Race Weekend Central

The Frontstretch 5: Facts to Know About Martinsville Speedway

NASCAR lights

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

1. It’s got some impressive superlatives to its name Martinsville is NASCAR’s oldest track. It’s been in NASCAR as long as the sport has been around, hosting its first sanctioned race in 1948. The track actually predates the sanctioning body by a year. But the Martinsville Speedway we know and love today as a (mostly) …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2019 1000Bulbs.com 500

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who … should you be talking about after the race? Ryan Blaney led three different times at Talladega Superspeedway for a total of 35 laps, but the third time was the charm as he took the checkered flag inches ahead of Ryan Newman thanks to a timely shove from superspeedway specialist Aric Almirola on the …

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Holding a Pretty Wheel: Will NASCAR’s Next Gen Car Be Enough?

Darlington Raceway sunset in 2018, NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

NASCAR appears to be in the final stages of development in the Next Gen racecar for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. A test session at Richmond Raceway was the first time on track for the new car; while NASCAR has said the new bodies will be a work in progress, it was the first …

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The Frontstretch 5: Playoff Storylines to Watch in the Round of 12

2019 Loudon MENCS Martin Truex, Jr Face Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

1. Is Martin Truex Jr. the title favorite? Under the current playoff system, it’s hard to pick a favorite, because one mistake by any driver at Homestead-Miami Speedway can end it for even the most dominant championship contender. But as of this minute, it’s hard to say the road to the title doesn’t go through …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2019 Bank of America ROVAL 400

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who… should you be talking about after the race? A lot of the talk going into this Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s ROVAL was about road course aces Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch. It’s a duo who, with four wins apiece on road courses, certainly have earned their reputation. …

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Xfinity Breakdown: Drive for the Cure 250

NASCAR Xfinity Series

(Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Can you say spoiler? The NASCAR Xfinity Series playoffs might have been front and center Saturday (Sept. 28) going into the Drive for the Cure 250 at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s ROVAL. But it was part-time driver AJ Allmendinger stealing the show and the win, a perfect way to cap off his limited schedule with Kaulig …

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The Frontstretch 5: Must-Know Driver Road Course Statistics

2018 cup charlotte roval zach catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series heads to Charlotte’s ROVAL this weekend for the second time. It’s the last race in the Round of 16 in the playoffs with a lot on the line. It’s also a bit of a wild card race because there are some unknowns with this track, mainly a reconfigured section …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2019 Federated Auto Parts 400

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who… should you be talking about after the race? For the second week in a row, it’s Martin Truex Jr. stealing the headlines.  The driver of the No. 19 Toyota showed his strength early, winning stage one handily and finishing second in stage two at Richmond Raceway. All in all, Truex led three times for …

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NASCAR 101: Inside the eNASCAR Heat Pro League

Heat Logo

(Photo: NASCAR)

The team names sound familiar: Team Penske, Joe Gibbs Racing, Hendrick Motorsports. There’s JTG Daugherty and Stewart-Haas and Germain Racing and Roush Fenway… but wait a minute: drivers named Garbage, Trackbar, Sloppy Joe and, um, Fluffy? What’s going on here? What’s going on is a playoff race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the eNASCAR …

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The Frontstretch 5: Different Strategies You’ll See in the Playoffs

2019 Loudon MENCS Kurt Busch Face Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

During NASCAR’s regular season, most teams are on more or less the same strategy of winning races and accumulating points in an attempt to qualify for the playoffs.  Those strategies vary from week to week, of course, depending on the track, how good the cars are off the truck or whether they’ve already got the …

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Holding a Pretty Wheel: The Old-Fashioned Way

2019 Sonoma MENCS Matt DiBenedetto Cup Nigel Kinrade  Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

It’s safe to say that Matt DiBenedetto being named as Paul Menard’s successor at Wood Brothers Racing will go down as one of the most popular moves during Silly Season 2019. DiBenedetto has grown a loyal following in his five seasons as a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series underdog, and he’s having a solid year …

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The Frontstretch 5: Storylines to Watch With 10 to Go

2019 Pocono MENCS Matt DiBenedetto Face Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

As pumpkin spice takes over everything, another NASCAR season is nearly over, with more than two-thirds of the races already on the books. But there’s still some racing left to be done, and there’s plenty to talk about. Some storylines are just now writing their opening sentences, but they’re going to be worth watching as …

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