Race Weekend Central

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Aerodynamics, Multiple Winners, Potential New Tires and More in the First Off Week

2017 Atlanta CUP Brad Keselowski Paul Wolfe trophy Nigel Kinrade NKP

Who’s in the headline – The season started with Kurt Busch in Victory Lane for the first time in his career at Daytona, along with his Daytona native crew chief Tony Gibson. Brad Keselowski is the only two-time winner in the series, while Kyle Larson has finished in the top two in all but two …

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Tech Talk: Tires, Shocks & Unknowns with Jason Ratcliff

nascar 2017 cup jason ratcliff matt kenseth nascar (Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Coming off a challenging weekend at Martinsville Speedway, where qualifying was canceled and teams had to start on points, Jason Ratcliff and his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing team for Matt Kenseth had to battle hard but managed to overcome that initial deficit to come home in ninth. The outside groove came in and made …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Brad Keselowski Survives Beating, Banging and Trading Paint to Win Martinsville

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Who’s in the headline – Rusty Wallace won at Martinsville Speedway six times drivng for Roger Penske. He last won a grandfather clock for Penske in 2004. Since then, it had been an agonizing drought for Team Penske. Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski have both come very close in Southern Virginia, but failed to seal …

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Tech Talk: Sideskirts, Tires, Brake Heat & Drive Off with Trent Owens

Trent Owens Daytona Cup 2017 Mike Neff

Photo Credit : Mike Neff

After the West Coast swing, the Cup series prepares to head to the one track left that was on the original schedule, Martinsville Speedway. Chris Buescher’s crew chief Trent Owens, with his connection to Richard Petty, has a special affinity for the half-mile track in southern Virginia. As the team pulls into Martinsville, there are many …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Kyle Larson Takes Final Step to Second Career Victory at Fontana

kyle larson win

2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400 Auto Club Speedway, Fontana, CA USA Sunday 26 March 2017 Kyle Larson celebrates his win in Victory Lane World Copyright: Nigel Kinrade/NKP

Who’s in the headline – Kyle Larson had been knocking on the door of a second Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series win all season with three consecutive second-place finishes. He took the final step Sunday after winning the pole on Friday. Larson won the first stage, finished second in the second stage, led the most …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Ryan Newman Stretches Tires to Douse Winless Drought in Phoenix

Who’s in the headline – Ryan Newman won the 2013 Brickyard 400 before he was released by Stewart-Haas Racing. He has managed several third-place finishes, but only one runner-up since. In typical Newman fashion, he stayed out on a late-race caution with old tires and managed to hold off Kyle Larson to steal the victory. …

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Tech Talk: Jason Ratcliff Talks Segment Strategies, Multi-Zone Tires and Turn Radii

jason-ratcliff-2016-cup-darlington-mike-neff

Three races into 2017 and crew chiefs are still in the early stages of figuring out the latest edition of the low-downforce package. Aside from Daytona International Speedway, which is a restrictor plate race, the other two events have been the first real tests with the new package. It is a learning experience for teams …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Martin Truex Jr. Hit the Trifecta in Las Vegas

Who’s in the headline – For the first time since the advent of segment racing, a driver has won all three of them. Martin Truex Jr. won the first two segments but looked to as though he was going to have to settle for a runner-up finish. With two laps to go Brad Keselowski was comfortably …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Brad Keselowski Overcomes Loose Lug Nuts, Takes Advantage of Others Speeding to Win Atlanta

2017 Atlanta CUP Joey Logano pack racing Barry Canrrell NKP

(Photo: Barry Cantrell / NKP)

Who’s in the headline – For most of the race Sunday, it looked like Kevin Harvick would be the the whole story of the QuikTrip Folds of Honor 500. Unfortunately for him, a pit road speeding penalty on Lap 311 put an end to the storybook day for the 2014 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series …

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