Race Weekend Central

Tech Talk: Slip Angles, Minimal Chassis Travel & Bump Stops at Texas with Tony Gibson

2017 talladega cup tony gibson kurt busch zach catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Last weekend at Martinsville Speedway, the No. 41 team more than 90 percent of the race in the top 15. Unfortunately for them, the race went 505 laps and they were turned into the wall coming to the checkered flag. The end result was a 22nd-place finish, coming after another long line of poor breaks …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Kyle Busch Gets a Treat at Martinsville

2017 martinsville cup zach catanzareti kyle busch

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Who’s in the headline – After three other drivers looked like they were headed to the victory, it was Kyle Busch getting his picture taken with the Martinsville Grandfather Clock on Sunday night. The first race to finish under the lights at Martinsville Speedway was a rather uneventful affair until the final 20 laps. Through …

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Tech Talk: Ambient Temperatures, Drive Off & Plenty of Tire Talk with Justin Alexander

Justin Alexander Cup 2017 Charlotte Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

Justin Alexander was in the same boat as everyone else on the pit boxes Sunday at Kansas Speedway. The tires were giving up quickly and the drivers, including Alexander’s in Austin Dillon, were screaming that they wanted them replaced quickly. NASCAR also limited the tire inventory, so it made for some calculator exercises for everyone …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Martin Truex Jr. Overcomes All Obstacles to Hit Kansas Jackpot

Martin Truex Jr Kansas Burnout

(Photo: John K Harrelson / NKP)

Who’s in the headline – Martin Truex Jr. continues his march to the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. What happens when he gets there is anyone’s guess, but he has dominated the series this season, including a series -high seven victories. Truex overcame a restart penalty early in the race and a tire vibration to …

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Tech Talk: Chassis Travel, Rear-End Shims & Tire Test Philosophy with Tony Gibson

Tony Gibson Charlotte Fall Cup 2017 Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

The food processor that was Talladega Superspeedway chewed up and spit out more than 30 cars on Sunday. Unfortunately for Tony Gibson, his No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford driven by Kurt Busch was one of them and he ended up with a 25th-place finish. Heading into Kansas Speedway, it is back to trying to create …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Brad Keselowski Spoils Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Farewell Party at Talladega

Brad Keselowski Restart Talladega

(Photo: Rusty Jarrett/ NKP)

Who’s in the headline – In a true survival of the fittest, it was Brad Keselowski who was the first driver under the checkered flag on Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway. Keselowski was able to make a pass on Ryan Newman on the last lap to power to the victory as two handfuls of cars were left …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: The Season of Truex Continues

Martin Truex Jr. victory laneCharlotte Cup Fall 2017 Yvonne Leonard

Who’s in the headline – The 2017 season has been Martin Truex Jr.’s year of domination. Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway wasn’t a typical Truex race, but when it came time for the big check, it was his world and everyone else was just a squirrel trying to get a nut. The victory was Truex’s sixth …

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XFINITY Breakdown: Drive for the Cure 300

Alex Bowman- INDY

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker / NKP)

Since being announced as the replacement for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 88, Alex Bowman has earned his share of detractors. Entering the Drive for the Cure 300, the knock has been Bowman’s winless resume in all three of NASCAR’s top national touring series. Time to go ahead and cross that criticism off the list. Bowman …

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Tech Talk: Cooling, Bumps & New Rules with Drew Blickensderfer

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pure Michigan 400 Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, MI USA Friday 11 August 2017 Drew Blickensderfer and Richard Petty World Copyright: Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs are hot and heavy heading into Charlotte Motor Speedway, and the time constraints on teams are ramping up. Drew Blickensderfer and the No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports team, driven by Aric Almirola, has had a challenging season with the team’s driver having to sit out while recovering from a broken …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Late Pass Gives Kyle Busch Victory Over Chase Elliott at Dover

dover

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Who’s in the headline – We’ve seen it happen multiple times at Dover International Speedway as the No. 48 team makes a late-race charge to lead a handful of laps and win the race. It wasn’t the No. 48 car Sunday, but it was the No. 18 team. Kyle Busch dropped like a stone in …

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Tech Talk: Justin Alexander Talks Suspension, Aero & Strategy for Dover

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 Kentucky Speedway, Sparta, KY USA Friday 7 July 2017 Justin Alexander World Copyright: Logan Whitton NKP

(Photo: Logan Whitton/NKP)

After two races in the playoffs, the No. 3 of Austin Dillon is in a tie with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. for the final spot to transfer into the second round of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. Making the playoffs is a big deal for an organization, but advancing is what it is all …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Kyle Busch Sneaks by With New Hampshire Win

loudon

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Who’s In The Headline After events conspired against him at Chicagoland Speedway, the stars aligned for Kyle Busch in Loudon to allow him to win his 41st career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race. He was in second place at the mid-point of the race when Kevin Harvick spun and ended up sideways in the middle …

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