Race Weekend Central

The Frontstretch 5: Ideas for NASCAR So Crazy They Just Might Work

2017 Phoenix Ii Cup More Pack Racing Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

1. Let someone else design the cars A couple things here. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither was NASCAR brought down overnight. In other words, there is no quick fix here. New cars, new venues and new ideas all take time, and lots of it, to do right. But it may just be …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the Overton’s 400

#18: Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Camry Skittles Red White & Blue Celebrates After Winning Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

Kyle Busch (Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? Even on a team, it’s easy to point fingers and let a setback outweigh performance.  Sometimes the setback is even the team’s own fault, or as in Clint Bowyer’s case, purely driver error. A pit road speeding penalty mushroomed for Bowyer as he drew a second penalty while …

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The Frontstretch 5: Overly Deep Philosophical Questions About NASCAR

2017 Nascar Monster Energy Cup Series, Daytona

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

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 …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2018 Toyota/Save Mart 350

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Folds Of Honor Quik Trip 500 Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, Ga Usa Saturday 24 February 2018 Erik Jones, Joe Gibbs Racing, Dewalt Toyota Camry World Copyright: Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

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, …

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The Frontstretch 5: Great Things About NASCAR’s Lower Divisions, Areas of Opportunity

Field Enters Turn Three After Final Restart of Iowa 250 pres. by Enogen

(Photo: Christian Koelle)

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 …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2018 FireKeepers Casino 400

Kasey Kahne

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

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 …

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Holding a Pretty Wheel: Is a Summer Storm Coming to NASCAR?

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

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 …

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The Frontstretch 5: Current NASCAR Mysteries

2017 Phoenix Ii Cup More Pack Racing Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

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 …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2018 Pocono 400

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Folds Of Honor Quik Trip 500 Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, Ga Usa Saturday 24 February 2018 Paul Menard, Wood Brothers Racing, Menards / Moen Ford Fusion World Copyright: Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

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 …

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The Frontstretch 5: Ingredients for a Great Driver

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Brickyard 400 Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis, In Usa Saturday 22 July 2017 Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing, Skittles Toyota Camry And Kyle Larson, Chip Ganassi Racing, Target Chevrolet Ss World Copyright: Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

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, …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2018 Coca-Cola 600

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

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 …

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Brad Keselowski Holds Off XFINITY Field to Win Alsco 300 at Charlotte

2018 Charlotte I Nxs Brad Keselowski Car Amy Henderson

(Photo: Amy Henderson)

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 …

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