Race Weekend Central

Tech Talk: Justin Alexander Discusses Tire Life, Soft Suspensions & Full Mustaches for Darlington Throwback

Justin Alexander Charlotte Cup 2017 Mike Neff

Photo Credit : Mike Neff

Some drivers went to Europe for their off-week, some folks got lost in the woods on four-wheelers, while others stayed home and did honey-do lists. The latter is where Justin Alexander found himself. The crew chief of the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing team driven by Austin Dillon rarely has a day at home, so …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch Look Best but Don’t Discount Jimmie Johnson

2017 Watkins Glen Cup Martin Truex Jr Woohoo Rusty Jarrett Nkp

(Photo: Rusty Jarrett / NKP)

Who’s in the headline – Martin Truex Jr. has been the class of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 2017. He has won four races, which is the most of any driver. Truex also has dominated the new playoff point system with 35 points scored. He is also the king of stage racing with …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Kyle Busch Busts Out Broom for Second National Tour Series Sweep at Bristol

2017 Bristol Ii Nxs Kyle Busch Celebrates Lesley Ann Miller Nkp

(Photo: Lesley Ann Miller / NKP)

Who’s in the headline – There have been multiple two-race sweeps in NASCAR history, but there have only been a pair of three-race sweeps. Both of them were accomplished by Kyle Busch and the second was this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway. Busch won the first stage, led the second most laps, including 93 of …

Read more

Tech Talk: Trent Owens On PJ1 & Heavy Vertical Loads at Bristol

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 Crew Chief Trent Owens. World Copyright: Rusty Jarrett Nkp

(Photo: Rusty Jarrett/NKP)

The No. 37 team, driven by Chris Buescher, and crew chief Trent Owens are coming off two strong finishes for its small organization. Watkins Glen International was an 11th-place run, and Michigan International Speedway was sixth, the best finish of 2017 for JTG Daugherty Racing. Strategy, fuel mileage, caution timing and a little luck all played …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Kyle Larson Gets Dirty to Sweep Michigan

2017 Michigan Ii Cup Kyle Larson Burnout Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Who’s in the headline – We often speak of horses for courses and interestingly, Kyle Larson has established that he is the horse to ride on two-mile racetracks. For the third time in a row, he was victorious at Michigan International Speedway, although during this race, he was not nearly as dominant as he’d been …

Read more

Tech Talk: Jason Ratcliff Looks at Horsepower, Drag and Braking for Michigan

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series I Love New York 355 At The Glen Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, Ny Usa Sunday 6 August 2017 Matt Kenseth, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Care Toyota Camry And Jason Ratcliff World Copyright: Barry Cantrell Nkp

(Photo: Barry Cantrell/NKP)

The 2017 season in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series has been about learning how to maximize the cars with the new aerodynamic package. The reduced downforce has thrown teams a challenge for braking, tire management and handling in traffic. The wide, smooth, fast surface of Michigan International Speedway will test all of that this …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Martin Truex Jr Slows Down Just Enough to Win Watkins Glen

2017 Watkins Glen Cup Martin Truex Jr Woohoo Rusty Jarrett Nkp

(Photo: Rusty Jarrett / NKP)

Who’s in the headline – Martin Truex Jr. won four races in 2016, but admitted in post-race interviews that they learned a lot more about winning during that season. He feels like they have everyone doing better jobs this year, and the result is a championship caliber team that has the most wins in the …

Read more

Tech Talk: Soft Springs, Sway Bars & Wider Transmission Ratios with Justin Alexander

Justin Alexander Charlotte Cup 2017 Mike Neff

Photo Credit : Mike Neff

Taking the green flag and being involved in a wreck before you make it back to the start-finish line is a recipe for a terrible day — just ask Austin Dillon. But in the end, Dillon’s crew chief, Justin Alexander, was able to guide his team to a 21st-place finish last weekend at Pocono Raceway, …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 22 Down, One to Go as Kyle Busch Knocks Pocono Off of Winless List

2017 Cup Pocono Zach Catanzareti Kyle Busch

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Who’s in the headline – There are 23 racetracks on the Cup schedule. After Kyle Busch’s win at Pocono Raceway this weekend, he has a points-paying victory at every track on the current schedule except for Charlotte Motor Speedway. It had been 36 races since Busch won a Cup race but the much-maligned slump is finally …

Read more

Tech Talk: Bono Manion Explains Modifieds, Different Truck Setups, Benefits of Shorter Schedule

Bono Manion Bank Of America 500 2015 Cup Charlotte Mike Neff 2

Photo Credit: Mike Neff, Frontstretch

Kevin ‘Bono’ Manion has been around racing for years and spends a lot of time working on his Modified, which he races whenever he has the available time. He is currently a crew chief for Kyle Busch Motorsports after having led Martin Truex Jr. to multiple Busch Series titles and spearheaded several different Cup teams. …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Kasey Kahne Uses Beneficial Pit Call and Strong Restart to Capture Brickyard Victory

2017 Indianapolis Cup Kasey Kahne Team Kissing Bricks Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty / NKP)

Who’s in the headline – Kasey Kahne has been rumored to be out of his ride for two or three years. While the talk seems to be more intense of late, Kahne and his No. 5 team have kept their nose to the grindstone. A fortunate pit call on lap 148 in the Brickyard 400 …

Read more