Race Weekend Central

Holding a Pretty Wheel: When Were the Good Ol’ Days of NASCAR?

1995 Brickyard 400 Dale Earnhardt Nascar 1a

(Photo: Indianapolis Motor Speedway)

“Back in the good ol’ days…” is a phrase heard all the time in NASCAR. Back in the good ol’ days, the racing was great and every finish was exciting. Back in the good ol’ days, the drivers were real racers. Back in the good ol’ days, NASCAR wouldn’t have stood for this. Waxing nostalgic …

Read more

The Frontstretch 5: Things to Watch This Summer

2017 Daytona Ii Cup Sunset Blur Nigelkinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Nine to go Seventeen races later, there are suddenly just nine chances for drivers to earn a playoff berth. So far 11 drivers have the wins that should guarantee a spot. Note the “should,” because there’s still an outside chance that six other drivers could snatch a win in the next nine weeks and make …

Read more

The Underdog House: Daytona Featured Was The Best & Worst of Times For Small Teams

2017 Daytona Ii Nxs Landon Cassill Pack Racing Nigel Kinrade Nkp

Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP

Think Small Daytona and Talladega have a certain appeal because when the cars are equalized by restrictor plates, it brings driver skill into the spotlight, and as this week’s top 10 shows, there’s a lot of skill throughout the field.  It’s a bonus when all the drivers have a chance to show it. It’s a …

Read more

Friday Faceoff: Can An Underfunded Team Be a Contender?

2017 Daytona I Cwts John Hunter Nemechek Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade NKP)

Martin Truex, Jr. has had a hot start to 2017, with a total of 11 stage wins and two race wins, but he’s also had some missed opportunities due to things outside the driver’s control.  Is the No. 78 team ready to win a title this year, or will the little things add up? Dustin …

Read more

The Frontstretch 5: Midseason Observations

Martin Truex Jr.

[Photo: Zach Catanzareti]

Sorry, guys, the stages are pretty ok I know there are some fans who are not behind the race structure, but after nearly half a season of racing, has it really changed the racing all that much?  The answer is yes…and no. Why it works is that the actual race remains more or less unchanged.  …

Read more

The Underdog House: NASCAR About to Get Silly?

2017 Kansas I Cup Michael Mcdowell Car Barry Cantrell Nkp

(Photo: Barry Cantrell/NKP)

Think Small Track surfaces aren’t the inly thing heating up as summertime hits full swing.  NASCAR’s Silly Season is coming, and while so far, it’s been confined to rumblings and rumors, there’s potential for things to blow up.  While most of the speculation concerns the bigger teams in the sport, including who will fill the …

Read more

Friday Faceoff: Who’s King of the Road Course in NASCAR?

2016 Pocono Cup Aj Allmendinger Zach Catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon were two of NASCAR’s greatest on road courses, but 2017 marks the first season in which neither will compete at Sonoma Raceway or Watkins Glen International in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Who — if anyone — assumes the mantle of NASCAR’s best road racer in their absence? Michael …

Read more

The Underdog House: NASCAR’s Vicious Cycle

2017 Dover I Cup Aj Allmendinger Pack Racing Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Think Small It’s hard for small teams to get noticed.  This is something that’s been discussed over and over  and continues to create a vicious cycle for these teams: Lack of money leads to lack of performance, and lack of performance makes sponsors shy away, leading to a lack of money…you see the problem here? …

Read more

The Frontstretch 5: First-Time Winners In One Season

2011 Watkins Glen Cup Marcos Ambrose Woohoo Tyler Barrick Autostock Usa Via Nkp

(Photo: Tyler Barrick Autostock USA via NKP)

Trevor Bayne, Daytona 500, Wood Brothers Racing Blaney is the second driver in the last six years to get his first win driving one of the most iconic cars in the history of the sport. The other was Trevor Bayne, who had just turned 20 years old when he capitalized on a late-race mistake by …

Read more

The Underdog House: NASCAR Alliances Alone Don’t Win Races

Blaney 2017 Daytona 500

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Think Small Do teams that have technical alliances with the sport’s top teams still qualify as small teams?  That’s been the debate as drivers like Martin Truex, Jr. and more recently, Ryan Blaney, have taken their small teams to the winner’s circle.  Furniture Row Racing earned their way off this list and it’s likely that …

Read more

Holding a Pretty Wheel: Will Silly Season 2017 Be Crazy?

2017 Dover Cup Zach Catanzareti Dale Earnhardt Jr.

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Summer in NASCAR is a time when teams can either thrive or slump under the sun, and those without wins begin to sweat a little when they look at the playoff scenario.  Teams see tracks for a second time and some find that something they need. Others coast a bit, seeing what works and making …

Read more