Race Weekend Central

Couch Potato Tuesday: ESPN Erases “Everyone” At ‘Dega For Chasers

2014 Talladega II CUP Terry Labonte Brad Keselowski CIA

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

Race weekends at Talladega Superspeedway make my stomach churn. I’m nervous the whole weekend, just hoping that nothing terrible happens. The sad truth is, terrible things have been happening at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega with an increasing frequency in recent years. It’s truly sad, and since almost all of the bad things happen in …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not: Talladega – Martinsville Edition

2014 Michigan II CUP Ricky Stenhouse Jr CIA

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

Some of NASCAR’s best drivers from the regular season were left out of the Eliminator Round after falling flat at Talladega Superspeedway. Three former champions entered Talladega weekend on the outside of the bubble looking in, and one of them didn’t advance. Only three remain along with five drivers who have never lifted the Sprint …

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Ryan Newman Fails Post-Race Inspection at Talladega

2014 Chicago CUP Ryan Newman car CIA

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

Ryan Newman came out of Sunday’s GEICO 500 looking very good.  He had just finished fifth and qualified for the Eliminator round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup easily. Then came post-race inspection. In the “Room of Doom,” Newman’s car was found to be too low on both sides.  Normally, that would be considered …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: GEICO 500 – Brad Keselowski Lives to Fight Another Day

2014 Talladega II CUP Brad Keselowski flag credit NASCAR via Getty Images

Credit: NASCAR via Getty Images

Key Moment – The caution flag flew with four laps to go for a piece of metal on the race track. The No. 22 of Joey Logano had it on his grill under caution and rubbed it off when the yellow flag was in the air. The end result was a green-white-checkered finish that brought …

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NASCAR Sprint Cup Power Rankings: Top 15 After Charlotte

2014 Charlotte II Cup Kevin Harvick Burnout credit Yvonne Leonard

Credit: Yvonne Leonard

Kevin Harvick exorcised his demons Saturday night, winning his third race of the season, but more importantly locking himself into the eight-driver Eliminator Round. Harvick won the pole and led the most laps, as usual.  This time, however, he was able to survive a late-race caution which set up a two-lap shootout to win the …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in NASCAR: Charlotte – Talladega Edition

2014 Michigan II CUP David Ragan CIA

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

With one race remaining in the Contender Round, some of 2014’s biggest names still aren’t contending. Two former champions left Charlotte Motor Speedway unfulfilled and another rides the wrong side of the bubble. Next, a return trip to Talladega Superspeedway does nothing to clear up a complicated Chase picture. The six drivers inside the cutoff …

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NASCAR Sprint Cup Power Rankings: Top 15 After Kansas

2014 Kansas II CUP Joey Logano confetti CIA

Credit - CIA Stock Photography

Team Penske continued their dominating performance during the Chase as Joey Logano captured his fifth win of the season, second in the Chase and locked himself into the eight driver Eliminator Round. The Penske duo of Logano and Brad Keselowski have combined to win three of the first four Chase races. Many thought Talladega would …

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Voices from the Cheap Seats: Can Matt Kenseth Repeat History?

2014 Pocono II CUP Matt Kenseth CIA

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

The more I think about all this elimination crap, the more I hate it. On one hand, it could be a Godsend. On the other, it could show Brian France and the top brass in Daytona that they are indeed dumber than a box of rocks. I’m praying for the latter. Of course, it’s all …

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Who’s Hot / Who’s Not In NASCAR: Kansas – Charlotte Edition

2014 Dover II CUP Kyle Busch CIA

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

The Hollywood Casino 400 had all the twists and turns of a great Hollywood script and left many of the Sprint Cup Series’ best with unfavorable odds of advancement moving forward. A Contender Round opener at Kansas Speedway did a number on the Who’s Hot and Who’s Not landscape and things are just getting started. …

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Frontstretch Foto Funnies: You Had WHAT for Breakfast?

2014 Dover II CUP Ryan Newman face CIA

Credit: CIA Stock Photography

Welcome to the Frontstretch Foto Funnies! Ever see a photo that’s just begging for a caption? We see them all the time! Each week, we’ll pick a few, then let our staff give it their best shot. We’ll post the best ones for you! Want to get in on the fun?  Leave your best ideas …

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NASCAR Sprint Cup Power Rankings: Top 15 After Dover

2014 Dover II CUP Jeff Gordon woohoo CIA

The revised Chase format brought exactly what was expected to the first round of eliminations at Dover. Jeff Gordon earned his fourth win of the season, becoming the first non-Team Penske driver to win a Chase race. Meanwhile, Kevin Harvick dominated the day yet again, leading a race-high 223 laps before left front suspension issues …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud – Dover – Chase Race No. 3 – The field is trimmed to 12

2014 Dover II CUP Jeff Gordon family trophy CIA

Credit: CIA Stock Photography

Key Moment – The pass for the lead by Jeff Gordon over Brad Keselowski with 95 laps to go was the difference in the race. Keselowski was in the top 3 all day long and looked to be the driver to beat once Kevin Harvick’s car had issues with an inner liner going flat. Gordon …

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