NASCAR Talk

Now is the time when the NASCAR Point Standings kick in for the 2008 race season. Up until now, the field has been set on qualifying day as a result of the top 35 from the 2007 season. Bristol was the fifth race of the season, so all races from here on out will use the 2008 point standings to determine the top 35 cars.

To see where the drivers stand in both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series (there was no Craftsman Truck race this week), keep reading after the jump.

NASCAR, Sprint Cup Point Standings, Nationwide Series Point Standings

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Well, it may have been a short race (that darn rain just needs to go away when there is racing to be done, don’t you think?) but Clint Bowyer isn’t complaining. Bowyer managed to hold off Kasey Kahne and David Reutimann until the rain came and the race was called early at only 171 laps. Nationwide Series regular Brad Keselowski showed with a very strong finish in 4th place.

To see where all drivers finished, keep reading after the jump.

NASCAR, Nationwide Race Results Bristol

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Ah, Bristol. Short track racing, or even short track banging, at its finest. “The World’s Fastest Half Mile” will try to take out both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series drivers this week as they bump and run to the finish line. The Craftsman Truck Series has a couple of weeks off, so let’s take a look at what to watch for this weekend in Bristol. Keep reading after the jump.

NASCAR, Weekend Race Preview Bristol, Sprint Cup Bristol Preview, Nationwide Series Bristol Preview

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Kyle Busch is having a great week. First, he won both the Craftsman Truck and Sprint Cup races in Atlanta, and that means he was able to increase his overall points lead in both series as well. Carl Edwards, on the other hand, is having a bad week and went from the top of the points because of a penalty, all the way down to 17th after a 42nd place finish with a blown engine in the Sprint Cup race.

Kevin Harvick managed to take the points lead in the Nationwide Series, with last year’s Busch Series Champion Carl Edwards right on his heels.

To see the point standings for the Sprint Cup, Nationwide, and Craftsman Truck Series, keep reading after the jump.

NASCAR, NASCAR Point Standings, Sprint Cup Point Standings, Nationwide Point Standings, Craftsman Truck Point Standings

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Even though qualifying for the Nationwide Series Race in Atlanta was snowed out (yes, that is right–SNOWED out), they got the race in and Matt Kenseth came out on top. There were several blown tires in the race, bringing about several cautions, including a right side tire blow out for race dominator Kyle Busch. Until his tire popped, he was on track to set a track record for number of laps led as he dominated the entire field by almost a half a lap. A little bad luck for Busch in the form of that flat tire allowed Matt Kenseth to take the lead and never look back.

To see where all cars finished, keep reading after the jump.

NASCAR, Nationwide Series Race Results Atlanta

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Last year, the Atlanta races were wet, soggy, and even rained out. Let’s hope the weather is better this year! After Carl Edwards lost his points lead in the Sprint Cup series due to a penalty after winning at Las Vegas, will he be able to regain his momentum and win his third race in a row?

I’ve got your preview for the Sprint Cup, Nationwide, and Craftsman Truck series races from the Atlanta Motorspeedway this weekend. So keep reading after the jump to see what to expect this weekend down south.

NASCAR, NASCAR Atlanta race preview, Sprint Cup Atlanta race preview, Nationwide series Atlanta race preview, Craftsman Truck Atlanta race preview

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We haven’t done this in awhile! Even though the current point standings don’t count towards qualifying, it’s interesting to see where everyone is so far after a couple of races this season. The current point standings don’t officially kick in to secure the top 35 until after the fifth race.

Right now, Carl Edwards is enjoying his first time atop the Sprint Cup Point Standings Charts. However, it may not be for long because his Las Vegas winning #99 car failed post race inspection. Any penalties are expected to be announced on Wednesday and could affect the point standings dramatically.

To see the Sprint Cup, Nationwide, and Craftsman Truck point standings as of now, keep reading after the jump.

NASCAR, NASCAR point standings, Sprint Cup Point Standings, Nationwide Series point standings, Craftsman Truck Point Standings

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It was a caution happy race as crashes and debris took up most of the race time. While the Toyotas looked tough in qualifying, they lost it during the race and couldn’t pull off their third consecutive win in the Nationwide Series. Tony Stewart came close again, but was taken out in an accident near the end of the race. Reigning series champion Carl Edwards also wrecked right before the checkered flag waved. Veteran driver Mark Martin won the Sam’s Town 300 by taking advantage of that late race crash by the race leaders.

To see where everyone finished the race, keep reading after the jump.

NASCAR, Nationwide Series Race Results Las Vegas

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The Toyotas are looking strong this weekend for both races in Las Vegas. In fact, Brian Vickers is on the pole for the Nationwide Series race at Las Vegas Motorspeedway. Not only that, but there are 4 Toyotas in the top 5. One of those Toyotas is Tony Stewart, the winner of both of the Nationwide Series races so far this season. He starts 4th and should be a contender for the win again this week.

To see where all the drivers start for the Sam’s Town 300, keep reading after the jump.

NASCAR, Nationwide Series Starting Grid Las Vegas

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The Craftsman Truck Series has a weekend off as they get ready for Atlanta next week. There is still plenty of great racing to watch this weekend, though, with both the Nationwide Series and the Sprint Cup Series Cars in Sin City at the Las Vegas Motorspeedway. Hopefully, the weather will be better this weekend than it was last weekend in California for the NASCAR drivers, and we’ll get in a couple of good races on schedule.

Check out who to watch and what to expect this weekend in Las Vegas by reading more after the jump.

