Race Weekend Central

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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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2019 Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who…should you be talking about after the race? Some days it’s your day.  Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway was Kevin Harvick’s day.  Harvick led 118 of 160 laps en route to his second Indianapolis win, his third victory of 2019 and the 48th of his career. In case you’re keeping track, only two active drivers, Jimmie …

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The Frontstretch 5: Closest Finishes in Brickyard 400 History

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Pagoda

(Photo: Mike Harding/IndyCar Media)

This weekend’s regular-season finale at Indianapolis Motor Speedway holds a lot of prestige for drivers, but the race itself is often a bit anticlimactic for fans. In 25 races, the margin of victory has been 1.3 seconds or more 11 times, with another five races finishing under caution. But the Brickyard has also had its …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2019 Bojangles Southern 500

2019 cup pack racing at Darlington sign cars blurry NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who… should you be talking about after the race? Erik Jones didn’t see the lead for the first time until there were under 100 laps to go, something that bodes well in a race where track conditions change. But to take the win, Jones had to battle Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson for the top …

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Holding a Pretty Wheel: Only a Test for NASCAR?

#20: Erik Jones, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Camry Dewalt And #36: Matt Tifft, Front Row Motorsports, Ford Mustang Out West Express Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

With a new racecar on the horizon for NASCAR, there has been plenty of talk and speculation about whether, and how, it will make the racing better for fans. That’s a great conversation to have, but first, there has to be a conversation about what went south in the first place. Why isn’t the racing …

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The Frontstretch 5: Big Pieces to the Silly Season Puzzle

#38: David Ragan, Front Row Motorsports, Ford Mustang Mds Trucking

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The first big piece to the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series silly season puzzle was dislodged last week with the announcement that Matt DiBenedetto would not return to the No. 95 at Leavine Family Racing despite a career year for both driver and team. And while it’s likely that Christopher Bell will fall into …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2019 Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race

2019 Daytona I Cup Jimmie Johnson Helmet Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who… should you be talking about after the race? Denny Hamlin won the race the right way by tracking down the leader with fewer than 15 laps to go and passing him cleanly to take the lead and eventually the win. After starting the weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway by winning the pole, Hamlin was in …

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The Frontstretch 5: Things Nobody Should Say About NASCAR

2016 Nscs Cup Field Chicagoland Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist / NKP)

Racing and speculation go hand in hand. From Silly Season to history lessons, part of what’s fun about NASCAR (and life, for that matter), is thinking about the “what ifs” and the “well, but what abouts.”  Debate keeps fans engaged in the sport in ways that reach beyond the track. But there are some debates …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2019 Consumers Energy 400

2019 Phoenix I Cup Chris Buescher Nkp

(Photo: NKP)

Who… should you be talking about after the race? Once again, Kevin Harvick showed why he’s called The Closer, getting it done when it counted to win the Consumers Energy 400 at Michigan International Speedway for the second year in a row in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. This time, Harvick had enough speed …

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