Race Weekend Central

5 Points to Ponder: Cream Rises, Ford Flounders?

2021 Phoenix I Cup Martin Truex Jr Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

ONE: Truex Restores Natural Cup Series Order Just as we were about to hit the point of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season where Bill Murray’s “Dogs and cats living together! Mass hysteria!” line from Ghostbusters would have applied because none of the races were being won by the drivers you’d expect, Martin Truex Jr. …

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Thinkin’ Dirty, Vol. 12: 2021 Gobbler at Cochran

Super Bowl of Racing

Photo Credit: World Racing Group

The Main Event: It was a race that took nearly five months to run, but Brandon Overton’s momentum from the 2020 season has only intensified in 2021, and that left “Big Sexy” in position to obliterate the field in Friday night’s rescheduled Gobbler super late model race at Cochran Motor Speedway in Cochran, Ga. Taking the …

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Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 Instacart 500

2021 Phoenix I Cup Martin Truex Jr Burnout Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who… should you be talking about after the race? A grand total of 30 races separated Sunday’s Instacart 500 (March 14) from the last time Martin Truex Jr. scored a NASCAR Cup Series victory. That came under the lights at Martinsville Speedway last year. Truex was nowhere to be found in the top 10 when …

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Team Penske Leads Most Laps, Fails to Win NASCAR Cup Race at Phoenix

2021 Cup Phoenix I Ryan Blaney Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

All three Team Penske cars finished Sunday’s (March 14) race at Phoenix Raceway in the top 10, but it could’ve been so much more for the trio. All three Penske cars began the fifth race of this NASCAR Cup Series season with good starting positions via the metric qualifying system. Brad Keselowski started first, Ryan …

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Brad Keselowski on Cup Pole at Phoenix

2021 Cup Las Vegas I Keselowski Nkp

(Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Brad Keselowski will start on the pole in Sunday’s (March 14) NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway. He was awarded the position after finishing second to Kyle Larson last week at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Larson will join Keselowski on the front row, while Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell and Martin …

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5 Points to Ponder: NASCAR Chemistry Matters, Stewart-Haas Racing Slump Deepens & More

Kevin Harvick and Cole Custer race at Daytona International Speedway February 2021 Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

ONE: Stewart-Haas Racing Slump Gets Deeper Kevin Harvick sat on the pole for Sunday’s (March 7) Pennzoil 400 driving his No. 4 Ford for Stewart-Haas Racing. It was a great position to assert himself up front at a Las Vegas Motor Speedway track he led 92 laps at last March. Instead? Harvick never led a …

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Zach’s Turn: Kyle Larson Earns Kudos from NASCAR, Bubba Wallace After 1st Hendrick Motorsports Win

2021 Cup Las Vegas I Larson Burnout Victory Nkp

(Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The past 10 months of Kyle Larson’s life have been a roller coaster, but the wild ride peaked on Sunday (March 7). Larson led 103 laps to dominate and win the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It’s his first NASCAR Cup Series victory at Hendrick Motorsports and first since losing his job last …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas

2021 Cup Las Vegas I Larson Winner Nkp

Kyle Larson celebrates Las Vegas victory (Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? Kyle Larson won the Pennzoil 400 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday (March 7) after leading a race-high 103 laps in just his fourth start for Hendrick Motorsports (fastest in team history). Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney rounded out the top-five finishers. Burning it down on the …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 Pennzoil 400

Kyle Larson races teammate William Byron in the 2021 Pennzoil 400 Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who… should you be talking about after the race? After being out of a NASCAR Cup Series car for nearly a year following a suspension for violating the driver conduct policy, Kyle Larson was repentant and ready to get back on track. It took him all of four weeks to find his groove and win …

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Kyle Larson Dominates Las Vegas, Wins in 4th Start with Hendrick

2021 Cup Las Vegas I Larson Victory Nkp

(Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Kyle Larson did nothing short of dominate Sunday’s (March 7) Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, cruising to his seventh career victory and first as a member of the Hendrick Motorsports team. Larson led 103 laps en route to the win, bringing the No. 5 back to victory lane for the first time since …

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Fire on Fridays: 7 NASCAR Cup Drivers Who Have to Win in 2021

Kyle Larson talks with Matt DiBenedetto 2021 Daytona 500 Photo NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Entering August 2020, if you’d asked me which drivers were on the hot seat and might lose their ride if they didn’t produce soon, William Byron would’ve been near the top of my list. Sure, Byron signed an extension with Hendrick Motorsports that month, but contracts aren’t always fulfilled in sports. Plus, Rick Hendrick doesn’t …

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Did You Notice?: Hendrick Motorsports is the New Face of NASCAR Youth Movement

Alex Bowman talks with Rick Hendrick before 2021 NASCAR Cup Race at Homestead Photo NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Did You Notice?… NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon retired in November 2015 at Homestead-Miami Speedway with a shot at the Cup Series championship. He was 44 years old. Just five years later, William Byron trounced the field at that same track Sunday (Feb. 28) to take Gordon’s former No. 24 car to victory lane at …

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