Jimmie Johnson Starts from the Back and Dominates Late in Atlanta Win

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Coors Light Polesitter Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick dominated the early and middle stages of Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway—before Jimmie Johnson decided to crash the party.

Johnson didn’t take the lead in the second NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race of the season until Lap 198 of 325, but from then on, his No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet was the class of the field, leading six times for 92 laps in winning for the fourth time at Atlanta and for the 71st time in his career. Continue reading

Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Preview and Fantasy Picks

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Here are my Preview and Fantasy Picks for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 1, 2015. Watch the action at 1 pm ET on FOX.

Favorites

Kevin Harvick – He looked great through practice and qualifying until the engine failure. Although he will start in the back he will find guys like Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, and Matt Kenseth back there with him. I think he has the car in terms of race trim but what will the engine failure cost him anything? Should be Interesting.  Continue reading

Logano Caps Spectacular Race with Daytona 500 Victory

 

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The record will reflect that Joey Logano won Sunday’s 57th Daytona 500 under caution, when a multicar wreck on the backstretch forced NASCAR to wave the yellow flag as Logano led the field into the final corner on the second lap of a green-white-checkered-flag finish.

But the notation of that final caution does no justice to the memory of a race that produced some of the most scintillating restrictor-plate racing in the history of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Continue reading

2015 Daytona 500 Preview Fantasy Picks

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The Favorites

Dale Earnhardt Jr – even with starting last in Thursday nights dual race, Earnhardt Jr. was able to make his way through the pack and beat out Matt Kenseth for the win. Sunday he finally gets the decent starting spot and could be a force.

Matt Kenseth – Kenseth has shown his number 20 is bad fast throughout Speed Weeks. He may have the best car that can lead if he can get to the front although starts 35th Sunday.

Jimmie Johnson – It was scary how Jimmie was able to hold off three very fast Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota’s and lead almost the entire second duel. Having three Hendrick drivers starting one two and three ensures he will have help at the beginning of the race to stay up there. Continue reading

Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson Win Budweiser Duel At Daytona Races; Field Set for DAYTONA 500

Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Duel 1 at Daytona International Speedway on February 19, 2015 Photo - Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Duel 1 at Daytona International Speedway on February 19, 2015 Photo – Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

The Budweiser Duel At Daytona races Thursday night at Daytona International Speedway were separate events won in equally dominating fashion by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson.

The Budweiser Duel, consisting of two 150-mile (60 laps) qualifying races, established positions 3-32 for the 57th annual DAYTONA 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, with the top two qualifiers from last Sunday’s DAYTONA 500 Qualifying Presented by Kroger – three-time champion Jeff Gordon and two-time champion Johnson – already locked into the front row. Gordon and Johnson started from the pole in the respective Duel events. 

Earnhardt, the defending DAYTONA 500 champion who will start third in “Great American Race,” started from the rear in the first Budweiser Duel event in the No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet because his original tenth-place qualifying effort became ineligible due to a height violation found in post-qualifying inspection. The charge to the front resulted in him leading the last 18 laps – and looking like a solid contender to repeat as champion.  Continue reading