Race Weekend Central

Multiple Crew Chiefs to Miss Pocono Due to Penalties

2016-Charlotte-I-CUP-Martin-Truex-Jr-Jimmie-Johnson-NASCAR-via-Getty-Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

On Wednesday, NASCAR released their weekly penalty report.  While there no real indications that anything big was coming, the hammer came down fairly strong on a number of teams.  No less than three Sprint Cup teams will be without their crew chiefs on Sunday in Pocono (pending appeals, of course). Brian Pattie, crew chief for …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud – Martin Truex, Jr. Dominates to win the Coca-Cola 600

2016-Charlotte-I-CUP-Martin-Truex-Jr-Jimmie-Johnson-NASCAR-via-Getty-Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

The Key Moment – When that particular No. 78 car was completed, some mechanic grinned, slammed the hood and said, “Yeah, this one ought to run pretty good.” In a Nutshell – After a season fraught with frustration, Martin Truex, Jr. put on a clinic and finally sealed the deal with a dominant win. Truex led …

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The Frontstretch 5: Drivers Who Need a Good Night In The Coca-Cola 600

2016 Fontana CUP KAsey Kahne Brett Moist NKP

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

Roush Fenway Racing (Plus 1) RFR has left little doubt they’re turning things around in 2016; why not continue that in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600?  Once one of NASCAR’s biggest power players, RFR has fallen from grace in recent years and the last couple of seasons have been defined by struggle.  It makes this team’s turnaround …

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Friday Faceoff: What Should NASCAR Change About the All-Star Race?

2016 Charlotte All Star CUP Tony Stewart Kasey Kahne crash NIgel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

The All-Star Race was met with mixed reactions. Should NASCAR try the same format next season or opt for one that’s easier to understand? Dustin Albino, Contributor: The concept was good, but the execution was awful. If it weren’t for Jamie McMurray cutting his tire causing a caution, I don’t think we would be having …

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It’s A Marathon, Not A Sprint: Big Names Winless In NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600

2016 Martinsville I CUP Dale Earnhardt Jr Matthre T Thacker NKP

(Photo: Matthew T Thacker/NKP)

Charlotte, NASCAR’s home base hasn’t been a racetrack where everything’s coming up roses for this sport. Its premier event, the Coca-Cola 600 has gone from a peak of 10.2 million TV viewers in 2005 to just 6.4 million last year, a decline of 37 percent over the past decade. It’s a track that’s been hurt by “levigation,” higher …

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5 Points To Ponder: Memorial Day Weekend Racing Nirvana

IndyCar 2015 NOLA James Hinchcliffe sitting in car credit Chris Owens

(Photo: Chris Owens)

ONE: Racing Nirvana This is THE weekend for you, race fans – no apologies for the caps. The greatest Sunday in motorsports will contain three epic races across three different racing series, a little variety paired with some nail-biting competition. First up, it’s the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix. Now back in the day, on a road …

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Pace Laps: Tony Stewart’s All-Star Race Ends in Flames, Kaulig Racing Running Strong and Doug Coby Searching for Third Straight Whelen Modified Tour Title

2016 Charlotte All Star CUP Tony Stewart Kasey Kahne crask John Harrelson NKP

(Photo: John Harrelson / NKP)

Sprint Cup: Back to the Old Tony Stewart. As they say, where there’s smoke, there’s fire – As Tony Stewart was collected in a crash in Saturday’s Sprint All-Star Race, the veteran driver making his final appearance in the non-points event gave the NASCAR world another piece of stimulating commentary on his way out the door …

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Up To Speed: Brad Keselowski Stands By Complicated All-Star Format

2016 Charlotte Motor Speedway NSCS All-Star Race Brad Keselowski credit NASCAR via getty images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

In perhaps what was the most complicated Sprint All-Star Race format in the history of the exhibition event, many drivers went in without a full comprehension of what the rules were, and left still not knowing. Not only that, but the drivers were able to find some holes in NASCAR’s plot to bring some life back …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud – Joey Logano Makes Late-Race Pass to Claim First All-Star Victory

2016 Charlotte All Star CUP Joey Logano champagne John Harrelson NKP

Who’s in the headline – The No. 22 of Joey Logano was festooned with a myriad of pictures from the 50 years of Team Penske. On a full moon Saturday night, the collective spirits of all of the drivers who have piloted a car for “The Captain” rode along with Logano as he navigated the …

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Danica Patrick, Tony Stewart & Jamie McMurray Wreck in Sprint Cup Series Practice at Dover

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(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Tony Stewart was sitting eighth on the speed chart a half-hour into the first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice session of the weekend at Dover International Speedway. Running six laps in his No. 14 car, he casually paced around the track, preparing for his third full race back since injuring his back in an off-road vehicle …

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NASCAR 101: Who’s Won at the Most Tracks?

2016 Richmond I CUP Tony Stewart Danica Patrick racing Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

It’s only a more recent development, but wow, Kyle Busch has won at a heck of a lot of tracks in NASCAR. The younger Busch brother has had an exceptional career so far, capped off by his 2015 Sprint Cup Series championship no doubt, but more recently, the driver of Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 18 …

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Friday Faceoff: Should Excessive Burnouts Put Teams on the Hot Seat?

2016 Kansas I CUP Kevin Harvick racing Brett Moist NKP

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

Three races into his return, Tony Stewart is making up some ground on 30th in points, the Chase cut-off for a driver with a win.  How likely does that win look for Stewart in the next 15 races? Clayton Caldwell, Contributor: I hate to say it, but not very likely. I think Stewart-Haas Racing/Hendrick Motorsports …

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