Race Weekend Central

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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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, …

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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 …

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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. …

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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 …

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Tech Talk: Smooth Surface, Aero and Mechanical Grip All in Play with Trent Owens

Trent Owens Daytona Cup 2017 Mike Neff

Photo Credit : Mike Neff

Trent Owens and his No. 37 JTG Daugherty Racing team had a long weekend at New Hampshire. They are now packed up and heading to Indianapolis for another flat race track, although this one presents a whole new set of challenges. The sticky stuff threw Owens a challenge at Loudon but brake issues spoiled the …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Denny Hamlin Overcomes Crustacean Fear for First Win of 2017 at Loudon

hamlin nhms win

(Photo: Rusty Jarrett/ NKP)

Who’s in the headline – Joe Gibbs Racing went past the halfway point of the season without a victory. That changed in the first race of the second half as Denny Hamlin took advantage of some strategy calls and track conditions at New Hampshire Motor Speedway to score his first win of the season. Hamlin …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Kentucky was Martin Truex Jr.’s World; Everyone Else was Looking for a Nut

2017-Kentucky-Cup-Martin-Truex-Jr-burnout-Barry-Cantrell-NKP

(Photo: Barry Cantrell / NKP)

Who’s in the headline – Just over a year ago, Martin Truex, Jr. turned the Coca-Cola 600 into his own personal playground. Saturday wasn’t that level of dominant, but it was close. Truex has been very strong on 1.5-mile tracks since the marriage of Joe Gibbs Racing and Furniture Row Racing at the beginning of 2016, …

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