Race Weekend Central

The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2019 GEICO 500

#9: Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro Mountain Dew / Little Caesar’s, Celebrates After Winning At Talladega Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who… should you be talking about after the race? Chase Elliott led the most laps (44) on Sunday, but more importantly, he led the one that counted. It wasn’t necessarily a dominant performance. In fact, 15 different drivers led at some point, and Elliott accumulated his laps led in four separate stints. What Elliott did exactly …

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Holding a Pretty Wheel: Getting to the Point(s) with NASCAR

Nascar Champions Portraits

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Earlier this week, I wrote that one thing NASCAR needs as the sport enters a new television contract is a more meaningful championship. The current format has left a lot of fans frustrated, because the championship feels somehow less than it used to, especially in the last few years, when it comes down to one …

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The Frontstretch 5: Meaningful Changes that Could Turn the Tide for NASCAR

2019 Phoenix I Cup Jimmie Johnson Pack Racing Nkp

(Photo: NKP)

1. Allow innovation Sometimes, less is more, and when it comes to NASCAR’s extensive rule book, there are areas where that’s definitely the case. No, NASCAR doesn’t need to go to a “run what you brung” free-for-all, but opening up some areas, like suspensions and gears, would allow teams to find things that work for …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After NASCAR’s First 9 Races of 2019

2019 Las Vegas I Cup Kyle Busch Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who… should you be talking about so far? Kyle Busch is certainly making himself the early title favorite for 2019. With a series-leading three wins so far, Busch has a solid 20-point buffer over second place in points and an eye-popping average finish of 3.9.  Busch and teammate Denny Hamlin are the only drivers to finish …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2019 Toyota Owners 400

2019 Atlanta Cup Ryan Newman Nkp

(Photo:Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who… should you be talking about after the race? Martin Truex Jr. scored his first 2019 win, but more surprising is that it was also his first ever Cup win on a track less than one mile. That’s right, in 80 short-track tries, he came up empty.  The 81st time was the charm for Truex, who …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2019 Food City 500

2019 Bristol Zach Catanzareti Cup Kurt Busch

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Who… should you be talking about after the race? Defending race winner and active Bristol Motor Speedway win leader Kyle Busch suffered damage in a chain-reaction crash on the initial start of the race after starting 17th. Busch suffered damage to his car’s rear bumper after Ricky Stenhouse Jr. ran into him from behind.  Fortunately for …

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The Frontstretch 5: Recent Xfinity Champs & How Cup is Treating Them

Nascar Xfinity Series Lilly Diabetes 250 Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis, In Usa Saturday 22 July 2017 William Byron, Liberty University Chevrolet Camaro Wins World Copyright: Rusty Jarrett Nkp

(Photo: Rusty Jarrett/NKP)

1. William Byron (2017) Years in Cup: Second year in 2019 Current Team: Hendrick Motorsports Races: 43 Wins: 0 Top 5s: 0 Top 10s: 5 Average Finish: 21.3 Best Points finish: 23rd (2018, first full season) Byron is the hardest in this group to judge because he’s the least experienced in Cup by at least …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2019 O’Reilly Auto Parts 500

2019 Phoenix I Cup Daniel Suarez Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who…should you be talking about after the race? Some days it’s your day, and Sunday (March 31) was Denny Hamlin’s afternoon. Hamlin didn’t look like he had a car to compete with teammate Kyle Busch early on, and a pair of pit road issues might have ended his bid early.  But Hamlin kept his head …

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Holding A Pretty Wheel: The Good, Bad And The Ugly Of Recent NASCAR Fixes

2019 Daytona Clash Cup Daniel Suarez Pack Racing Nkp

(Photo: NKP)

NASCAR made some fairly significant schedule changes this week for the 2020 season, the biggest swing at what had become a stagnant calendar for several years. The sanctioning body has hinted more changes are to come as current track contracts come to an end and the seventh-generation cars are phased in for 2021. But is …

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2-Headed Monster: Are The Changes to the NASCAR Schedule Good Or Bad?

2019 Phoenix I Cup Kyle Larson Pack Racing Nkp

(Photo: NKP)

The 2020 schedule for the NASCAR Cup Series was announced on Tuesday (March 26) with more changes than in recent years combined. The question is: Did NASCAR get it right? Frontstretch’s Amy Henderson and Clayton Caldwell debate. Sure, NASCAR made changes…but they missed the mark When the 2020 Cup Series schedule was released, there were some …

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