Race Weekend Central

Ryan Blaney Leads Troublesome Texas Practice

2017 Fontana Cup Ryan Blaney Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

This new Texas Motor Speedway surface was kind to Ryan Blaney. The No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford led the way in the first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice session on the reprofiled 1.5-mile track. The second-year driver ripped around the fresh track in 27.809 seconds [194.182 mph]. Behind him was a surprise face …

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Brad Keselowski Wins a Wild One in Martinsville

2017 Martinsville Cup Zach Catanzareti Brad Keselowski

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Nobody seemed to want to lead Sunday at Martinsville Speedway. But when it came down to the final laps, Brad Keselowski took it and kept it to win the STP 500. The victory, his second of the season, is Keselowski’s first at Martinsville and 23rd of his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career. “We’ve ran …

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Jamie McMurray Cuts Tire, Crashes out Early in Martinsville

2017 Martinsville Cup Zach Catanzareti Jamie Mcmurray

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Sunday’s STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway went from good, bad to terrible for Jamie McMurray. Starting sixth, McMurray drove up to the second spot before losing a couple spots before the first caution on Lap 70. The ensuing restart saw McMurray get hit by Jimmie Johnson after a three-wide move by Ryan Blaney. And within …

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NASCAR Champion Sam Ard Passes Away

1983 Sam Ard Daytona Xfinity Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

NASCAR started their raceday at Martinsville Speedway mourning the death of Sam Ard, who passed away Sunday morning at the age of 78. Ard, who won five times at the Virginia half-mile, also scored two championships in what is now the NASCAR XFINITY Series in 1983 and ’84. Ard’s national NASCAR career may have been …

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Brad Keselowski Wins, Kevin Harvick Speeds in Atlanta

2016 Chicago Cup Brad Keselowski Helmet Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

Brad Keselowski held off Kyle Larson to win Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The win, his 22nd in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, gives Ford a second win to start the 2017 season. “You never know, that’s how these races are,” Keselowski said. “We had a lot of adversity …

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Ross Chastain Hopes to Find Full-time Driver for Bolen Motorsports

2016 Camping World Truck Bristol

(Photo: John Harrelson / NKP)

Nothing gets people’s attention like a strong run on the track. For Ross Chastain, Saturday’s Active Pest Control 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway gave him and his small team some time in the spotlight after finishing 10th in the 130-lap race. Earning team owner Jeff Bolen’s first top-10 finish in 23 Camping World Truck Series …

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Christopher Bell Slays Field Toward Atlanta Truck Win

2016 Trucks Talladega Christopher Bell Zach Catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Sure, stages may have stirred up this race, but Christopher Bell was the bartender. Leading 99 of 130 laps, the pole-sitter became the first driver to sweep both stages and score the race win Saturday at Atlanta Motor Speedway in his No. 4 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota. “This was definitely a race I had circled after …

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Kyle Busch Holds off Brad Keselowski for Atlanta XFINITY Win

2016 Loudon I Cup Kyle Busch Helmet Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty NKP)

Though he didn’t lead the most laps in Saturday’s Rinnai 250, Kyle Busch pushed hard when it counted on the final restart to win at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The victory, his first of 2017, is the 87th of his XFINITY Series career and second in a row at Atlanta. “Scott [Graves, crew chief] made some …

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Chase Elliott Leads Final Cup Atlanta Practice

2017 Atlanta Chase Elliott Cup Zach Catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

What better place to be leading the charts than your home track? Georgia native Chase Elliott led the way in final Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice at Atlanta Motor Speedway with a lap time of 29.487 seconds [188.015 mph]. The Hendrick Motorsports driver, who starts 11th in Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500, enters …

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Kevin Harvick Earns First Stewart-Haas Pole with Ford at Atlanta

2016 Pocono Ii Cup Kevin Harvick Helmet Logan Whitton Nkp

(Photo: Logan Whitton/NKP)

Stewart-Haas Racing and Ford are sure off to a flying start to the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season. Kevin Harvick won the pole for Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, this coming a week after teammate Kurt Busch’s Daytona 500 victory. For Harvick, the pole is the 18th of …

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