Race Weekend Central

NASCAR Stat Sheet: The Biggest 0-for Streaks in the Sport’s Biggest Race

Jeff Gordon Leda Terry Labonte Daytona 1994 Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/Nigel Kinrade Photography)

In every form of sports, there is a foremost prize to be had, and the collection of triumphs becomes the most significant measure by which the best are compared. Obviously, the Daytona 500 is the biggest single event in NASCAR, and it seems impossible for successful drivers to reach top tier status without a 500 …

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2021 NASCAR Preseason Power Rankings, No. 6: Brad Keselowski

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Since moving to the No. 2 ride at Team Penske a decade ago, Brad Keselowski has been an absolute model of consistency. As we head into the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, Keselowski is once again expected to be a championship front-runner. The 2012 series champion has won a race every year since 2011, the second …

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2021 NASCAR Preseason Power Rankings, No. 23: Erik Jones

2020charlottencserikjonesfacenascarmedia

(Photo: NASCAR Media/Getty Images)

As he has for the first four years of his full-time career in the NASCAR Cup Series, Erik Jones finds himself in an iconic ride for the 2021 season. However, this time it will not be a Joe Gibbs Racing ride but rather the No. 43 made famous by Richard Petty. Jones has a pair …

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2020 NASCAR Team Reviews: Team Penske

2020 Review Penske

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

In the hierarchy of multicar NASCAR Cup Series organizations, the label of best overall team seems to rotate pretty regularly. Joe Gibbs Racing, Hendrick Motorsports and Stewart-Haas Racing have all laid a pretty solid claim to the top pedestal in recent years. However, in terms of total team success, it is arguably Team Penske that …

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Friday Faceoff: Are Jimmie Johnson/Chad Knaus the Best Driver/Crew Chief Pairing Ever?

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Is Phoenix Raceway the right track again for the NASCAR finales next year? Luken Glover: While the spring NASCAR Cup Series race was good, the championship event wasn’t quite as exciting. There were some good battles among the championship drivers, but behind them we didn’t see a lot of action. It could be that non-playoff …

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The Underdog House: Bubba Wallace Goes Out on Top at Phoenix

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Top Dog Bubba Wallace stood atop the underdog pile when the final checkered flag waved on Sunday at Phoenix Raceway. After a tumultuous season of ups and downs, Wallace put a period on his tenure in the Petty No. 43 with a 15th-place finish. He ran as high as seventh, and at the end of …

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Friday Faceoff: Who Are the Championship Favorites?

2020 Martinsville Ii Cup Racing Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Looking back at the Martinsville Speedway race in the NASCAR Cup Series, would you have officiated anything that happened there any differently? Or did the race play out as it should have? Luken Glover: Chase Elliott asked the question, “What more could you ask for?” in his post-race interview. He was exactly right. That race …

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The Frontstretch 5: Best NASCAR Cup Seasons By Drivers Who Didn’t Win Championship

2008 Nascar Sprint Cup Series Texas

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

1. 1985 Bill Elliott won plenty of races and money and even earned a couple really cool nicknames in 1985. But the big prize eluded the red-headed Georgia leadfoot that year. Elliott came into 1985 having won a total of four NASCAR Cup Series races during the previous two seasons, but proved to be almost …

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2-Headed Monster: Is Rudy Fugle the Answer for William Byron?

2016 Nascar Camping World Truck Series, Kentucky

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Under-the-radar moves can sometimes have the biggest impact. The NASCAR silly season brings lots of changes, and while some moves are flashier than others, sometimes it’s the ones that don’t make all the headlines that result in a team’s success. Most of the moves people pay attention to are when drivers move from one team …

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The Underdog House: John Hunter Nemechek Just Plain Speedy in Kansas

2020 Kansas Ii Cup John Hunter Nemechek Car Nkp

Top Dog John Hunter Nemechek was back on top of the underdogs on Sunday as the rookie driver finished 17th in the Hollywood Casino 400. Nemechek earned his only career Xfinity Series win at Kansas Speedway, so perhaps we should have seen this coming. Not only that, but his first Gander RV & Outdoors Truck …

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The Underdog House: Bubba Wallace Leads on the Long, Lonely Road Home

2020 Charlotte Road Cup Jimmie Johnson Bubba Wallace Racing Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Top Dog Road courses at the top level of NASCAR are something of an equalizer. A good driver can elevate the performance of an entire team even without the benefit of top notch equipment or research data. So it’s a logical assumption that at least one or two underdogs will likely run competitively and finish …

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The Underdog House: Ty Dillon Best in Class as Underdogs Run Wild at Talladega

2020 Talladega Ii Cup Ty Dillon Pack Racing Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Top Dog As usual, a NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway resulted in a “Big One.” No, not just a big crash, though there were plenty of those. I’m referring to a big group of underdog teams scattered throughout the top half of the finishing order. Leading the line both literally and figuratively was …

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