Race Weekend Central

2019 NASCAR Driver Reviews: Spire Motorsports

2019 Daytona Mencs Justin Haley Cup Victory Lane Christian Koelle

(Photo: Christian Koelle)

The NASCAR Cup Series’ newest team made a major impact in the 2019 season in multiple ways. With support from Premium Motorsports, Spire Motorsports turned 2019 into a success story — often a tall order for a first-year team. With a total of eight drivers behind the wheel, the No. 77 team earned one victory …

Read more

Spire Motorsports’ Future Depends on Next-Gen Car

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Nigel Kinrade Photography)

In an era of aging owners and sparse new ones, there has been one new owner in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series this season — Spire Motorsports, owner of the No. 77 Chevrolet. The Origin Story The team was formed by Spire Sports + Entertainment (SS+E), a talent management agency that represents several drivers, …

Read more

NASCAR 101: 5 Longest Active Winless Streaks in All 3 Series

2017 Daytona I Cwts Joe Nemechek Barry Cantrell Nkp

Photo: Barry Cantrell/NKP

It’s hard to believe that Kyle Larson had not won in 75 races. Or the fact that Jimmie Johnson still can’t find victory lane. While Larson was able to take a home a much needed checkered flag last Sunday (Oct. 6) at Dover International Raceway to end his winless streak in the Monster Energy NASCAR …

Read more

NASCAR 101: Longest Cup Streaks Without a Pole

2019 Loudon Mencs Brad Keselowski Pole Award Getty Images Nascar Media

(Photo: Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Entering the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, Brad Keselowski had 14 poles to his credit — by no means a deplorable number. However, it came with a caveat. In 2018, Keselowski won no poles, and his last one before then came at the second Michigan International Speedway race of the season in 2017. …

Read more

Friday Faceoff: What Does the Future Look Like for Justin Haley?

2019 Daytona I Nxs Justin Haley Nkp

(Photo: NKP)

Justin Haley joined Kevin Harvick, Jamie McMurray and Trevor Bayne as modern-era drivers to win in their first three starts in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Which of those drivers’ career will Haley’s most likely resemble? Adam Cheek: Jamie McMurray. He has enough talent to not be a relative bust like Bayne, but he’s …

Read more

Friday Faceoff: Will the Summer Showdown At Daytona Be Mild or Wild?

Kenseth Leading Daytona

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero 400 Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL USA Saturday 1 July 2017 Matt Kenseth, Joe Gibbs Racing, DEWALT Flexvolt Toyota Camry World Copyright: Matthew T. Thacker NKP

The traditional-style plate races so far this year in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series have been varied from wild (Daytona International Speedway) to tame (Talladega Superspeedway). What scenario is more likely this week? Frank Velat: Talladega became notorious for having one crash-marred race after another to the point that drivers now seem to go …

Read more

Jamie McMurray At Peace Ahead of Potential Final NASCAR Start

Jamie Mcmurray Daytona500 Mediaday

Jamie McMurray has no plans of racing past this Sunday's Daytona 500, but left the door cracked open for a potential one-off. (Photo/Davey Segal)

The white flag is out for Jamie McMurray. Sunday’s Daytona 500 will (probably) mark the Joplin, Mo., native’s final career NASCAR start, driving the No. 40 for Chip Ganassi Racing. Despite having already went through this process once last year at Homestead-Miami Speedway, this weekend is different. “This is super different than Homestead was, knowing …

Read more

The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2019 Advance Auto Parts Clash

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who… should you be talking about after the race? Obviously, everyone is talking about Jimmie Johnson.  His detractors are talking about the multi-car wreck he may or may not have triggered in what ultimately set up the win. His fans are just happy he won, even if it is a non-points event, because, well, it’s …

Read more

2019 NASCAR TV Preview: It’s Time to Get Ready for NASCAR On FOX

Nascar Hall Of Fame Voting Day

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Welcome back to yet another full season of TV opinion, my 11th year of critiquing NASCAR broadcasts.  Jeepers. We’re on the verge of the first major race weekend of the season.  The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series has Daytona 500 qualifying and the Advance Auto Parts Clash on tap.  Meanwhile, the ARCA Racing Series presented …

Read more

Entry List: Daytona 500

2018 Daytona Cup Zach Catanzareti Ryan Blaney

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

The entry list for the 61st Daytona 500 has been released, and there’s a lot of changes for the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season. 42 cars are on the final version of the entry list. A maximum of 40 cars will take the green flag on race day. Old faces in new places …

Read more

Entry List: Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona

The Advance Auto Parts Clash kicks off the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season on Feb. 10 for a 75-lap shootout at Daytona International Speedway. 20 cars are eligible for the event due to either winning a pole last season, previously winning a Daytona 500 pole, previously winning the Clash or making the playoffs …

Read more

Jamie McMurray Driving for Chip Ganassi Racing, Spire Motorsports in Daytona 500

2018 Cup Zach Catanzareti Dover Jamie Mcmurray

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Jamie McMurray has found a ride for the 2019 Daytona 500. McMurray, who lost his full-time ride in Chip Ganassi Racing’s No. 1 in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series during the offseason to Kurt Busch, will return to the team for at least one more race, driving the No. 40 for the team in …

Read more