NASCAR, Las Vegas Race Preview, Sprint Cup Las Vegas Preview, Nationwide Series Las Vegas Preview

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After driving a grueling Sprint Cup Series race spread over two days, Tony Stewart managed to win his second consecutive Nationwide Series race. Carl Edwards wasn’t able to manage the double win in one day, but he did finish in the top five with a very strong showing. The Nationwide Series drivers seemed to be ready to go after their two day wait due to the rain and postponement of the Sprint Cup race until Monday.

Let’s hope for good weather next weekend!

To see where all drivers finished, keep reading after the jump.

NASCAR, Nationwide Series Race Results

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We’re heading out West this weekend for the NASCAR races in the Sprint Cup, Nationwide, and Craftsman Truck Series in the second week of the 2008 season. After a crazy and crash happy weekend in Daytona, the beaten and bruised teams are back for more and hoping for a win out in Southern California. Let’s take a look at what to expect this weekend during the races.

Sprint Cup Auto Club 500
Airs Sunday February 24, 2008 at 3:30 PM ET on FOX.

California is a generally good track for the cars of Roush Fenway Racing, with Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle both racking up wins at this track over the past couple of years. Of course you can never count out Hendrick Motorsports and in fact, reigning Champion Jimmie Johnson won the race last time the Cup series visited the track. Last week, the Dodges looked very strong at Daytona, and Kasey Kahne just happens to be a recent winner in California as well.

Nationwide Stater Bros. 300
Airs Saturday February 23, 2008 at 7:30 PM ET on ESPN2.

It has been a long time since a non-cup series regular took the checkered flag at California in the Nationwide Series race. The usual suspects like Matt Kenseth and Kasey Kahne like to sweep weekends at the race track. The weather calls for rain on race day, though, so let’s hope it clears up long enough to get in the race and we have a few less wrecked cars than we had in Daytona.

Craftsman Truck San Bernardino Co. 200
Airs Saturday February 24, 2008 at 3:00 PM ET on FOX.

Mike Skinner won the NASCAR Craftsman Truck race last year at California, and after the great end to his season last year, he could be poised to win the race again this year. Ted Musgrave has won twice in the recent past, and Toyota and Todd Bodine could really be on a roll from Daytona. Did I mention he’s a past winner in California, too? Keep your fingers crossed they make it through the rain and deliver a great race!

NASCAR, Weekend Race Preview California

For a long time, the Nationwide Series Race at Daytona was uneventful in the way of cautions. With only four total caution flags, two of which being for debris, the final caution of the race was “the big one”. 9 cars were caught up in the crash in turn 4, but Tony Stewart managed to stay clean the whole race. Smoke started on the pole, and he ended in first place as well. However, he didn’t climb any fences this time, instead preferring to save his energy for fence climbing after the Daytona 500 should he win.

To see where everyone finished, keep reading after the jump.

NASCAR, Nationwide Series, Nationwide Series Race Results Daytona

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Boogity, boogity, boogity…let’s go racin’!

All is right in my world again. It’s time to kick off the NASCAR season and what a way to do it! The 50th running of the Daytona 500 wraps up a weekend full of great racing at the culmination of Speed Weeks. There’s a lot to look forward to as the Craftsman Trucks, Nationwide Series, and the Sprint Cup cars all take to the restrictor plate race track. Drop the green flag and away we go, right after the jump!

NASCAR, Sprint Cup, Nationwide Series, Craftsman Trucks, Sprint Cup race preview Daytona, Nationwide Series race preview Daytona, Craftsman Truck race preview Daytona, Daytona NASCAR race preview

Sprint Cup Daytona 500
Airs Sunday February 17, 2008 at 2:00 PM ET on FOX.

It’s the biggie! The 50th running of the Daytona 500 is here and there are a lot of new drivers or drivers with new teams who are out to prove themselves in the “Super Bowl” of NASCAR racing. Dale Earnhardt Jr. in his brand new Hendrick ride is on fire winning both the Bud Shootout and his Gatorade Duel at Daytona so far. He should be very strong and have a great chance of winning the race on Sunday. Let’s not count out his Hendrick teammates Jimmie Johnson, who is on the pole, and veteran Jeff Gordon who had a strong showing the Duels as well. Michael Waltrip is a great restrictor plate racer and starts on the outside pole, so keep your eyes on the #55 Napa Toyota, too. It will also be interesting to see how the Gibbs Racing Toyotas will stack up to the field, as they looked strong in the Duels and practice, too.

Nationwide Series Camping World 300
Airs Saturday February 16, 2008 at 12:00 PM ET on ESPN2.

It’s the first time the cars will run under new title sponsor Nationwide Insurance, so what should we expect? Well, with Tony Stewart on the pole for the race, he will definitely be one to watch. This race is usually dominated by Sprint Cup regulars and the Buschwhackers (Nationwidewhackers?) with Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. winning in the recent past. Jason Leffler is the highest qualifying full time Busch Driver in third, so hopefully he’ll get a good finish as well.

Craftsman Truck Series Chevy Silverado 250
Airs Friday February 15, 2008 at 7:30 PM ET on SPEED.

The past couple of years, the pole sitter at the start of the Craftsman Truck race at Daytona also won. Last year it was Jack Sprague and the year before it was Mark Martin. This year, Erik Darnell is sitting on the pole for the Chevy Silverado 250. Will he be able to hang on to that lead for the entire race and end up in victory lane? I guess we’ll find out!

How about a little smoke, twisted metal, and a mess of broken cars to finish up your weekend? Here’s a clip of a Busch Series race that took out pretty much then entire field. Enjoy!

NASCAR, NASCAR Crash clip