Race Weekend Central

NASCAR 101: Here’s What NASCAR Changed With Cup Participation in Xfinity, Truck Series for 2020

NASCAR Xfinity Series Camping World 300 - Practice

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Much like the constant rules changes surrounding the annual Advance Auto Parts Clash in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Daytona International Speedway, the regulations around who’s allowed to race in the Xfinity and Gander Outdoors Truck series continue to morph each year, and 2020 will be no different. What’s that, you say? You …

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Garrett Smithley, Contec Pair for Xfinity Charlotte Race

2019 Iowa NXS Garrett Smithley Face Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Garrett Smithley has gained a new sponsor in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Smithley will be sponsored by Contec, Inc., for the upcoming Xfinity event at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL, Contec announced Monday, Aug. 19. According to Contec’s tweet about the partnership, Smithley will drive JD Motorsports with Gary Keller’s No. 4 at Charlotte. He’s …

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NASCAR 101: Other K&N Stalwarts Who Could Join Sam Mayer in the Truck Series (Or Beyond)

2019 pocono xfinity zach catanzareti hailie deegan

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

The latest graduate of the K&N Pro Series to NASCAR’s national series is Sam Mayer, who made his Gander Outdoors Truck Series debut Thursday night, Aug. 15, at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mayer, 16, was announced in late 2018 as one of the drivers for GMS Racing’s Truck Series program in 2019. The catch? He wouldn’t …

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David Ragan Moving to Part-Time NASCAR Schedule After 2019

2019 pocono xfinity zach catanzareti david ragan

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

After the 2019 NASCAR season, David Ragan no longer plans to be a full-time driver in the sport. The driver and team Front Row Motorsports announced Wednesday (Aug. 14) that Ragan is stepping back from running full time after the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season. “I’ve prayed and heavily considered this decision, but …

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NASCAR 101: Meet the 4 Drivers Making Their Xfinity Debuts at Mid-Ohio

2014 IndyCar Sonoma Jack Hawksworth

The standalone road course races in the NASCAR Xfinity Series tend to bring out intriguing one-offs, and this weekend at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is no different. The 38-car field for Saturday’s (Aug. 10) B&L Transport 170 includes numerous drivers hired for the race for their road course racing prowess. Some, like JD Motorsports with …

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NASCAR 101: Longest Cup Streaks Without a Pole

2019 Loudon MENCS Brad Keselowski Pole Award Getty Images NASCAR Media

(Photo: Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Entering the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, Brad Keselowski had 14 poles to his credit — by no means a deplorable number. However, it came with a caveat. In 2018, Keselowski won no poles, and his last one before then came at the second Michigan International Speedway race of the season in 2017. …

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NASCAR Cancels Cup Qualifying at Daytona

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Due to weather conditions, NASCAR has canceled Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying at Daytona International Speedway. The field will be set by owner’s points per the rule book, meaning Joey Logano will start on the pole, followed by Kyle Busch, barring any inspection failures. Since 40 cars entered the race, all have qualified for …

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NASCAR 101: Top Average Finish By Xfinity Drivers at Daytona & Talladega

2019 Atlanta NXS Tyler Reddick NKP

(Photo: NKP)

Here’s the cool thing about this weekend’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Daytona International Speedway: no Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers. For a while, that would have been a rarity in NASCAR, something to shock. There was a period of time in NASCAR’s secondary series when an Xfinity regular winning a race in their …

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Sage Karam Adds Smartstop Sponsorship, Will Drive Toronto for Carlin

2017 Indianapolis IndyCar Sage Karam Dreyer & Reinbold Racing

(Photo: Dreyer & Reinbold Racing)

Sage Karam has a ride in the NTT IndyCar Series at Honda Indy Toronto, driving the No. 31 for Carlin  with sponsorship from Smartstop Self Storage. The company comes aboard Karam’s car at Toronto, Carlin announced Tuesday, July 2. “I want to thank everyone at Carlin for giving me the opportunity to compete in an …

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