Race Weekend Central

The Frontstretch 5: Next Drivers to Find Victory Lane

2017 Texas I Cup Chase Elliott Logan Whitton Nkp

(Photo: Logan Whitton/NKP)

Chase Elliott It’s actually a bit surprising that Elliott hasn’t gotten a win yet.  He’s come close quite a few times, leading multiple laps at Phoenix and Martinsville as well as in the Daytona 500. May was difficult for the 21-year-old second-generation driver, with a best finish of 24th, but June kicked off with a …

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The Underdog House: Can NASCAR’s Lower-Tier Teams Still Win?

2017 Dover I Cup Chris Buescher Michael Mcdowell Racing Matthew T Tahcker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

Think Small It’s not unusual to see a handful of smaller teams crack the top 20 on a weekly basis, with one or two making it into the top 15 or the top 10.  Top fives are a rarity…but what about a win?  Can an underfunded team actually win races? Since they have won here …

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Friday Faceoff: Are Kasey Kahne’s Cup Days Numbered?

2017 Kansas I Cup Kasey Kahne Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

After the Coca-Cola 600, should NASCAR consider adding an extra stage or otherwise giving more points for a few select races, such as the Daytona 500 and Southern 500, to make the sport’s most prestigious races its most important? Michael Massie: I would love stage racing to death if the breaks between stages were not …

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The Underdog House: Matt DiBenedetto’s Fan-Friendly Dedication

Think Small A few weeks back, this column touched on the small team drivers and how, in general, they’re fairly accessible to their fans.  They show it often; a few weeks ago, Landon Cassill engaged in a lengthy scheme with his Twitter followers where he’d give them various items if they got a certain number …

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Holding A Pretty Wheel: Ryan Blaney’s Patience Put to Another Test At Charlotte

2017 Kansas I Cup Ryan Blaney Barry Cantrell Nkp

(Photo: Barry Cantrell/NKP)

Ryan Blaney spent Sunday evening behind the wheel of an iconic race car, trying to find Victory Lane in the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing machine. Entering Charlotte with a fourth-place finish at Kansas Speedway and a win in the second stage of the Monster Energy Open, Blaney had started to turn around from three …

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Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski Out of Coca-Cola 600 After Fiery Crash

2017 Cup Richmond Zach Catanzareti Chase Elliott

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

The Coca-Cola 600 is NASCAR’s longest race, but the race didn’t last long for two of the favorites to win. Chase Elliott and Brad Keselowski ran into a chain reaction crash after Jeffrey Earnhardt’s engine failed on lap 19.  A piece of Earnhardt’s car punctured the oil pan of Elliott’s machine, causing a fire under …

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Ryan Blaney Wins Hisense 4K TV 300 In Convincing Fashion

Ryan Blaney Takes Checkered Flag First At Charlotte For Xfinity In 2017 Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

Ryan Blaney may have fired off a warning shot.  Not long after posting the second-fastest lap in Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, Blaney won the NASCAR XFINITY Series Hisense 4K TV 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday in convincing fashion, leading 107 of 200 laps in a caution-filled event to outduel Kevin Harvick …

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Friday Faceoff: Will a Mid-Season Crew Chief Change Help Austin Dillon?

2016 Xfinity Homestead Miami Speedway Austin Dillon Zach Catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

The latest NASCAR Hall of Fame Class was announced Wednesday (May 24) and includes Red Byron, Robert Yates, Ray Evernham, Ken Squier and Ron Hornaday Jr.  Opinions? Michael Massie: All five legends — and all of the nominees — deserve to be in the HoF. Byron and Squier should have already been in. I know …

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The Frontstretch 5: Thoughts on the NASCAR Schedule

2016 Indianapolis Cup Greg Biffle Carl Edwards Racing Logan Whitton Nkp

(Photo: Logan Whitton / NKP)

A playoff shakeup was needed While it may not be enough, a shakeup at the end of the season was needed. The addition of a road course and a short track are absolutely sound moves. Las Vegas?  Meh. It replaces Chicagoland, so it’s pretty much an even trade. Charlotte might not have been the best …

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The Underdog House: A Vital Indicator for NASCAR

2017 Texas I Cup Chris Buescher Racing Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

Think Small All-Star week is an interesting time to reflect on the small teams in the sport, because it’s not typically a weekend where they get much of the spotlight.  That’s okay; the race is about recent winners and it’s rare that an underdog can crack that threshold, though Chris Buescher earned his way in …

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Holding a Pretty Wheel: Johnson’s All-Star Impact Came After the Checkered Flag

2017 Kansas I Cup Jimmie Johnson Helmet Barry Cantrell Nkp

(Photo: Barry Cantrell/NKP)

Usually, you take what a defeated racer says after the race with a grain of salt.  He’s hot, he’s tired, he’s frustrated.  Sour grapes abound on his vocal vine. But when the frustrated words come from a seven-time champion who rarely says a negative word about anyone, let alone the NASCAR hand that feeds him, …

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Daniel Suarez Wins Monster Energy Open; Bowyer, Blaney, Elliott Transfer To All-Star Race

2017 Fontana Cup Daniel Suarez Rusty Jarrett Nkp

(Photo: Rusty Jarrett/NKP)

Competition was hot and heavy in the Monster Energy Open Saturday night, with three transfer spots on the line for the Monster Energy All-Star Race and its million-dollar prize.  Clint Bowyer won the pole, led the pack to green and romped to a win in the first stage by more than three seconds, with Ryan …

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