2011 NASCAR Season

Non-Chasers Clint Bowyer and Jeff Burton provided a thrilling finish in the 2011 Good Sam Club 500 at Talladega Superspeedway with Bowyer getting the best of the battle at the line. The big story of the day were the seven Chase contenders who finished twenty-fifth or worse. Only five drivers remain with a realistic shot at the Cup with four...

See where the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers will be racing in 2011. This is the 2011 NASCAR schedule as announced by NASCAR in August of 2010.

The 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup points battle has just five races remaining. Carl Edwards leads Kevin Harvick by five points with Charlotte winner Matt Kenseth only seven points behind. This is looking like a dogfight to the end. Here are the current complete NASCAR Sprint Cup series points.

The 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule as announced by NASCAR in August of 2010. Here is the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule.

The 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series Points battle is twenty-two races old and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. still leads. Stenhouse has amassed an impressive 21 bonus points so far this season. No other competitor in the points has earned more than nine bonus points in 2011. Bonus points are a big part of the reason that Stenhouse leads by 12 over Reed...

The 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule as announced by NASCAR in August of 2010. Here is the complete 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule.

Nine races into the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series point battle Johnny Sauter leads rookie Cole Whitt by 20 points. It is a rare season where the truck series is not the best points battle in NASCAR but Sauter's 20 point lead is the most comfortable among NASCAR's top three touring series. Here are the current 2011 NASCAR Camping World...

It has been called "The Great American Race" and "The Super Bowl of NASCAR." No matter what you call it there is no doubt that the 2011 Daytona 500 is the biggest, most-prestigious event on the NASCAR Sprint Cup calendar. The 2011 Daytona 500 will feature one large unknown. The track surface was completely repaved since the end of the 2010 July...

The 2011 Budweiser Shootout marks the unofficial kickoff to the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. This much-anticipated event will roll off on Saturday night the week before the Daytona 500 and features the sport's biggest stars. Here are the drivers eligible for the 2011 Budweiser Shootout.

The more things change the more they stay the same. The 2011 Budweiser Shootout was a completely new type of restrictor place racing. The competitive dancing was certainly unique but we still suffered through "The Big One" and saw an exciting restrictor plate finish.

The 2011 Gatorade Duel set the starting lineup for the Daytona 500. The first 60 lap race set the lineup for the inside lane and the second race set the lineup for the outside lane. Only four spaces in the field were actually open today. Most of the drivers were only racing for starting position instead of a spot in the coveted field.

The 2011 Daytona 500 was everything that restrictor plate fans love in a race. This race set a race record for lead changes, featured a thrilling finish and a first time race winner for one of NASCAR's legendary teams. Rookie Trevor Bayne had a fast car and the patience to drive it all the way to the checkered flag in only his second career...

Phoenix International Raceway had a lot in common with last Sunday's Daytona 500. Just like last week today's Subway fresh Fit 500 set a race record for lead changes and featured a big wreck which wiped out many top contenders. Jeff Gordon recovered from an early incident to claim Victory and break a 66 race winless streak that dates back to...

The 2011 Kobalt Tools 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway didn't go as planned for many racers today. Tony Stewart had the best car but could only manage a second place finish. Hometown boys Kyle and Kurt Busch expected great things but both came up short of their dreams. In the end Carl Edwards made all the right decisions and got to the...

Last August Kyle Busch swept the Truck, Nationwide and Cup series events at Bristol Motor Speedway. He picked up on Saturday right where he left off with another Nationwide Series win at Bristol. Could he make it five Bristol wins in a row across NASCAR's top three series with another Victory Lane visit in the 2011 Jeff Byrd 500 at Bristol...

Auto Club Speedway in California is famous for long green flag runs and fuel mileage races. The 2011 Auto Club 400 saw the long green flag runs as expected but the finish was one of the best in the history of the speedway.

The 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup season is on a roll. For the second week in-a-row the Sprint Cup race has featured a thrilling late-race finish. Also, for the second week in-a-row Kevin Harvick was on the winning end of things as he moved past Dale Earnhardt Jr. with four laps to go for the 2011 Goodys Fast Relief 500 win.

