Race Weekend Central

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

Ricky Hendrick pilots the No. 5 in a NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/ Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who … should you be talking about after the race? Another week, another Kyle Larson win. Larson’s Kansas Speedway victory in the Hollywood Casino 400 was his ninth NASCAR Cup Series win of 2021 and third in a row. He’s on a roll at the best possible time, with the title race just two weeks …

Read more

Holding A Pretty Wheel: That Time NASCAR’s Points System Showed the Playoffs for What They Are

Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson battle in the closing laps of the 2021 Southern 500. (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Way back in 2004, NASCAR devised a playoff system with hopes of one thing: attracting a demographic whose attention span, raised on information meted out in colorful bursts, was decidedly shorter than that of the long-term, traditional fans. The sport was riding a high as the water-cooler fad of the moment and wanted the wave …

Read more

The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500

Tyler Reddick races in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Autotrader Echopark Automotive 500 playoff race at Texas Motor Speedway.

(Photo: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Who … should you be talking about after the race? The wins just keep coming for Kyle Larson. This week at Texas Motor Speedway, Larson took his eighth victory of the year and third of the playoffs, guaranteeing that he’ll run for the championship this year while seven others will have to sweat it out …

Read more

The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 Bank of America ROVAL 400

Chris Buscher pilot the No. 17 Fastenal Ford in the 2021 Bank of America ROVAL 400. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who … should you be talking about after the race? Is Kyle Larson the most talented driver in the NASCAR Cup Series? He has some stiff competition in that department, but the 2021 season has left little question that Larson is among today’s elite drivers. He learned to close races, and once he did, he …

Read more

The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 Yellawood 500

Bubba Wallace celebrates his NASCAR Cup Series win in the Yellawood 500 at Talladega, October, 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Who…should you be talking about after the race? Say all you want about rain-shortened races, but here’s what went down in ‘Dega: teams knew the rain was imminent, and there were racing like it was the closing laps, because at a track without lights that takes hours to dry and autumn shortening the days dramatically, …

Read more

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 …

Read more

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 …

Read more

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 …

Read more

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 …

Read more

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 …

Read more

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 …

Read more

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 …

Read more