Race Weekend Central

The Underdog House: John Hunter Nemechek Loses Pit Strategy Gamble in Las Vegas

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Top Dog There hasn’t been much to get excited about for our Cup Series underdogs lately. We’ve primarily talked about the best in the category barely making the top 20 by the end of each race. Las Vegas Motor Speedway and its surrounding environment may have inspired you to bet the farm on a long …

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The Underdog House: Michael McDowell Does Better, Still Best At Bristol

2020 Bristol Cup Michael Mcdowell Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Top Dog Being the top underdog each week can be a funny thing. Take for example Front Row Motorsports’ NASCAR Cup Series driver Michael McDowell. McDowell earned the proverbial best in class award for the second consecutive race at Bristol Motor Speedway last Saturday, Sept. 19, by finishing 10th. However, in the previous race at …

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Friday Faceoff: Is Bristol a Good Place for a Cutoff Race?

2019 Mencs Bristol Bms Racing Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Does a race need naturally occurring cautions to make it more interesting? Luken Glover: There has to be a balance between too many cautions and no cautions. As a short track, Richmond Raceway is a place expected to provide a few cautions, but over the past couple of seasons we really haven’t seen that. It …

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The Underdog House: Virginia Is for Lovers, Not Underdogs

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Top Dog When covering underdog teams, there’s always a distinct possibility that looms over each and every race. That possibility is the potential for every Cinderella at the ball to wind up with a broken glass slipper. Or perhaps more appropriate, the ugly, well-funded stepsisters might steal all of the glass slippers. Such was the …

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The Underdog House: Michael McDowell Rides Again In Darlington

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Top Dog Michael McDowell spent numerous weeks being highlighted in this category earlier in the season, as he and his Front Row Motorsports teammate John Hunter Nemechek divided most of the top finishes between themselves. Lately, things have taken a less favorable turn. Coming into Sunday’s event at Darlington Raceway, McDowell had finished outside the …

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Friday Faceoff: Which Cup Driver Is the Best Available Free Agent?

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

While there is little debate about which open NASCAR Cup Series ride is the best, which free agent driver do you think is the best long-term prospect? Luken Glover: There are a solid list of guys, such as Erik Jones, Corey LaJoie and Bubba Wallace. While Jones is a very desirable talent, LaJoie is someone to keep …

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The Underdog House: Double the Dover Ups and Dover Downs

Nascar Xfinity Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Top Dog Two races in two days at Dover is one of those things I never thought I’d see. Dover races used to be 500-mile-long, grueling affairs that would leave half the field on the verge of passing out from exhaustion. But the largely abbreviated 311-mile versions that we saw this weekend were, to say …

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The Underdog House: Michael McDowell Curbs The Daytona Road Course

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Top Dog Michael McDowell is an accomplished road racer, so he always seems to have a better shot than most underdogs when the NASCAR Cup Series has to make a few right turns. With no one able to practice on the Daytona International Speedway road course prior to the start of the race, the often …

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The Underdog House: Bubba Wallace Leads the Way in Michigan

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Top Dog A doubleheader last weekend at Michigan International Speedway meant twice the opportunity for the underdog class to snag a solid finish. On Saturday, Bubba Wallace did that and then some, ending up with a ninth-place result. Running as high as third in the closing laps, Wallace briefly had visions of his first career …

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The Underdog House: Michael McDowell Lonely at the Top

2020 New Hampshire Cup Michael Mcdowell Pack Racing Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Top Dog Michael McDowell has been a frequent visitor to the top 20 this season, but he barely squeaked in this past Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. McDowell spent the majority of the race hovering around the 25th position. He finished 26th and 25th in the first two stages and was still in 25th …

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