Derek Kneeland, spotter for Chip Ganassi Racing and driver Kyle Larson, was introduced to NASCAR through a trip to New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 1994 when he was only 7 years old. He was part of a contingent of family and friends that raced go-karts with him on tracks near his home in Windham, Maine. “Going to that first race kept my itch for racing going,” Kneeland said. “That never stopped. I just kept pursuing every dream I had.” When he turned 15, Kneeland began driving Late Models and still does a couple of times a year during off weekends. His small family team…

By Joseph Wolkin Coming off a season that saw a mere three top 5s, Kasey Kahne is determined to make the Chase in 2016. Going winless since Atlanta in 2014, he is looking to rekindle the fire with Hendrick Motorsports. After leading a career-low 66 laps in 2015, Kahne is set to compete for victories once again. What are your thoughts on the new aero package, even though there are still complaints that the low-downforce package isn’t enough? “It is definitely lower, and because of that, there is less drag. The cars – in the summer time – will definitely move around.…

By Jared Turner Tony Stewart is mending Guess who showed up on Friday at Atlanta Motor Speedway for the first time since injuring his back in a recreational incident late last month? If you guessed Tony Stewart, you nailed it. The three-time Sprint Cup Series champion provided one of the truly feel-good stories of the weekend when he was spotted in the AMS garage talking with his substitute driver, Ty Dillon, moments after Friday’s rounds of Sprint Cup Series qualifying. While Stewart has not been medically cleared to race, his presence at the track can only mean one thing: His recovery is…

By Jerry Bonkowski Jimmie Johnson sailed through the 2015 26-race Sprint Cup regular season, winning four races, starting with a triumph at Atlanta in the second race of the campaign. Then came the 10-race Chase for the Sprint Cup. Johnson, based upon both what he had done in the regular season, as well as his prior six Cup championships, was considered one of the favorites to win the title yet again. But somehow, some way, Johnson became the biggest first round casualty, so to speak, being eliminated at a track (Dover International Speedway) where he had won a career-high 10 races in…