey Logano as Jeff Gordon pulled off a flawless restart with 17 laps to go, taking the lead and claiming his third win of the season. It’s the most wins Gordon has had in a single season since 2011. It was …

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Voices from the Cheap Seats: NASCAR Only Goes Halfway with New Rule

2014 Daytona Ii Cup Landon Cassill Crash Damage Cia

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

Last week, I put out there that, while tragic, the death of Kevin Ward, Jr. was totally avoidable on two separate fronts. First, don’t do insanely stupid things like Ward did; and second, a sanctioning body could have had a rule that makes enraged drivers think twice about doing insanely stupid things when it is …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Pure Michigan 400

2014 Michigan Ii Cup Jeff Gordon Burnout Cia

Key Moment – On the penultimate restart of the day, Kurt Busch was alongside Joey Logano when the green flag flew. Busch laid it all on the line trying to get past the car of his former employer but broke loose and bounced his car off of the wall. His rear tire ultimately failed, bringing out …

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Fantasy Insider: Making Michigan Work For You

2014 Watkins Glen Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr Cia

(Photo Credit: CIA)

To be perfectly honest this week, who to pick or not pick on my NASCAR fantasy team hasn’t been at the forefront of my mind. In fact, it’s been pretty far back there, following the aftermath of the accident between Tony Stewart and Kevin Ward, Jr. Saturday. It’s expected that the investigation will take another …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not In NASCAR: Watkins Glen – Michigan Edition

Marcos Ambrose 2014 Brickyard 400 Indianapolis Motor Speedway Mike Neff

(Credit: Mike Neff)

A win from an underdog is the worst possible outcome for the slew of drivers floating around the playoff wildcard bubble, and that’s exactly what happened at Watkins Glen International Raceway. Carl Edwards was able to fend off the road course specialist in Sonoma earlier this year, and while close to doing so again at …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2014 Cheez-It 355 At The Glen

2014 Watkins Glen Cup Ryan Newman Crash Damage Cia

Credit - CIA Stock Photography

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? Watkins Glen isn’t known for being easy to drive. Four-time …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Watkins Glen A Mix Of Tony’s Tragedy, AJ’s Triumph

2014 Watkins Glen Cup Aj Allmendinger No 1 Cia

Key Moment – On lap 78, Josh Wise stopped in the grass on the inside of the exit of the Bus Stop. Rather than throw a local caution to give Wise an opportunity to refire the car and continue on, NASCAR threw a full-course caution. As a result, AJ Allmendinger and Marcos Ambrose drew immensely closer …

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