NASCAR Talk

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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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!

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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!

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.

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The Nextel Cup, Busch Series, and Craftsman Trucks all travel to the desert to race this weekend in Phoenix. With only two races left in the entire season, it’s getting down to the wire and the drivers are feeling the pressure. Luckily, Carl Edwards can relax in the Busch Series since he clinched the title last weekend in Texas. The Nextel Cup and Craftsman Truck point standings are still close enough to keep fans on the edge of their seats.

To see what you should watch for this weekend, keep reading after the jump.

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Yee Haw, NASCAR fans! This week is a big one for all three NASCAR series, so what a better place to hold the races besides the place where everything is bigger? NASCAR invades Texas this week and you should expect plenty of action with the championship races heating up. Will Hendrick Motorsports continue its domination, or will someone else take the checkered flag first this week? Find out what to expect for the Nextel Cup, Busch, and Craftsman Truck races this weekend after the jump.

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It is coming down to the wire for all three of NASCAR’s series with only a few races left before the end of the season and the crowning of the champions. It’s a busy weekend in motorsports with Nextel Cup and Craftsman Truck races in Atlanta and the Busch Series cars take to the track in Memphis. For a glimpse of what to look for this weekend, continue reading after the jump.

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Ah, Martinsville. The infamous short track is known for its bump and run style, which could put some of the drivers in the Chase for the Nextel Cup Championship into the wall. Who will survive in one piece is yet to be seen. The Craftsman Truck series also takes a trip around Martinsville as the point standings stay very close between Mike Skinner and Ron Hornaday. The Busch Series drivers will be racing at Memphis next weekend and Carl Edwards tries to clinch the championship of that series. However, they have this weekend off. To find out more about what to watch for this weekend, keep reading after the jump.

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Two of the three of the top NASCAR series are in action this weekend, as the Chase for the Championship heats up and the Busch Series drivers try to chip away at Carl Edwards’ lead. The Nextel Cup and Busch Series cars will make their way around Lowe’s Motorspeedway in Charlotte, NC, while the Craftsman Trucks take the weekend off and get ready to race at Martinsville next weekend. Here is what to expect in this weekend’s races.

Nextel Cup Bank of America 500
Airs Saturday October 13th at 7:00 PM ET on ABC

It’s time for another night race at Lowe’s Motorspeedway in Charlotte, which is arguably the unofficial capital of the NASCAR racing world. For quite some time, Lowe’s Motorspeedway seemed to be the house that Jimmie Johnson built with his string of consecutive wins at the track. It was almost as if the Lowe’s car dominating at Lowe’s Motorspeedway was meant to be. Although he hasn’t won there in the last couple of races, Hendrick cars always run strong in Charlotte. In fact, it was Casey Mears in victory lane at the Coca Cola 600 earlier this season, taking his first Nextel Cup win. Kasey Kahne always runs well here, too.

Busch Series Dollar General 300
Airs Friday October 12th at 7:30 PM ET on ESPN2.

Just as in the Nextel Cup series, Kasey Kahne also runs well in Charlotte when he drives the Evernham Busch car. He is slated to run the race this weekend as well, so be on the lookout for the #9 car to be near the front. However, with the great season he’s had so far, past track winner and current points leader Carl Edwards is always one to watch in the Busch Series. We may be seeing a backflip this weekend after the Dollar General 300.

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Get ready for bump drafting, restrictor plate racing, and look out for the big one. The Nextel Cup cars and the Craftsman Trucks hit Alabama at full force this weekend at Talladega (the Busch Series, which will be renamed as of the 2008 season, has the weekend off). Here is your guide for this weekend’s Talladega races.

Nextel Cup UAW-Ford 500
Airs Sunday at 1:00 PM ET on ABC.

Back in the April race at Talladega, the car of tomorrow was not used. It’s now the end of the season, and since the Nextel Cup series will be switching to the COT full time as of the 2008 season, there is no time like the present for it to make its debut on the superspeedway. Jeff Gordon won the race from the pole earlier this year, but he has been one of the most outspoken drivers about his concerns with the COT at Talladega. Many drivers are complaining the tall wing in the back is blocking their view, while others are saying driving in packs and bump drafting are not safe as they have found during practice. Watch out for the big crash as everyone tries to adjust to this new set up.

Craftsman Truck Mountain Dew 250
Airs Saturday at 3:30 PM ET on Speed Channel.

