Race Weekend Central

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Martin Truex Jr. Caps Impressive 2017 With First Cup Series Title

Martin Truex Jr Checkered Flag Homestead

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker / NKP)

Who’s in the headline The best team and driver in 2017 was Martin Truex Jr. When the checkered flag flew at the end of the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, it was his No. 78 team that hoisted the big trophy on the championship stage. Kyle Busch was the runner-up, with Kevin Harvick ending …

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Tech Talk: Jason Ratcliff on Optimum Air Pressures, Short-Run Speed & Late-Race Adjustments

Jason Ratcliff Charlotte Cup 2017 Mike Neff

Victory always tastes sweet but it is exceptionally sweet when it arrives in the final races of a driver’s career with an organization. Jason Ratcliff guided the No. 20 team and driver Matt Kenseth to the win at Phoenix. A fast car all weekend, combined with some excellent adjustments for the long run made his …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Matt Kenseth Wins One More While Brad Keselowski Survives and Advances

2017 Phoenix Ii Cup Matt Kenseth Celebrates Logan Whitton Nkp

Who’s in the headline – The cutoff race before Homestead-Miami Speedway was bitter for Matt Kenseth last year. This season, it is extra sweet for him, as he scored his 39th victory in what could be the penultimate NASCAR race of his career. Kenseth ran down Chase Elliott with 10 laps to go to position …

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Tech Talk: Sun, Sand & Spring Rates with Trent Owens

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Overton’s 301 New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, Nh Usa Friday 14 July 2017 Chris Buescher, Jtg Daugherty Racing, Liberty Tax Service Chevrolet Ss And Trent Owens World Copyright: Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

As the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season winds down, there are eight teams that still have a chance to win the title. Other teams, meanwhile, have different priorities, whether it is trying to finish fifth, 17th or 25th in points. As a result, some teams are already experimenting to try and gain advantages …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Kevin Harvick Breaks Script and Wins an Intermediate Race in 2017

2017 Texas Ii Cup Kevin Harvick Woohoo Jonathan Ferrey Getty Images For Texas Motor Speedway

(Photo: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

Who’s in the headline – For the first time, in what has seemed to be the history of racing, a Ford passed a Toyota on track with pure speed. That is fake news, but it has seemed that way for much of the season. On Sunday, Kevin Harvick chased down Martin Truex Jr and passed him …

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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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