NASCAR Talk

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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Mother Nature decided she was going to interfere in the Craftsman Truck race in Atlanta this week. She teased the drivers with a little bit of rain here and there near the end of the race. It came down to pit strategy when the rain started and the caution flag came out. Most of the trucks stayed out keep track position, hoping the race would be called due to weather. Kyle Busch took a chance, however, and came into the pits for fresh tires. It paid off because the rain soon stopped and Busch easily raced his way to the front on his new tires.

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

NASCAR, Craftsman Truck 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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Well, Kyle Busch is off to a fast start this weekend in California. The Sprint Cup regular managed to keep everyone in his rear view mirror as he crossed the finish line to win the Craftsman Truck Series Stater Bros. 200. The trucks beat the rain (the Nationwide Series race that was supposed to happen after the Truck race was rained out) and kept out of trouble throughout the entire race. There were only three cautions (two for debris) and one single car crash. Not bad!

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

NASCAR, Craftsman Truck Series, Craftsman Truck Race Results California

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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

The Craftsman Trucks kicked off Daytona weekend with one heck of a race on Friday night. It had a little bit of everything from suspense, to great racing, and of course - the big one. One huge crash took out no less than 10 cars and set a few on fire. Luckily, no one was hurt, but it did bring out a red flag to clean up the carnage. There was a total of 6 cautions during the 100 lap race and Todd Bodine took the checkered flag to win the first Truck race of the season.

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

NASCAR, Craftsman Truck, Craftsman Truck 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!

The 2008 racing season is so close, I can almost taste it! SPEED channel and the Craftsman Truck Series released the TV schedule for the Craftsman Truck races of the 2008 season. It is important to note that some of the listed races will be broadcast on a tape delay and if you plan on listening to the race live or attending the event at the track to check the times to make sure you don’t miss the race. The entire season’s TV schedule is listed after the jump, along with the channel it will be broadcast on and at the time the TV coverage begins.

NASCAR, Craftsman Truck Series, Craftsman Truck Series 2008 Schedule, 2008 Craftsman Truck TV Schedule

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Last weekend, the Craftsman Truck Series invaded Daytona for their turn at Preseason Thunder and got in some testing time on the track. There were plenty of drivers and lots of things learned by all the teams who participated. There were definitely some surprises and some things that were expected to come out of the weekend, so let’s take a look at the results.

On day one of testing, Erik Darnell piloted the #99 to the fastest speed in the morning and Brendan Gaughn in the #10 took the top spot in the first day’s afternoon session. Andy Lally (#7) also was in the top five for both sessions. The afternoon session ended up on a sour note with a crash that took out Colin Brown’s #6 and Joey Clanton in the #09 for the entire weekend (Kyle Busch was also involved). Brendan Gaughn also got a little overzealous in the bump draft turning David Starr #11 into #59 Ted Musgrave.

Day two was much less eventful with Erik Darnell once again the fastest in the morning session and Jon Wood in the #21 in the afternoon. Justin Marks #9 was also fast in both sessions, landing in the top 5 both times.

Day three, the final day of testing, Justin Marks managed to be the top car in speed. After examining all of the times for all three days, Erik Darnell was the fastest of all the cars.

To see a list of drivers who participated, keep reading after the jump.

NASCAR, Craftsman Trucks, Craftsman Truck Testing Daytona

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What is going on with NASCAR and its rotating door of title sponsors? Nextel sponsored the Cup series for just a little bit of time in the grand scheme of things, and now it is changing to the Sprint Cup. Then, Anheuser Busch ended it’s partnership in sponsoring the Grand National series after more than 25 years. The former Busch Series will become the Nationwide Series beginning in Daytona in 2008.

Now rumor has it that Sears Craftsman Tools brand is looking to forgo extending their contract to be the title sponsor of the NASCAR Truck series. No official announcement has been made as of yet, but inside sources are claiming a press conference will be held sometime in the near future, and possibly even this week yet. Of course, there is no replacement sponsor as of yet, but bids will be taken starting right after the official announcement is made.

Craftsman’s contract will run through the entire 2008 season with the name change coming with the 2009 season. The question is, why are all of these long term partners suddenly up and leaving NASCAR? Sure, the ratings have been down somewhat over the last season, but they are far from struggling. With such brand loyal fans in this sport, the sponsors have to be benefiting from the partnership, don’t you think? Is it the sheer cost of sponsorship that is making the companies opt to have their contracts expire? Besides a bit of advertising, and perhaps some bonus money for winners, what cost is there for a title sponsor?

If anyone has some answers or thoughts about this subject, leave your ideas in the comments section below.

NASCAR, Craftsman Truck Series, Craftsman Truck series losing sponsor

Taking a “victory lap” around New York City during Champion Week.

The racing may be over for the season, but there is one last hurrah for all three major NASCAR series in the form of the end of the year Awards Banquets. This is the time when we get to honor the top drivers in the point standings, the Rookie of the Year, as well as to be entertained by comedians and musical acts.

The Nextel Cup banquet is the first one up and it actually is going to be held this Friday, November 30th live from New York City. The Busch Series banquet is December 12th in Orlando, Florida, and the Craftsman Truck drivers were honored on Monday November 19th, but you can still catch the airing of the ceremony on SPEED in December.

For more specific information, including airdates and scheduled performers, keep reading after the jump.

NASCAR, Nextel Cup Banquet, Busch Series Banquet, Craftsman Truck Banquet, NASCAR Awards Banquet

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Can you believe the season is over? The championship trophies have been handed out in Miami and the 2007 NASCAR season has come to its checkered flag. Congratulations to Nextel Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson, Busch Series Champion Carl Edwards, and Craftsman Truck Series Champion Ron Hornaday.

Where did you favorite driver end up in the standings? Keep reading after the jump to see the top 50 drivers in all three series.

NASCAR, NASCAR point standings, Nextel Cup point standings, Busch Series Point standings, Craftsman Truck point standings

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Well, the final race of the 2007 Craftsman Truck season didn’t turn out to be the nail biter we all hoped it would be. Unfortunately for Mike Skinner, the final race turned out to be one of his worst of the season and Ron Hornaday was able to win the championship. Skinner had early troubles with his tires and went down a lap. He was never able to recover and even at one point pulled into the garage for repairs. Hornaday held on for a respectable 7th place finish in the race, sealing his championship victory.

Johnny Benson won the Homestead Miami race after passing last week’s race winner Kyle Busch on a green white checkered finish. To see where the entire field finished, keep reading after the jump.

NASCAR, Craftsman Trucks, Craftsman Truck Homestead Miami Results

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Well, NASCAR fans, this is a very bittersweet post for me to make. It is the last race weekend of the 2007 season and I’m staring into a long, cold winter without races to watch. It makes me sad, but Homestead Miami is always an exciting race and with the Nextel Cup and Craftsman Truck Series still up for grabs, this year will be no different. I’m excited to see who will come out on top, but will be sad to see this exciting and controversial season come to an end.

So, if you would like to see the race preview for the final races of 2007, keep reading after the jump.

NASCAR, Nextel Cup, Busch Series, Craftsman Trucks, Nextel Cup race preview Miami, Busch Series race preview Miami, Craftsman Truck race preview Miami, Homestead Miami NASCAR race preview

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