The 2011 Samsung Mobile 500 at Texas Motor Speedway featured long green flag runs and a dominating performance by Matt Kenseth. This race ended on a race 114 lap green flag run to the end while Matt Kenseth continued othold court to snap his 76 race winless streak.

The 2011 version of restrictor plate racing continues to carry a unique two-by-two look but the 2011 Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway provided everything that restrictor plate racing fans have come to love. This race saw multi-car wrecks (mostly caused by one driver) and an incredible three-wide finish.

The 2011 Crown Royal Presents The Matthew & Daniel Hansen 400 at Richmond International Raceway featured one of my favorite race tracks. Unfortunately the actual event was meh at best. Kyle Busch dominated the majority of the event and the end result was never really in doubt.

The 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup season put on another great show tonight in Darlington. The 2011 SHOWTIME Southern 500 shined with a great green-white-checkers finish and a first time winner in Regan Smith. While Darlington lit up the sky with fireworks after the race Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch saw tempers flare late in the race. Another great...

The 2011 FedEx 400 at Dover International Speedway came down to pit strategy. Jimmmie Johnson and Carl Edwards dominated the event but they took four tires on the final pit stop and got stuck in the pack. Matt Kenseth took two tires on that final stop and rolled to the checkered flag.

The 2011 Sprint All-Star Race pits NASCAR's best against each other in a $1,000,000 trophy dash. Typically a barn-burner event this was one of the least eventful All-Star races of all time. The most interesting thing that happened all night was when winner Carl Edwards ripped the front end off his car during his victory celebration.

Memorial Day weekend 2011 will be remembered by race fans for its last lap lead changes. The Indy 500 saw rookie J.R. Hildebrand crash in turn four of the final lap while leading the race. Then the 2011 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway saw Dale Earnhardt Jr. run out of fuel leaving Kevin Harvick to charge past in turn four of the last...

The 2011 STP 400 at Kansas Speedway came down to fuel mileage. Kurt Busch had the fastest car for most of the day but he didn't have enough gas to make it to the end. Busch's teammate Brad Keselowski stretched his fuel to the end and was able to pick up the victory for Penske Racing.

Today's 2011 5-Hour Energy 500 at Pocono Raceway didn't provide much drama for fans. Jeff Gordon ran away at the end and claimed the win easily over the Busch brothers Kurt and Kyle. This was Jeff Gordon's 84th career win which ties him for third on the all-time win list with Darrell Waltrip and Bobby Allison.

Denny Hamlin continued his recent Michigan Speedway domination with another win in the 2011 Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400. Hamlin has ruled racing on the 2-mile D-shaped oval for two seasons now and is showing no signs of slowing.

The 2011 Toyota / Save Mart 350 was ruled today by Kurt Busch. Kurt brought great pit strategy and a very fast car to Infineon Raceway to claim the victory in convincing fashion. This was his first win of 2011 and the first road course victory of Kurt's career.

The 2011 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway saw a first-time winner as David Ragan picked up his first Sprint Cup series win. This race was marred by multiple multi-car wrecks in the closing laps. Remarkably Jeff Gordon rebounded from a crash with four laps to go and ended up solidly in the top ten.

Kentucky Speedway made its NASCAR Sprint Cup debut tonight with the 2011 Quaker State 400. Unfortunately this race was more snore than roar. Kyle Busch had the field covered early and then charged back to the lead at the end to claim the win.

The 2011 Lenox Industrial Tools 201 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway gave race fans a preview of the first NASCAR Chase for the Cup race. Stewart-Haas drivers Ryan Newman and Tony Stewart both have a good chance of making the 2011 Chase and both drivers should be licking their lips at the chance of coming back to New Hampshire after today's...

The 2011 Brickyard 400 came down to a fuel mileage battle. Paul Menard stayed out to stretch the fuel while Jeff Gordon stopped for fuel and tires. Menard and others were driving slow to save fuel while Gordon charged through the field holding nothing back. Menard had just enough of a lead and just enough fuel to get it done as Jeff Gordon...

