Race Weekend Central

NASCAR 101: 2017 Throwback Paint Schemes

Kevin Harvick Darlington Cup 2016 Yvonne Leonard

(Photo: Yvonne Leonard)

Each year, it seems like the hype and intrigue for NASCAR’s throwback weekend over Labor Day weekend grows even more. This weekend, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup and XFINITY series travel to Darlington Raceway to participate in a traditional weekend of NASCAR racing that includes paint schemes and TV broadcasts that recall the sport’s history …

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Ryan Blaney Adds Menards Sponsorship for 2018

2017 Watkins Glen CUP Ryan Blaney Russell LaBounty NKP

(Photo: Russell LaBounty / NKP)

Menards is adding some sponsorship to its Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series campaign for 2018: Team Penske’s No. 12 and Ryan Blaney. Penske and Menards announced Wednesday (Aug. 30) that the company will adorn Blaney’s No. 12 for 14 races in 2018 while continuing its sponsorship of Paul Menard, who moves to Blaney’s old ride, …

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Chase Elliott, William Byron to Change Car Numbers for 2018

2017 Charlotte All Star CUP Chase Elliott John K Harrelson NKP

(Photo: John K. Harrelson/NKP)

Two of NASCAR’s young drivers are switching numbers. For the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, William Byron and Chase Elliott will pilot the Nos. 24 and 9, respectively, for Hendrick Motorsports, the team announced Tuesday, Aug. 29. That announcement means Byron, who has driven the No. 9 in the XFINITY and Camping World …

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NASCAR 101: Michael McDowell’s Series-Leading Stat in 2017

mcdowell daytona

(Photo: John K Harrelson / NKP)

Kasey Kahne. Ryan Newman. Jeff Gordon. Jamie McMurray. Paul Menard. Those are the five drivers who have led a very specific statistic in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in the last five seasons. Clearly it has nothing to do with the championship; none of these drivers have won one since 2001 (and Gordon’s the only one …

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NASCAR 101: William Byron’s Cup Trajectory? Not Too Irregular

NASCAR XFINITY Series Lilly Diabetes 250 Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis, IN USA Saturday 22 July 2017 William Byron, Liberty University Chevrolet Camaro wins World Copyright: Rusty Jarrett NKP

(Photo: Rusty Jarrett/NKP)

Is William Byron being rushed to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series too quickly? Nah. In fact, be surprised it didn’t happen sooner. Think about it this way: Byron, 19, comes as one of the hottest prospects in recent memory in NASCAR’s national series. He’s seemingly been well-funded, with Liberty University — the college Byron …

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NASCAR 101: How Will the Lowered Cup Driver Participation Cap Actually Affect XFINITY & Truck Series?

2017 xfinity new hampshire zach catanzareti kyle busch brad keselowski

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

It’s been a busy week in NASCAR, from the will-he-won’t-he news of Kurt Busch‘s Stewart-Haas Racing tenure to the usual Wednesday penalty report that this time bit Erik Jones following last weekend’s race at Pocono Raceway to the move of the overtime line to the start/finish line. But the talk of the town has undoubtedly …

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Ryan Preece Earns 1st XFINITY Series Win at Iowa

2016 xfinity homestead-miami speedway  zach catanzareti ryan preece

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

NASCAR fans who watched the 2016 NASCAR XFINITY Series season probably wouldn’t have expected Ryan Preece in Victory Lane in an XFINITY event anytime soon. That’s no knock on Preece’s driving ability, just his circumstances. In his first full-time season in a NASCAR national series, Preece finished 17th in points for Johnny Davis’ No. 01 …

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NASCAR 101: 10 Longest Winless Streaks Among Full-Time Cup Drivers

2017 dover cup zach catanzareti paul menard

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Few things are more gratifying than breaking a negative streak. Bear that in mind if you wondered why Kasey Kahne‘s victory in the Brickyard 400 in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series last weekend found the driver and his team so elated in Victory Lane. Sure, it’s Indianapolis Motor Speedway, so a victory at the …

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Matt Crafton Conquers Eldora, Wins 1st Race of 2017 Truck Season

2017 Daytona I CWTS Matt Crafton rusty Jarrett NKP

(Photo: Rusty Jarrett / NKP)

Every time the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series comes to Eldora Speedway, there’s talk of dirt track specialists, dirt track specialists and more dirt track specialists. But sometimes, the regulars prevail, too. Just ask Matt Crafton. In Wednesday night’s (July 19) Eldora Dirt Derby 150, the fifth held at the Ohio dirt track in the …

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Matt Kenseth: ‘As of Today, I Do Not Have a Job for Next Year’

2017 pocono cup zach catanzareti matt kenseth

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Matt Kenseth could be back in a car in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. He could not be. Right now, he’s not so sure. In a press conference at Kentucky Speedway Friday (July 7), Kenseth addressed his status for 2018 with Joe Gibbs Racing, telling reporters he didn’t know what the future held. “I’m …

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NASCAR 101: Drivers Who’ve Won in All 3 NASCAR National Series

2017 cup charlotte media tour zach catanzareti ryan newman

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

A triple-header weekend in NASCAR generally means we have to address at least one elephant in the room, one that decides to take it upon him or herself to run all three races in one weekend. Unsurprisingly, this weekend’s racing at Kentucky Speedway is no different. Kyle Busch will compete in all three national series …

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Brennan Poole Scores Daytona XFINITY Pole

Brennan Poole XFINITY Charlotte Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

If Brennan Poole‘s looking to get his first career win in the NASCAR XFINITY Series this weekend at Daytona International Speedway, he’s off to a good start. The driver of the No. 48 won the pole for Friday’s Coca-Cola Firecracker 250, turning a lap of 182.949 mph in the final round of qualifying. Poole will be …

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