Race Weekend Central

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Kyle Larson Survives Smoke, Safety Vehicles & Overtime to Win Richmond

2017 Richmond Ii Cup Kyle Larson Checkered Flag Nigel Kinrade Nkp

Who’s in the headline – It had to happen eventually. Kyle Larson is too good of a racecar driver to only win on two-mile racetracks. Richmond Raceway is a track that will highlight a drivers ability more than most any other one, so it would make sense that someone with Larson’s talent would shine there. In …

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Tech Talk: Tony Gibson Talks Tires, Brakes & Strategies for Richmond

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Nra Night Race Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tn Usa Friday 18 August 2017 Tony Gibson, Kurt Busch, Stewart Haas Racing, Monster Energy/haas Automation Ford Fusion. World Copyright: John K Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John K Harrelson/NKP)

The No. 41 team had another strong run on Sunday to come home third at Darlington Raceway. The team is running strong over the last few races, just in time to make a run at a title. Strategy calls by crew chief Tony Gibson put the team in position to win in last week’s Southern …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Denny Hamlin Sweeps Darlington Weekend With Late-Race Charge

Denny Hamlin Darlington

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Who’s in the headline – Denny Hamlin was thrust into an alternate pit strategy when Martin Truex Jr. short pitted on his penultimate pit stop and then made his final stop with just over 50 laps to go. When the No. 11 driver attempted to hit pit road on lap 314, he missed the entrance …

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Tech Talk: Justin Alexander Discusses Tire Life, Soft Suspensions & Full Mustaches for Darlington Throwback

Justin Alexander Charlotte Cup 2017 Mike Neff

Photo Credit : Mike Neff

Some drivers went to Europe for their off-week, some folks got lost in the woods on four-wheelers, while others stayed home and did honey-do lists. The latter is where Justin Alexander found himself. The crew chief of the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing team driven by Austin Dillon rarely has a day at home, so …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch Look Best but Don’t Discount Jimmie Johnson

2017 Watkins Glen Cup Martin Truex Jr Woohoo Rusty Jarrett Nkp

(Photo: Rusty Jarrett / NKP)

Who’s in the headline – Martin Truex Jr. has been the class of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 2017. He has won four races, which is the most of any driver. Truex also has dominated the new playoff point system with 35 points scored. He is also the king of stage racing with …

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Rookie Roundtable: The Class of 2017 On Racing NASCAR’s Top Series

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Brickyard 400 Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis, In Usa Sunday 23 July 2017 Daniel Suarez, Joe Gibbs Racing, Stanley Toyota Camry, Michael Mcdowell, Leavine Family Racing, Wrl General Contractors Chevrolet Ss And Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing, Dow Molykote Smart Lubrication Chevrolet Ss World Copyright: Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

How bright is the future in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series?  Judging by this year’s rookie class, you might want to invest in some good sunglasses.  The Cup Series features five rookie drivers this season, racing for some of the sport’s bigeest teams as well as some smaller organizations.  While Erik Jones and Daniel …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Kyle Busch Busts Out Broom for Second National Tour Series Sweep at Bristol

2017 Bristol Ii Nxs Kyle Busch Celebrates Lesley Ann Miller Nkp

(Photo: Lesley Ann Miller / NKP)

Who’s in the headline – There have been multiple two-race sweeps in NASCAR history, but there have only been a pair of three-race sweeps. Both of them were accomplished by Kyle Busch and the second was this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway. Busch won the first stage, led the second most laps, including 93 of …

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2017 Frontstretch Podcast Powered by DraftKings – Episode 23: Colosseum-Style

21 22 August, 2015, Bristol, Tennessee Usa Kyle Busch, Skittles Toyota Camry Denny Hamlin, Fedex Ground Toyota Camry ©2015, Matthew T. Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

Episode 23: Colosseum-Style Frontstretch Podcast with Dustin Albino, Mike Neff and Zach Catanzareti In this week’s episode brought to you by DraftKings, Dustin, Mike and Zach discuss the potential resurgence of Kyle Larson, the importance of victory for Darrell Wallace Jr., road ringers in Mid-Ohio and the demise of Brad Keselowski Racing.  We also preview the racing to come this weekend at …

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Tech Talk: Trent Owens On PJ1 & Heavy Vertical Loads at Bristol

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Overton’s 301 New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, Nh Usa Friday 14 July 2017 Chris Buescher, Jtg Daugherty Racing, Liberty Tax Service Chevrolet Ss Crew Chief Trent Owens. World Copyright: Rusty Jarrett Nkp

(Photo: Rusty Jarrett/NKP)

The No. 37 team, driven by Chris Buescher, and crew chief Trent Owens are coming off two strong finishes for its small organization. Watkins Glen International was an 11th-place run, and Michigan International Speedway was sixth, the best finish of 2017 for JTG Daugherty Racing. Strategy, fuel mileage, caution timing and a little luck all played …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Kyle Larson Gets Dirty to Sweep Michigan

2017 Michigan Ii Cup Kyle Larson Burnout Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Who’s in the headline – We often speak of horses for courses and interestingly, Kyle Larson has established that he is the horse to ride on two-mile racetracks. For the third time in a row, he was victorious at Michigan International Speedway, although during this race, he was not nearly as dominant as he’d been …

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Tech Talk: Jason Ratcliff Looks at Horsepower, Drag and Braking for Michigan

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series I Love New York 355 At The Glen Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, Ny Usa Sunday 6 August 2017 Matt Kenseth, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Care Toyota Camry And Jason Ratcliff World Copyright: Barry Cantrell Nkp

(Photo: Barry Cantrell/NKP)

The 2017 season in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series has been about learning how to maximize the cars with the new aerodynamic package. The reduced downforce has thrown teams a challenge for braking, tire management and handling in traffic. The wide, smooth, fast surface of Michigan International Speedway will test all of that this …

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