The 2011 Good Sam RV Insurance 500 at Pocono Raceway went to an injured driver. Brad Keselowski broke his left ankle and wrenched his back in a Road Atlanta crash earlier this week. He recovered enough to battle Kyle Busch down the stretch, claim the victory and set himself up as the top wild card seed as the Race to the Chase winds towards...

Marcos Ambrose survived a wild Monday finish in Watkins Glen to claim his first career victory in the 2011 Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen. Marcos Ambrose was fast all day and got a well-deserved win but the story of this race was the triumph of NASCAR safety over a pair of brutal crashes.

The 2011 Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway featured plenty of green flag racing. The finish was anti-climactic with Kyle Busch running away from the final green-white-checkers shootout to claim the win. The Race to the Chase was the focus once again this week. Denny Hamlin came into this race clinging to the final wild card...

The 2011 Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway was unusual in the lack of beating, banging and hot tempers. Brad Keselowski lead the final eighty laps under green making it look easy, or as easy as 500 laps at Bristol ever is.

The 2011 AdvoCare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway featured a thrilling finish as Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson let it all hang out in the closing laps. Gordon picked up the 85th win of his hall-of-fame career in a rare Tuesday NASCAR Sprint Cup event.

Kevin Harvick made a statement in the final race before the 2011 Chase for the Cup. Harvick won the 2011 Wonderful Pistachios 400 at Richmond International Raceway for his fourth win of 2011 and a share of the 2011 Chase lead.

The 2011 Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway saw a mirror image finish from 2010. Last year Clint Bowyer claimed the win when Tony Stewart ran out of gas in the closing laps. This year Stewart took advantage of Bowyer's fuel issue to claim his second Chase win and the point lead.

Kurt Busch had the best car at the end of the 2011 AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway. Busch beat Jimmie Johnson during a pair of late race restarts and drove away to claim the win. With the win Kurt Busch moved up five spots in the points along with Jimmie Johnson who are both now squarely in contention.

The 2011 Hollywood Casino 400 was the story of two Chase racers who went in opposite directions. Jimmie Johnson dominated the race, claimed the win and moved into serious Chase contention while Jeff Gordon blew the motor and joined the list of drivers who no longer have a realistic shot at the 2011 Chase for the Cup.

The 2011 Bank of America 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway featured Matt Kenseth out-dueling Kyle Busch in the closing laps to claim the win. Jimmie Johnson was the big story of the night. Jimmie crashed late in the race, finished deep in the pack and fell to eighth in points with just five races remaining.

The 2011 TUMS Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway featured a late race pass for the win as Tony Stewart beat Jimmie Johnson on a late race restart to claim his third win of the 2011 Chase for the Cup. Stewart moved up to second in the points with three races remaining in the 2011 Chase for the Cup.

The 2011 AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway featured long green flag runs and a dominating performance by Tony Stewart on his way to Victory Lane. Kyle Busch was the story of the week as he was parked by NASCAR and watched this race from pit road.

The 2011 Kobalt Tools 500 at Phoenix International Raceway was all about the 2011 Chase for the Cup. Kasey Kahne won the race but all eyes were on the top two point leaders. Carl Edwards came to Phoenix leading Tony Stewart by just three points. They left with the exact same margin.

Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards put on the best NASCAR Championship battle ever. This one came down to the last laps as Stewart and Edwards ran first and second in the 2011 Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. This was the best Championship battle ever.

Tony Stewart was honored at the head table during the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Awards Banquet. Reba hosted an entertaining banquet which featured some of the best driver speecheswe have seen in years.

If there is a NASCAR fan on your holiday shopping list here are some great gift ideas that can be purchased any time online or over the phone. Just write a note describing your gift and your favorite NASCAR fan is sure to be thrilled.

2011 featured a little bit of everything for NASCAR fans. Great finishes, an amazing Championship battle and plenty of controversy on and off the track. Here are the top stories from the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup season.