1. Are drivers passionate enough? It’s not that any driver, at any level, doesn’t want to win. Any competitor who makes it to the top level of any sport is hungry to win, to be among the best. So it’s not that any driver lacks desire. But it’s hard to deny that there’s something missing …
Who… gets my shoutout of the race? Not every driver can take on the road courses and come out with strong finishes. The tracks require a distinct skill set and, depending on the path they take, road course experience may be the resume builder drivers lack most coming into NASCAR’s top series. For Erik Jones, …
1. Standalone races Races like the XFINITY/Truck show at Iowa last weekend used to be much more common, but the ones that are still on the schedule often end up being among the best races of the season in any series. Some of that has to do with the venues, but it’s also because the …
Who… gets my shoutout of the race? While his finish didn’t necessarily reflect the effort, for a driver for a very small, underfunded team to lead several laps on the day is an accomplishment in itself. Kasey Kahne started 29th and finished 23rd, but somewhere in the middle, he led twice for a total of …
Long, hot days give way to sultry nights, tracks are hot and slick and expectations and frustrations mount. It’s summer in NASCAR, and with 12 races to go in the sport’s regular season, there’s a rivalry brewing right along with the summer storms. Or is there? 2018 to date has largely been the Kevin Harvick …
1. Can Chevrolet turn it around? Or maybe, more accurately, will it? Certainly, it can; there’s a reason Chevrolet has so many manufacturer titles in the sport. And really, it’s showing signs of life after months of slumping. Kyle Larson has run with the leaders just about everywhere, and one of these days, his atrocious luck will …
Who… gets my shoutout of the race? Start in the back half of the field, activate stealth mode, finish inside the top 10. This week, not just one but two drivers accomplished that particular feat. Aric Almirola started 34th and looked to have a long day ahead of him. But smart strategy and hard racing …
1. Kyle Busch’s tenacity Imagine, if you will, that you were starting a brand-new NASCAR race team, and you could not only choose, but create a driver with the best qualities of the sport’s top talent. What would you pick? Here’s a good place to start: Busch’s raw talent often spells trouble for the competition, …
Who… gets my shoutout of the race? It became apparent Sunday night reports of Jimmie Johnson’s decline may have been a bit exaggerated. For the first time this season, Johnson had a top-five car, and the seven-time champion responded with his best effort on an intermediate track since last October. It was a vintage performance …
Brad Keselowski started on pole and ended up in Victory Lane in the Alsco 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but the race was far from uneventful on the way, with 13 caution flags and a one-hour rain delay for good measure. “It was kind of an eventful day, Keselowski said after the race. “From the …
After a rain shower at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the NASCAR XFINITY Series teams took to the track for qualifying for this afternoon’s Alasco 300. For the first time in several weeks, Cup Series drivers are allowed to double-dip, and they took full advantage, taking three of the top 10 starting spots, with Brad Keselowski taking …
Kyle Busch took one step closer to racing his way to his first points-paying Cup win at Charlotte Motor Speedway, winning the pole for the Coca-Cola 600 on Thursday night with a top speed of 191.836 mph. “You’ve just got to take it in stride and keep up with the changes the track throws at …
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