Mirror Driving: Final Thoughts on the New Bristol & Digesting the New Top 35
It’s clear 18 months after repaving this isn’t the same old Bristol. That’s led to mixed reviews from fans – but is the new Bristol a classic or a total flop?
Ryan Newman
The Yellow Stripe: Taking It to the Next Level, Which of These 10 Drivers Will Win a NASCAR Cup Championship?
The label of future Sprint Cup champion is liberally dispensed – but rarely achieved. In the 60 years of NASCAR competition, only 28 drivers have attained the hallowed crown – and it’s a pretty exclusive club. 12 drivers have won a solitary championship, while another eight have won two titles. Five men – Jimmie Johnson, …
Running Their Mouth: 2009 Food City 500 at Bristol
This week, here’s a sneak peek at what a select few were thinking following the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Kyle Busch Dominates at Bristol Once Again, Wins 2009 Food City 500
Kyle Busch led a race-high 378 laps on the way to a dominating victory in Sunday’s Food City 500.
Matt McLaughlin Mouths Off: A Look Back at NASCAR’s 2009 Season to Date
Four weeks into the 2009 NASCAR season, nothing is etched in stone. It’s too early on to know who will be champion, and even too early to predict the 12 drivers who will make the Chase quite yet. But the first four Cup events of this season have offered a diverse set of track layouts: …
Did You Notice? No ’09 Rivalries, Fun with NASCAR TV Ratings & Statistical Surprises in Sprint Cup
Did You Notice? The only thing Lowe’s Motor Speedway President Marcus Smith would commit to last week – alluding to changes for this year’s All-Star Race – is that the distance would stay exactly the same (100 laps). To me, that’s already a bad “change” to make, no matter how you break that distance down. …
Fanning the Flames: Confusing Contingency Awards, NASCAR’s Aero Dependence Gone Awry & Rain-Outs
Once again, some random, midweek thoughts whilst sitting on the front porch swing and enjoying the blooming Bradford Pears on a rare 70-degree afternoon in March here in Nashville: Atlanta attendance listed at 94,400? Try 9,440. I don’t care what you may think of the FOX broadcast crew’s coverage, the cutaway car is very well …
Concern Shifts from Engines to Tires at Atlanta
HAMPTON, Ga. – The start to the 2009 season has been marred with a rash of engine failures that has not been seen in some time, a trend that has become all but a consensus headline through the first three races. But none of that seems to be phasing any race camp, or any driver …
Who’s Hot/Who’s Not in Sprint Cup: 2009 Shelby 427 at Las Vegas
The first three races of 2009 have yielded surprising results at both the top and bottom of the point standings. Some drivers, like Mark Martin, are left scratching their heads after having fast cars at each race, but no top finishes to show for that. Likewise, teams like Michael Waltrip Racing in the top 12 …
10 Points to Ponder: 2009 Shelby 427 at Las Vegas
Kyle Busch Still the Driver to Beat Daytona was just a minor hiccup: the No. 18 team is back with a vengeance in 2009. Las Vegas native Kyle Busch won the pole this weekend, only to have to start at the back after an engine change. Nonetheless, Busch methodically made his way back to the …
Matt McLaughlin’s Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2009 Fontana Spring Race Recap
The Key Moment: Matt Kenseth’s crew was flawless all night at Fontana, getting him off pit road first on the final sequence of pit stops. Despite Kenseth’s initial Charlie Brown-like resignation over the radio, he was able to hold off the No. 24 car. In a Nutshell: With all due apologies to Albert Hammond, “It …
Matt McLaughlin’s Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2009 Daytona 500 Race Recap
Rain began falling before green-flag racing could resume, handing Matt Kenseth his first Daytona 500 win.