Race Weekend Central

Changes Are A-Comin’ (On the Manufacturer Side?)

Ryan Newman Wins Whelen Modified All Star Race At New Hampshire Motor Speedway 2014 Getty Images

Ryan Newman gets an invite to the Whelen Modified All-Star Shootout and takes the win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Credit: Getty Images

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series is about to have myriad changes take place over the next couple of years — or so it’s said. In 2020, the schedule is rumored to be drastically different, and in 2021 the Gen-7 car is set to hit the track. Reports describe the vehicles as everything from more …

Read more

Win & You’re In — Probably (& Other Confusing Rules)

2017 Indianapolis Nxs Official Rusty Jarrett Nkp

After Chase Elliott‘s victory on Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, the never-ending playoffs discussion turned to his automatic eligibility for NASCAR’s postseason. Since this version of the champion selection process was announced, the talking heads on the idiot box have continuously spouted that a win in the regular season …

Read more

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