Race Weekend Central

Thinkin’ Out Loud – Brad Keselowski Cashes in With Late-Race Pass to Win at Las Vegas

2016 Las Vegas Cup Brad Keselowski Burnout Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T Thacker / NKP)

Who’s in the headline – It had been 33 races since Brad Keselowski visited Victory Lane. Keselowski took the checkered flag first in Fontana last year in the fifth race of the season. On Sunday, he led the race three times but only led a total of 24 laps. The win put a third different manufacturer in …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud – Jimmie Johnson Wins Folds of Honor 500 at Atlanta

Who’s in the headline – After the debut of the 2016 low downforce package it is Jimmie Johnson standing in victory lane at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Johnson’s crew chief made a call to pit when the final fuel window opened. His driver stretched out an advantage over Kevin Harvick, the dominant car of the day, …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2016 Daytona 500

Who’s in the headline – Denny Hamlin put a stamp on his Daytona Speedweeks with his second triumph in three races Sunday. Hamlin beat Martin Truex Jr. to the line with a scintillating run that resulted in the closest finish in the history of the Daytona 500. Hamlin was the dominant car for much of …

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Tech Talk: Tony Gibson Sets Up Daytona And 2016 Rules

Tony Gibson Darlington Cup 2015 Mike Neff

Photo Credit: Mike Neff, Frontstretch

The offseason is over, what little there is, and NASCAR is back at it hot and heavy in Daytona. Throughout Speedweeks, teams have no less than eight practice sessions in addition to qualifying and the Duel events. Preparing for the biggest race of the season to start the year is a pressure-packed effort and unforeseen events …

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Full Throttle: New Rules Painting NASCAR into a Tight Corner

Martinsville 2015 Cup Matt Kenseth Wrecked Car Mike Neff

Photo Credit: Mike Neff, Frontstretch

Friday, at Daytona International Speedway, NASCAR distributed rulebook changes designed to specifically categorize personal conduct violations. The intent would seem to be curbing any activities that might shine a disparaging light on the sport. While it is a noble concept in theory, providing little change in NASCAR’s philosophy its unintended consequences could cause a negative impact long-term. …

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Full Throttle: Time to Change How NASCAR Does Plate Racing

To say the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is going through a change heading into 2016 is an understatement. The charter system, reduced field size, the overtime line and the low downforce package are all creating quite a bit of upheaval heading into the year. But one thing that hasn’t changed for the last four years …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2016 Sprint Unlimited at Daytona

Who’s in the headline – After being involved in an early caution Denny Hamlin played pit strategy to get to the front of the pack and stretched his fuel to the end of a green-white-checkered finish to take his third Sprint Unlimited victory. The vast majority of cars had damage during the evening but Hamlin’s …

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Tech Talk: Jason Ratcliff Breaks Down 2016 NASCAR Rule Changes

Jason Ratcliff Bristol 2015 Cup Mike Neff

Photo Credit: Mike Neff, Frontstretch

The checkered flag has flown on NASCAR’s 2015 campaign and teams are halfway into the offseason, laying out their plans and adjusting to upcoming changes for 2016. Jason Ratcliff and the No. 20 team are among them, riding the momentum of a seventh at Homestead that left driver Matt Kenseth 15th in the final point …

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2015 NASCAR Rewind: Dale Earnhardt Jr.

2015 Talladega I Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr Woohoo Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Dale Earnhardt Jr. started the 2015 season with a third-place finish in the Daytona 500. It was hardly surprising since the speedway is his second best track, historically, based on average finish. Interestingly that run would be the worst of Earnhardt’s four restrictor-plate races for the season. Earnhardt started the year with two third-place finishes …

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2015 NASCAR Rewind: Kyle Busch

Nascar Sprint Cup Series Ford Ecoboost 400

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Racing can test the mettle of the strongest of characters, and before 2015 many people would say that was not a strong suit for Kyle Busch. This season ran the emotional gamut from the lowest of lows to the highest of highs in nine months. Busch’s determination and mental fortitude were taken to the limits …

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