NASCAR’s era of big changes has faced high levels of criticism from the paying customers. But there is one change that was made for the 2014 season that some say just might be capable of cross-generational appeal.
It’s a tweaking of the points format and it was aimed squarely at a major area of discontent among [...]
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Denny Hamlin won the Coors Light pole for the seventh race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, turning a track-record lap in 19.013 seconds (99.595 mph) at Martinsville Speedway on Friday.
Hamlin, who has four Martinsville victories, will start beside second-place qualifier Jimmie Johnson (99.344 mph), who has eight Martinsville wins to his credit, [...]
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NHRA teams Gray Motorsports and Cagnazzi Racing will combine forces in 2014 to create a multi-car team Pro Stock team.
The merged team will race under the Gray Motorsports banner.
Engine development for both the Pro Stock and Cagnazzi’s successful COPO Camaro Stock Eliminator programs will take place at the Gray Motorsports facility in Denver, N.C., and [...]
By Deb Williams | Senior Writer
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MARTINSVILLE, Va. – Elliott Sadler steps into the No. 55 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota this weekend at Martinsville Speedway for the first time since a medical issue sidelined the team’s regular driver, Brian Vickers, earlier this month and the Virginia native said Friday Vickers was handling the situation better
than he [...]
It appears that NASCAR officials are floating an interesting trial balloon this weekend. The idea attached to that balloon is a good one. Well, half of a good one.
NASCAR official Kerry Tharp told reporters earlier this week that consideration is being given to doing away with single-car qualifying sessions for most races.
In the place of [...]
By John Sturbin | Senior Writer
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Matt Hagan’s pursuit of a second NHRA Funny Car world championship has cast him in the role of villain, the fate of any number of drivers chasing drag racing icon John Force.
“Well, if you read Facebook there ain’t no Matt Hagan fans out there. That drives you,” said Hagan, who [...]
By Jim Pedley | Managing Editor
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As the 2013 Petit Le Mans wound down to a finish at Road Atlanta last Saturday night, as fans began pouring water on trackside campfires, as canvas canopies were folded and stowed, as the big old LMP1 cars were loaded onto haulers, an oh-geez moment struck.
It was a moment of; [...]
FORT WORTH, Texas – Matt Kenseth’s participation in Day 2 of a three-day NASCAR Sprint Cup Series open test at Texas Motor Speedway ended abruptly Tuesday in the Turn 1 wall, which will require a fresh coat of white paint before the AAA Texas 500 on Nov. 3.
“I have mixed feelings, I guess, on testing,” [...]
By John Sturbin | Senior Writer
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Unaccustomed as he is to public speaking, Scott Dixon says he is ready to represent the IndyCar Series as its reigning and three-time driver’s champion.
“Absolutely. I’m not saying I don’t enjoy doing that stuff,” said Dixon, who clinched the 2013 title with a fifth-place finish in the season-ending MAVTV 500 [...]
By Jonathan Ingram | Senior Writer
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TALLADEGA, Ala. – As an unofficial and unauthorized biographer of Danica Patrick, which leaves me well informed on the subject, I must admit to being disappointed in her rookie season in the Sprint Cup. Always one to index herself up to speed and avoid crashing, I wonder if Patrick will [...]
By Jim Pedley | Managing Editor
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After a long, strenuous hike through the Colorado mountains, Rob had developed a powerful hunger. He ordered a deluxe burger and a large bag of potato chips. The burger showed up at the table looking anything but deluxe.
Rob opened the bulging bag of chips. A big puff of packing gas [...]