Throw the rule book out, put on the brass knuckles and break out the fireworks because it’s time for a showdown in Charlotte. Everything you know about NASCAR this weekend except for the “rubbin’ is racing” mentality can be completely disregarded for approximately four hours on Saturday night.

What makes this race so special? No points, baby. Drivers will be racing for bragging rights, pride and a whole lot of cold cash. So what’s the big deal? NASCAR’s longest race is in two weeks (Coca-Cola 600) and the driver that wins this weekend will hold a mental edge over the entire field.

So let’s take a look at how this weekend’s race will pan out. For starters, let’s break down the All-Star Race and find out who’s in, the format of the race, and some side notes, including some very important driver paint schemes and number changes for this weekend only.

» Continue reading “Sprint All-Star Race Preview: Will Your Brain Survive To The Checkers?”

I love Darlington Raceway.

Hosting her first race in September 1950, The Lady is one of the oldest tracks in the circuit, and the first track to run on asphalt.

Darlington Raceway is referred to as the “Track Too Tough to Tame” and the “Lady in Black”.  The track is an egg-shaped oval, with turns 3 and 4 being slightly narrower due to the original landowner not wanting to disturb a nearby fishing pond.  (This is NASCAR.  I couldn’t make this stuff up if I tried.)  These two narrowed turns prove to be problematic for the drivers.  They run out of room in a hurry and scrape the wall leaving a black “Darlington Stripe” on both the wall and the right side of their cars.  This is how the Lady in Black got her nickname, from both the black stripes on the white walls of the track and her unpredictable temperament.

» Continue reading “A Saturday Night Date with the Lady in Black”

As this weekend’s Showtime Southern 500 approaches, fans have more than a few questions left over from last Saturday’s race.

Will Ryan Newman seek his revenge on Juan Montoya?

The long-simmering feud between the two got some more fuel last weekend when Montoya intentionally wrecked Newman’s car as retribution for what he claims was similar behavior by Newman on other occasions.  Post-race coverage from Richmond indicates that if Newman could have run over Montoya with his car and not gotten caught, he would have done it in two shakes.  So what did Montoya do? Of course, he fled the scene of the race quicker than the cameras could catch him ,which has always been typical of Montoya even going back to his IRL/CART days when his large mouth suddenly quit working under fire.

» Continue reading “Showtime Southern 500 Preview: Will Ryan Newman Play Nice? Can Denny Defend?”