Race Weekend Central

Holding A Pretty Wheel: NASCAR’s Storybook Scenario Wouldn’t Be a Happy Ending

2021 Loudon Cup Aric Almirola victory lane NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Saturday night’s (Sept. 18) race at Bristol Motor Speedway marks the final race in the first round of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, and four drivers will be ending their title bids when the checkers fall. Barring a true Hail Mary win, one of those drivers will be Michael McDowell, perhaps the underdog story …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 Coke Zero Sugar 400

Ryan Preece at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, March 2019. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who… should you be talking about after the Coke Zero Sugar 400? For the second week in a row, Ryan Blaney didn’t dominate a race. He merely placed himself in the right spot to pounce on a late restart.  Then, when carnage erupted behind him, the Team Penske driver capitalized with a win. Blaney’s third …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 Firekeepers Casino 400

Kurt Busch looks on at 2021 Cup Circuit of the Americas. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who … should you be talking about after the race? When Ryan Blaney shot to the lead on the final restart, it was easy to think it wouldn’t stick. The final eight laps were the only ones he’d led all day, and he had the dominant Hendrick cars of William Byron and Kyle Larson behind …

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Holding a Pretty Wheel: A NASCAR Summer of Endless Possibility

Ryan Preece racet at Hew Hampshire Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series July 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

After more than a decade of sultry and seductive Southern summers, it was easy to forget how the season manifests in New England, with blazing days and gentle nights, but it was also easy to forget how fleeting they are. Already the trees are beginning to lose their summer green. But as this summer begins …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After 2021 Go Bowling at the Glen

Chase Briscoe in the driver's seat of his NASCAR racecar. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who … should you be talking about after the race? Kyle Larson can race on any kind of track in any kind of car (anyone else want to see him try his hand in the IndyCar Series?). Sunday (Aug. 8), he reminded everyone of that, making the tricky road course at Watkins Glen International look like …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 Foxwoods Resort Casino 301

Martin Truex Jr. races in the Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, July 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who … should you be talking about after the Foxwoods Resort Casino 301? It was going to take a Hail Mary for Aric Almirola to make the 2021 playoffs. The No. 10 team has struggled for any kind of a foothold this year, earning just two top-10 finishes coming into Sunday’s (July 18) race at …

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Justin Allgaier Rides Summer Hot Streak to Runner-Up Finish at Loudon

2021 Loudon NXS Justin Allgaier smile NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

As summer enters the dog days, JR Motorsports driver Justin Allgaier is riding a wave that’s seen his No. 7 Chevrolet finish in the top three in four of the last six races, capped off by a runner-up finish to NASCAR Cup Series regular Christopher Bell in the Ambetter Get Vaccinated 200 at New Hampshire …

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Holding a Pretty Wheel: Perception, Reality & NASCAR’s Million-Dollar Problem

Nascar Cup Series

#10: Aric Almirola, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford Mustang Smithfield

There was once a young driver with a reputation for winning. He built a name for himself at the local bullrings, racing — and sometimes winning — against drivers twice his age and who had been racing before he was born. He scraped together what sponsorship he could, and put more than he could probably …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 Quaker State 400

Tyler Reddick waits for the NASCAR Cup Series race at Circuit of the Americas to begin, May 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who … should you be talking about after the Quaker State 400? Kurt Busch has had moments this season where he looked stout but hadn’t been able to put a winning run together.  That ended Sunday (July 11) at Atlanta Motor Speedway where Busch was dominant in the Quaker State 400. He led three times …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 Jockey Made in America 250

Christopher Bell smiles with folded arms at 2021 NASCAR Cup race at Road America, SiriusXM sponsor, NKP

Christopher Bell (Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who … should you be talking about after the race? He might have started 34th, but Chase Elliott was in front when it counted, taking the checkered flag for the second time in 2021. The win moves Elliott to third all-time in road-course wins (of course, there are more road courses on the schedule now) …

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Holding a Pretty Wheel: Goodbye to Hollywood, NASCAR

2021 Cup Charlotte Pack Racing - Erik Jones, No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet (Credit: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Do you remember when everything NASCAR touched turned to gold? Those halcyon summers when the sport was booming? Everything was right in its world and it was magic. But nothing stays the same. Summer romances fade in the winter cold, and so too has our love affair with NASCAR. It’s easy to say it’s only …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 Toyota/Save Mart 350

Kyle Larson in victory lane at Sonoma's Toyota/Save Mart 350 (June 2021). (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who … should you be talking about after the Toyota/Save Mart 350? Is Kyle Larson finally living up to his potential? He’s always had the talent to win but has struggled to close. For the second week in a row, Larson left no doubt whether he could finish out races, dominating the Toyota/Save Mart 350 …

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