Race Weekend Central

The Big 6: Questions After the 2015 Jeff Kyle 400 at the Brickyard

The NASCAR trophy ready for the Jeff Kyle 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

(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? Starting in the back of the pack is tough at …

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Ryan Newman Returns to His Roots at Lucas Oil Raceway, Doesn’t Seek NASCAR Return to the Track

2015 Loudon I CUP Ryan Newman CIA

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

12 hours before returning to Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Ryan Newman took the time to return to his racing roots. Newman, 37, returned to the USAC Silver Crown Champ Car Series Thursday night, piloting the No. 21 Bricker’s Pub Beast/Chevrolet for Bowman-Armstrong Racing in the Rich Vogler Classic at Lucas …

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Frontstretch NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 After the 2015 5-hour Energy 301 at New Hampshire

2015 Loudon I CUP Kyle Busch trophy CIA

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

Eight races into his return to competition, Kyle Busch has now claimed three victories in the Cup series. He continues his bid to make the 2015 Chase, taking his second consecutive win at New Hampshire. Busch now sits 58 points behind 30th position. I’ll start the hashtag: #BuschWatch Loudon produced a diverse number of teams …

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Frontstretch NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 After the 2015 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and his team celebratein Victory Lane after the Coke Zero 400 in Daytona

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)­­

Mother Nature seems to have it out for NASCAR this season. Rain once again delayed the start of the race, but that didn’t stop the fans from enjoying the Fourth of July fireworks on and off the track. Dale Earnhardt Jr. reasserted himself as the restrictor-plate king, leading 96 laps en route to his second …

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5 Points to Ponder: Austin Dillon’s Wild Weekend, Testing & Halfway Home

Austin Dillon leads the field in the XFINITY Series race at Daytona.

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)­­

ONE: Wild ride for Dillon What a wild, wild weekend it was for Austin Dillon, who finished Saturday night in Victory Lane and was lucky just to finish Sunday night in one piece. It truly is a testament to the safety of the cars today that he was able to get out, walk away under …

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The Frontstretch 5: Tracks That Could Offer New 2015 Winners

2015 Daytona I Unlimited pack racing Credit NASCAR via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Welcome to the Frontstretch Five! Each week, Amy Henderson takes a look at the racing, the drivers and the storylines that drive NASCAR and produces a list of five people, places, things and ideas that define the current state of our sport. With Amy busy this week, Frontstretch Assistant Editor Aaron Bearden looks ahead to …

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Frontstretch NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 After the 2015 Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma

2015 Sonoma I CUP Kyle Busch wine toast credit NASCAR via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Once NASCAR announced that Kyle Busch could compete for the championship, he had two goals once he was back in the racecar: win a race and get in the top 30 in points. He accomplished one of those Sunday, winning on the road course in Sonoma. He also moved up two positions in the standings to …

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Up To Speed: The Best of the Rest Heading Into Sonoma

2015 Michigan I CUP Kyle Larson leads Kurt Busch CIA

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

We say it every year, but I’m always amazed at how fast the racing season passes by. One day the excitement of the Daytona 500 sets upon us, providing much needed racing after a long, cold offseason. Soon after, it’s the first day of summer, Father’s Day weekend, the sun is beating down on most of the …

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

2015 Michigan I CUP Kurt Busch trophy CIA

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

Another week of rain showers, but this time Mother Nature got the best of NASCAR. After four rain delays and hours of starting and stopping the race to dry the track, NASCAR officials called it with 62 laps to go when the skies opened up and took final control of the day. Kurt Busch was declared …

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Did You Notice? Optical Illusions For NASCAR, Appeals & Michael Waltrip

2015 Pocono I CUP Jimmie Johnson helmet vertical CIA

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

Did You Notice? Any specific reasons why Jimmie Johnson’s team failed pre-qualifying inspection at Charlotte? No, I don’t have them either. That’s ultimately the reason why a NASCAR appeals panel Tuesday threw out the most hotly debated P1 penalty since the sport developed a new system. It’s also left many fans in a state of confusion, …

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5 Points to Ponder: Truex’s Ceiling, Harvick’s Record & Newman’s Ire

2015 Pocono I CUP Ryan Newman crash damage CIA

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

ONE: How far can Martin Truex Jr. go in 2015? What a popular victory that was on Sunday at Pocono Raceway for Martin Truex Jr. I know that I am meant to be scrupulously impartial – and for the most part I am, honest – but there was something about that win that really warmed …

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NASCAR 101: With 13 Down, Who Can Win with 13 to Go?

2015 Dover I CUP Ricky Stenhouse Jr Jeff Gordon CIA

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

Joey Logano. Jimmie Johnson. Kevin Harvick. Carl Edwards. Brad Keselowski. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Kurt Busch. Matt Kenseth. Denny Hamlin. With 13 races run in the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, these are the drivers who have punched a ticket to the Chase when it begins come September. A blistering pace when it comes to …

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