Race Weekend Central

2018 NASCAR Driver Reviews: Ryan Newman

Newman-Kansas

(Photo: Russell LaBounty / NKP)

Ryan Newman’s 2018 season was nothing special. And nothing special, in the end, simply wasn’t good enough to keep him at Richard Childress Racing for 2019 and bey0nd. In his fifth year behind the wheel of the No. 31 Chevrolet, Newman did not visit Victory Lane in 2018 and also missed the playoffs. While that …

Read more

2018 Top NASCAR Storylines: 2019 Rules Will Tighten the Field; We’ll See About Competition

2019 NASCAR Rules Package Graphic

There are basically two different rules packages for NASCAR in 2019, depending on the size of the racetrack. The package for short tracks is quite similar to the 2018 package, with cars running at around 750 horsepower and plenty of downforce. For tracks a mile and a half and longer, the engines will be restricted …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: A Look Back at NASCAR 2018 and a Glimpse Ahead

Joey Logano & Team Penske - 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Champions

(Photo: Christian Koelle)

Who’s in the headline When it was all said and done at Homestead-Miami Speedway, it was Joey Logano holding up the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship trophy. Logano was the least decorated of the four finalists but was running as well as anyone when the final four races of the season took place. Unlike …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Joey Logano Emerges as 2018 Cup Champion

Joey Logano & Team Penske - 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Champions

(Photo: Christian Koelle)

Who’s in the headline It took 10 years to fulfill the predictions but Joey Logano is your 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion. Logano took advantage of a quick, short-run car and passed Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. on a late race restart to take command of the race and run off into …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Kyle Busch Wins Phoenix, Kevin Harvick & Martin Truex Jr. Complete the Expected

2018 cup phoenix ism zach catanzareti kyle busch

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Who’s in the headline Heading into Phoenix, everybody and their brother was positive Kevin Harvick was going to stomp the competition into submission and make a statement about his position as the unquestioned favorite heading into Homestead. Someone forgot to tell Kyle Busch as the Joe Gibbs Racing driver took advantage of mistakes by nearly …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Kevin Harvick Fires Warning Shot with Domination in Texas

#4: Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford Fusion Mobil 1, celebrates in Victory Lane

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who’s in the headline Kevin Harvick has had the fastest car nearly every weekend this season. The Achilles heel for the team is that they routinely shoot themselves in the foot through pit road miscues. When they don’t, they dominate, which is what happened at Texas on Sunday. Harvick led over half of the laps …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Joey Logano Wins Martinsville Battle, War Undecided

2018 cup martinsville zach catanzareti joey logano

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Who’s in the headline Joey Logano knew he had a chance to go to Homestead and challenge for a championship. It was going to take some old school, short track racing but he wasn’t afraid to do it. In Turns 3 and 4, where the greats of the sport have moved competitors to win since …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Chase Elliott Wins 2nd Round of 12 Race, Round of 8 Set

2017 Phoenix Cup Chase Elliott Cockpit Logan Whitton NKP

(Photo: Logan Whitton/NKP)

Who’s in the headline In the typical, overreaction world of 24/7 social media and sports talking heads, Chase Elliott has gone from early title dropout to championship favorite. Elliott went to Victory Lane for the second time in three races, and Elliott Nation is in a lather over the potential for him to contend for …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Aric Almirola Finally in Victory Lane After Stewart-Haas Domination at Talladega

Aric Almirola - 1000Bulbs.com 500 Victory Lane

(Photo: Christian Koelle)

Who’s in the headline There is domination by drivers and domination by teams. Sunday was total domination by the Stewart-Haas Racing organization. They won every stage and the race with a different driver doing each, and the driver who didn’t win any of them finished second in all three. In the end, fuel mileage bit …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Chase Elliott Fires Up the Siren a 2nd Time

2018 cup zach catanzareti dover chase elliott

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Who’s in the headline Chase Elliott lost a heartbreaking race at Dover in the fall of 2017 and blamed himself solely for the loss. Sunday was a complete team effort that vaulted Elliott to Victory Lane and a berth in the Round of 8. Kevin Harvick and Aric Almirola both appeared headed to victory early …

Read more