Race Weekend Central

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2015 myAFibRisk.com 400 at Chicagoland

2015 Chicago CUP Denny Hamlin burnout CIA

(Photo: CIA Stock Photography, 2015)

Who’s in the headline – Dave Rogers made a call to stay out on a late-race caution and Denny Hamlin restarted the race in third with five laps to go. He went three-wide on the bottom of the track, cleared Jeff Gordon in turns 1 and 2, passed Kurt Busch as they spilled onto the …

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Denny Hamlin Wins 2015 myAFibRisk.com 400 at Chicagoland; Advances to Round 2 in Chase

2015 Chicago CUP Denny Hamlin trophy CIA

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

The 2015 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship started off with a bang at Chicagoland Speedway. For Denny Hamlin, it was a surprise victory as the Joe Gibbs Racing driver stayed out under the final caution to grab the lead from Jeff Gordon on old tires and win for the second time in 2015. …

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Holding A Pretty Wheel: Can a Chase Underdog Win It All?

2015 Richmond II CUP Ryan Newman Martin Truex Jr CIA

Martin Truex, Jr. hopes to accomplish what Ryan Newman came one position from doing in 2014. (Photo: CIA Stock Photography)

As NASCAR sits on the brink of the Chase, it’s easy to pick out the favorites. They’re the ones at or near the top of the standings before the reset, the ones who have been consistently excellent all season long. When it comes right down to it, they’re the ones who probably deserve to win …

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2-Headed Monster: Can a Winless Driver Conquer the Chase?

2015 Darlington CUP Ryan Newman CIA

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

Race fans, the time is finally here. Whether you look forward to it or dread it, the Chase for the Sprint Cup is upon us. This season’s Chase is the second installment of NASCAR’s playoff format, pitting the top-16 competitors on the circuit against each other in rounds, with four drivers dropping out after every …

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NASCAR Mailbox: Denny Hamlin and the Chase Media Tour in… Mexico?

2015 Richmond II CUP Denny Hamlin family CIA

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photography

That collective gasp you just heard was the sigh of relief from Jeff Gordon fans. The No. 24 team will make the Chase and contend for a fifth NASCAR Sprint Cup championship this year, for the final time in the driver’s 24-year career. We also saw drivers Jamie McMurray, Ryan Newman, Clint Bowyer and Paul Menard make it …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in NASCAR: 2015 Chase Edition

2015 Richmond II CUP Kevin harvick car CIA

(CIA Stock Photography, 2015)

So here we are heading into the first race of the Chase at Chicagoland on Sunday and the good news is that going in, there is may be not one clear cut favorite. If this had been done by the old pre-Chase points system, Kevin Harvick would pretty much have things wrapped up with 10 …

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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)