Backstretch Motorsports

Kasey Kahne proved one thing on Sunday at Sonoma.. it ain’t over till it’s over, and the fight goes on to fall of the checkers.

But the season takes a definite turn in pressures come this Sunday. The one-mile flat oval of New Hampshire Motor Speedway takes center stage.

It marks the start of the summer stretch of ten races leading to the absolute 10-race Chase for NASCAR’s top prize, the Sprint Cup. [read more...]

Sports car racing fans have given the annual 24 hours of their lives , dedicated to the grandfather of competition. the twice-around-the-clock excitement, splendor and accomplishment that is Le Mans.

The 77th race took place in front of a crowd of 234 800 spectators, down from the 2008 figure by around 9% (which set a record-beating figure of 258 500 spectators). [read more...]

Greensboro, NC - David Poole, longtime Charlotte Observer and Sirius Satellite Radio NASCAR reporter, friend and supporter of the sport of auto-racing, passed away today. He was 50.

His love of the sport was all -encompassing, from driver to owner, crew chief and engine builder, roof line to tires, Poole loved the race. He enjoyed the spectacle. He knew the business.

Mostly, David Poole love bring the inside word, his immeasurable gift of insight to his readers. and David Poole’s readers were all his, they listened to the man, because they knew that he knew…he had an uncompromising style that endeared him to the daily readers and listeners. They are truly his folks. [read more...]

I’ve started this piece many times, only to delete it and think to myself that my quasi-political viewpoints don’t really amount to a hill of beans to anyone.

The announcement that Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing was shuttering the garage on the No. 8 team scarcely made a ripple in the NASCAR world, truth be told.

The No. 8 and the history it was laud-ed a bit, but not so overwhelmingly [read more...]

The job will take it’s toll. only the strongest will surivive it. Not being competitive is a stress level that will take even the best out of the game.

Two-time Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip will retire at the end of 2009 if he can’t return to a competitive level this season.

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Jimmie Johnson would just about have to NOT be able to roll off the starting grid Sunday at Homestead to not win a third consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup title.

It’s simply his.. to lose

Here’s what he must do to clinch his third consecutive series title — finish 36th or better on Sunday. Additionally, Johnson can clinch by finishing 37th and leading at least one lap or 39th and leading the most laps.

Relax. Just race the track.

“I really think where we are in points is going to allow me to go to Homestead and take a little pressure off my brain this week,” Johnson said. “We can just go down and relax and get in the car and set it up, just do what we know how to do.”

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More on that in a minute, but first… Scott Speed

Red Bull did confirm that the “a couple of steps away from ordinary” one has been doing some open testing in the Cup cars at Nashville and Kentucky and will be participating in a test at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on September 23 – 24. Speed will drive the No. 82 Red Bull Toyota under the watch of NASCAR officials who will assess his ability to participate in future Cup races.

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Robert Hight, Dave Connolly, and Steve Johnson round out winners at 54th Mac Tools U.S. Nationals

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Five-time champion Tony Schumacher capped off a historic performance at the 54th Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Sunday with his decisive final-round win over longtime foe Doug Kalitta.

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After a restart on Lap 226 of Friday night’s NASCAR Nationwide Series Food City 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway, Keselowski pressured points leader Clint Bowyer. On Lap 227, Bowyer slipped off Turn 2, giving Keselowski the opening he needed.

From that point, Keselowski kept the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet out front and beat Bowyer to the finish line by 1.025 seconds.

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“Michigan is a flat two-mile oval, and track position is huge there. It could turn into a fuel-mileage race at any time so you really have to be on your toes and be aware of what could happen.” — Tony Eury Jr., crew chief No. 88 National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet, most recent winner at MIS in June.

The Michigan International Speedway is a key player in NASCAR racing. Firstly, it’s in the backyard of the “Big Three”, Chevy, Dodge and Ford and traditionally a source of bragging rights for the Motor City brands with the win there.

Toyota has certainly made huge strides in knocking on the winning door at MIS.

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