Race Weekend Central

NASCAR 101: Can Anyone Clinch a Chase Spot with a Win?

2015 Darlington CUP Jeff Gordon car CIA

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

You’ve heard it all year: win and you’re in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Well, this weekend marks the final chance for a driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series to do so. By scoring a victory, while also being inside the top 30 in points and having attempted every race of the season …

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Frontstretch NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 After the 2015 Southern 500

Carl Edwards Victory Lane Confetti Darlington Cup 2015 Yvonne Leonard (5)

(Photo Credit: Yvonne Leonard, Frontstretch)

And then there was one… race left. One race remains to set the field for the 2015 Chase for the Sprint Cup. But someone outshone the fact that there is only one race left, and her name is the Lady in Black. Opening her doors on Labor Day weekend for the first time in more …

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2015 Chase for the Sprint Cup Clinch Scenarios

2015 Richmond I CUP Kurt Busch wins credit NASCAR via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will invade Richmond International Raceway this weekend for the final regular season race on the 2015 calendar. That means numerous drivers who have not already locked themselves into the Chase will be eager to do so on Saturday night. NASCAR released the clinch scenarios for this weekend’s race: Regardless of …

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5 Points To Ponder: Is Jamie McMurray This Year’s Ryan Newman?

2015 Michigan II CUP Jamie McMurray CIA

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

Is Jamie McMurray This Year’s Ryan Newman? Jamie McMurray just has to take the green flag at Richmond International Raceway next Saturday night to lock himself into the Chase via points. The amiable 14-year veteran of some 463 races has won some of the biggest races in the sport – the Daytona 500 and the …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2015 Southern 500

2015 Darlington CUP Carl Edwards champagne CIA

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

Who’s in the headline – While Carl Edwards’s name appears in the headlines, it is his pit crew that deserves the accolades. The new aero package provided some great racing and passing opportunities, but the race came down to an eight-lap dash for the cash. Fresh tires were good enough for 15–20 laps, so whoever …

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2015 Southern 500 Retro Paint Scheme Photo Gallery

Brad Keselowski and Kasey Kahne Darlington Cup Retro 2015 Mike Neff-136

(Photo Credit: Mike Neff, Frontstretch)

NASCAR Mailbox: Too Early for Silly Season?

2015 Bristol II CUP Clint bowyer spin CIA

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

This off week has been fairly quiet (and quick) for the Sprint Cup Series. It provided just enough time for teams and drivers to rest up and prepare for the Chase for the Sprint Cup “Challenger” Round, which kicks off in Chicagoland in another two weeks. That is, of course, if they’re one of the lucky 11 …

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Frontstretch NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 After the 2015 Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol

2015 Bristol II CUP Joey Logano burnout CIA

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

The list is short of drivers that can win at Bristol and successfully defend that victory the following year, but you can add Joey Logano to that list. After winning the night race last season, Logano led 176 laps Saturday night and held off Kevin Harvick to pick up his third win of the season. …

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Frontstretch NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 After the 2015 Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan

2015 Michigan II CUP Matt Kenseth burnout CIA

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

Another week of fuel mileage paid off again for Matt Kenseth. He dominated the race Sunday afternoon, leading a race-high 146 laps, and had enough fuel to cross the line first. This win is Kenseth’s third of the season and second in the past three weeks. He now sits solely in the third seed behind …

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5 Points to Ponder: An Emerging Austin Dillon

2015 Pocono CWTS Richard Childress Austin Dillon CIA

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

ONE: Chicagoland will be the real test for JGR There’s no question it has been a wonderful stretch of racing for the entire Joe Gibbs Racing organization, and in particular Kyle Busch. In an eight-race stretch starting at Sonoma Raceway, JGR has won a total of six events (four wins for Busch and two for …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2015 Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan

2015 Michigan II CUP Matt Kenseth team trophy CIA

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

Who’s in the headline – Joe Gibbs Racing established their dominance early in the weekend and threw down the gauntlet in qualifying by putting their cars first through third, and all four in the top six. When the race started, Matt Kenseth took advantage of his 16th career pole and a very strong car to race off …

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Frontstretch NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 After the 2015 Cheez-It 355 at the Glen

2015 Watkins Glen CUP Joey Logano woohoo CIA

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

Another race determined by fuel strategy in the closing laps. Unlike last week in Pocono, Joey Logano had enough fuel to get to the checkered flag first and sweep the weekend at Watkins Glen. It looked like Kevin Harvick was going to finally pick up his third win of the season but lost fuel pressure …

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