The current standings are unbelievably close in the Craftsman Truck series, and Talladega is the one place that could very well separate the pack. Even the slightest misstep on the racetrack could spell disaster for a driver and whomever happens to be unlucky enough to be nearby. There has only been one truck race at Talladega, and Mark Martin was the winner. This race is anybody’s to win because luck plays such a large part of these races.

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The Nextel Cup and Busch Series cars will run on the 1.5 mile tri-oval at Kansas Speedway. What should we expect to see in both races this weekend? You never know as the Chase heats up in the Nextel Cup series and Carl Edwards gets one step closer to clinching the Busch Series championship.

Nextel Cup LifeLock 400
Airs Sunday at 1:00 pm ET on ABC.

Smoke rose to the top last year at Kansas, can he do it again? Currently sitting in second place in the standings only 2 points behind Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart surely hopes for the repeat. Jimmie Johnson usually runs well at these types of tracks, and the Rousch Fenway cars seem to be hitting their stride at just the right time, so Carl Edwards, who is coming off a penalty after winning at Dover, and Matt Kenseth will be looking to take the checkered flag. Also, keep an eye on Denny Hamlin this weekend. This is the test to see if he can shake off his new feud with Kyle Petty long enough to get back on track in the Chase.

Busch Series Yellow Transportation 300
Airs Saturday at 3:00 pm ET on ESPN2

It’s pretty much a done deal that Carl Edwards will be winning the Busch Series championship this year, but the individual race wins are still anybody’s to take. Kevin Harvick won the race at Kansas last year on his way to winning the championship. However, Kevin has his work cut out for him, as no one has ever repeated as winner at Kansas in the Busch Series. Tony Stewart is running the Busch race this week, too, so he will be worth watching as well.

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The Nextel Cup (Dodge Dealers 400) and Busch Series (RoadLoans.com 200) drivers try to tame the Monster Mile in Dover, DE this weekend while the Craftsman Truck Series head to Las Vegas (Smith’s Las Vegas 300). Here is a little history about these races and an outlook of what’s to come this weekend.

Nextel Cup Dodge Dealers 400
Airs Sunday, September 23rd at 1 pm ET on ABC

Martin Truex, Jr. won at Dover back in June of this year. Can he repeat this victory and gain some ground on the leaders in the Chase for the Championship? Other recent winners include Jeff Burton, Matt Kenseth, and you can never count out Carl Edwards who NASCAR.com has dubbed “King of Concrete”.

Busch Series RoadLoans.com 200
Airs Saturday, September 22nd at 3:00 pm ET on ESPN 2

Carl Edwards is running away with the Busch Series championship, and if history is any indication, he will probably run away with the win in Dover this weekend as well. However, let’s not count out Kevin Harvick or Clint Bowyer who won the September Busch race last year at this track. He’s also coming off his first Nextel Cup win, so momentum is with him.

Craftsman Truck Smith’s Las Vegas 300
Airs Saturday, September 22nd at 8:30 pm ET on Speed Channel

Mike Skinner is always strong at Las Vegas and was the winner of this race last year. He also has the last 3 poles to his credit at this racetrack. One thing to watch is the Craftsman Truck debut of open wheel driver Jacque Villeneuve. There is still a close race for the championship, so it’s going to be intense.

What do you think? Who is going to win the races this week? Leave your comments below.

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This week, the Craftsman Trucks (New Hampshire 200) and Nextel Cup Series (Sylvania 300) invade New Hampshire International Speedway in Louden, NH, while the Busch Series takes the weekend off. Here is a little history at the track and what to look for this weekend:

Craftsman Truck Series New Hampshire 200
Airs Saturday 2:30 PM ET on Speed Channel

Johnny Benson won the New Hampshire 200 last year, but can he do it again? There has never been a repeat winner at Louden in the Truck Series, so he has his work cut out for him. There is sure to be a lot of tension in the Pits for current points leader Ron Hornaday whose lead over Mike Skinner is a measley 4 points. Skinner, who holds the track qualifying record, will be looking to make those few points up and take the lead, so be on the lookout for a great battle there.

Nextel Cup Series Sylvania 300
Airs Sunday 1:00 PM ET on ABC

Denny Hamlin won at this track back in July and Kevin Harvick won last year’s Sylvania 300. With both guys in the Chase, that has to be welcome news to those teams. Can they get it done and win again? Let’s not count out fellow RCR driver and Chase contender, Jeff Burton, who holds the current track race record (117.134 in July 1997). It’s anybody’s race as the Chase begins.

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