Angie Campbell

His smile is infectious and his exuberance contagious. Nowhere was that more evident than in victory lane after Dale Earnhardt Jr. finally won at Martinsville Speedway. He’s an unexpected combination of vulnerability and a hidden strength born of tragedy that endears him to not only his fans but his fellow competitors as well. When Earnhardt wins it’s difficult not to get caught up in his joy.

This weekend the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series travels to Martinsville Speedway for the Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500 and the first race of the Eliminator Round. The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is also on track for the Kroger 200.

“Any driver is going to lose more races than he wins, White said. “You got to learn how to be a good loser and it will make you a better winner.”

This weekend Talladega Superspeedway hosts the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series while the NASCAR Nationwide Series takes a break from competition. Talladega is the last race in the Contender Round as the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion continues.

“I need to learn how to slow down. In everything else I drove, I’ve had to make up for the lack of equipment,” he explained. “You can’t do that in the Nationwide Series. The drivers are too good and the cars you’re racing against are really good.

Kevin Harvick took the lead on the final restart of the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway to grab the win and secure his spot in the next round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup. He led a race high 162 laps on the way to his third victory of the season.

Kyle Busch won the Bank of America 500 Coors Light Pole Award Thursday evening with a lap speed of 197.390 mph in 27.357 seconds. It is his third pole of the season and his second at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Chase contenders Jeff Gordon and Denny Hamlin will line up in second and third. Tony Stewart, the only non-Chase driver in the top five, will start in fourth and Ryan Newman rounds out the top five.

Kristen Yeley won the Better Half Dash Thursday afternoon as the women of NASCAR took over the racing duties for the fourth annual event organized to raise money for various charities.

This weekend the action continues at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Nationwide Series Drive for the Cure 300 Friday evening and the Sprint Cup Series Bank of America 500 Saturday night. This is the second event of the three-race Contender Round for the Sprint Cup drivers as the top 12 battle for a win to guarantee their spot in the upcoming Eliminator Round.

Your guide to all the NASCAR racing action at Kansas Speedway as the Contender Round of the Chase begins with the Hollywood Casino 400. The Nationwide Series is also on track for the Kansas Lottery 300. All times are ET.