Race Weekend Central

Slipstream Saturday: Malaysian Grand Prix Preview And Formula 1 News

Nico Rosberg Gp Bahrain 2016

Nico Rosberg at the Bahrain GP (credit: Getty Images)

After having a week off to digest the Singapore Grand Prix, Formula 1 returns to action this weekend and the newly repaved Sepang International Circuit for the Malaysian Grand Prix.  With Nico Rosberg having won the last three races and now taking the lead in the championship by eight points, the driver’s battle remains close. …

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Happiness Is… Tony Stewart, Kyle Larson & Shrinking

2016 Darlington Cup Chris Buescher Zach Catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

This Sunday will bring about the first round of eliminations in the the Cup Chase.  That means that the feel-good story of Chris Buescher and his appearance in the Chase will come to end when the checkered flag flies.  That seems like an easy statement to make as Buescher sits in 16th place and is …

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Happiness Is…New Hampshire, Ratings & Big Money

2016 Nscs Jimmie Johnson Chicagoland Photo Russel Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

Well that was fast.  For a racing series, speed is usually a good thing.  In this case, well, maybe the speed that NASCAR showed this week is maybe not such a good thing.  The matter here is NASCAR’s decision to change how it adjudicates penalties for the laser inspections and lug nuts.  This move is …

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Slipstream Saturday: F1 Changes & the Singapore GP

Alonso Halo

This weekend marks what is loosely the Asian swing of the Formula 1 schedule as the series races at night in Singapore.  With seven races remaining this season, this race sits as an interesting one for the all the teams.  It’s a situation of having one foot in the room and one foot out the …

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Happiness Is… Chase, Clarity & Champion

2016 Kentucky Cup Tony Stewart Helmet Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell Labounty/NKP)

This past week has brought the Tony Stewart defenders out in force.  Between his dust-up (punting) of Brian Scott and his on-track pugilism with Ryan Newman, Stewart has been an interesting presence for the past couple weeks.  Matt McLaughlin covered the story, and the goal here is not to rehash it.  This also won’t be …

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Happiness Is… Richmond Excitement to Finalize the Chase Field

2016 Nascar Darlington

(Photo: Brett Moist/ NKP)

The ratings are in for the Southern 500 and, well, thy’re a bit on the disappointing side.  That’s right, the much-ballyhooed throwback extravaganza didn’t quite pull the numbers that the wonks in Daytona may have expected.  Last year the race held a 3.7 share of viewership, while this year it fell all the way down …

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Pace Laps: Chris Buescher Gaining Momentum, Elliott Sadler’s Big Win and Camping World Chaos in Canada

Sprint Cup: And Then There was One – Chris Buescher can officially prepare himself for one of the most stressful nights of his racing career, as he’ll attempt to race his way into the 2016 Sprint Cup Series Chase for the Championship next weekend. Stealing the victory last month at Pocono Raceway, Buescher backed it up …

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Slipstream Saturday: Arrivederci, Massa; the Italian Grand Prix

Felipe Massa 01 1472739298

(Photo: Getty Images)

This week Felipe Massa announced that this year would be his last in Formula 1.  In some ways, this proclamation comes as no surprise.  The 35 year old Brazilian driver has put together a rather solid, yet hard to say it, unspectacular career.  Let’s look at the numbers first. In 242 starts, Massa has earned …

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Happiness Is…Marketing, PR & the Weekend

2016 Pocono I Cup Kyle Larson Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Check Kyle Larson’s name off the list.  He is, depending on how you group drivers, the first of the latest generation of  take the checkered flag in the Cup series.  His win last Sunday at Michigan validated what everyone has seemingly said about him – that he’s got all the talent and that his break …

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Pace Laps: Sieg Looking for Chase Spot, Moffitt’s Big Win and Pagenaud’s Title Hopes

2016 Ncwts Brett Moffitt Woohoo Michigan Photo John Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John Harrelson / NKP)

Sprint Cup Series: Youth Makes A Comeback – Much of the NASCAR season has been focused on when there will be a “changing of the guard.” 45-year-old Tony Stewart is retiring, 45-year-old Jeff Gordon has already done so but is filling in for fellow 40-something Dale Earnhardt, Jr. during his concussion recovery. That trio accounts for millions …

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Slipstream Saturday: Break’s Over & The Belgian Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton Monaco Gp 2016

(Photo: Getty Images)

Three weeks have slipped past since Formula 1 last took to the track.  The summer break always seems to be an interesting thing as teams are forced to shut down for a few weeks and gain some valuable rest.  One question would be whether or not such a long break does anything to teams or …

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Happiness Is… Chris Buescher, Sponsorship & Power

2016 Watkins Glen Cup Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Zach Catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

This upcoming Sprint Cup race at Michigan will mark the sixth straight that Dale Earnhardt Jr has missed due to his concussion.  All he can do is watch as Alex Bowman takes over his car for the second time this season.  Earnhardt will also miss his seventh race next weekend, when Jeff Gordon returns to …

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