Race Weekend Central

Pace Laps: Kevin Harvick Repeats at Michigan, Austin Cindric Doubles Up

2019 Mid-Ohio NXS Austin Cindric Victory Lane NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Kevin Harvick Bounces Back at Michigan Kevin Harvick didn’t let an early flat tire stop him from winning for the second straight year at Michigan International Speedway. The last two weeks have been near-mirror images of 2018: Chase Elliott held off Martin Truex Jr. to win at Watkins Glen International, …

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Friday Faceoff: Should NASCAR Step In During Incidents of Retribution?

2019 Watkins Glen MENCS Darrell Wallace, Jr. Wreck NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Last week, there were several incidents of retribution among NASCAR’s top series, including Kyle Busch/Bubba Wallace, Jimmie Johnson/Ryan Blaney and Justin Allgaier/Ross Chastain. Is there a point where NASCAR should step in? Wesley Coburn: Kyle Busch and Bubba Wallace, probably not; Wallace was stupid, and he’ll be paid back sometime later in the season. Jimmie Johnson …

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Pace Laps: Chase Elliott, Austin Cindric Take Over Watkins Glen, Friesen Finally Wins

NASCAR Xfinity Series

(Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Chase Elliott Wins As Playoff Race Heats Up Chase Elliott and Martin Truex Jr. We’ve seen them battle mano-e-mano in western New York before and the 2019 Go Bowling At The Glen was round two. This time, Elliott hung on with pure speed, putting on the most dominant performance of …

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Pace Laps: Denny Hamlin, Ross Chastain Pick Up Pocono Wins

2019 Pocono NGOTS Ross Chastain Watermelon Getty Images NASCAR Media

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Denny Hamlin Wins Strategy Filled Race Pocono Raceway is known for a variety of different strategies. That’s exactly what we saw in Sunday’s Gander RV 400, with Denny Hamlin stretching the fuel tank to earn his third victory of 2019. Hamlin didn’t have the best car but was a definite …

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Pace Laps: NASCAR Veterans Head In 2 Directions, Christopher Bell Dominates Xfinity at Loudon

2019 Daytona Clash CUP Kevin HArvick Jimmie Johnson racing NKP

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Two Veterans Headed In Opposite Directions Kevin Harvick and Jimmie Johnson were born less than three months apart. Their Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series careers started within one year of each other, 2001 and 2002, as the California natives rose up and won in their first years on tour. Multiple …

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Friday Faceoff: Is Age a Valid Reason to Get a Playoff Waiver?

2019 Kentucky NGOTS Tyler Ankrum Victory Celebration Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Kurt Busch openly admitted to some retirement consideration prior to his win last week. Who hangs it up first: Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick or Busch? Joy Tomlinson: My first thought is Jimmie Johnson since his last Cup Series win was over two years ago. He and his new crew chief seem to have started working together …

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Pace Laps: Kentucky Speedway Shakes Up Each of NASCAR’s Top-3 Series

2019 Kentucky NXS Cole Custer Victory Lane Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Kurt Busch Wins the Battle of the Brothers It was a battle between brothers to close out the night’s Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway. When a flat tire and spin from Bubba Wallace brought out the caution at lap 262, the field prepared for overtime. Joey Logano and Kyle …

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Pace Laps: Daytona Provides Pair of Surprise Winners

Ross Chastain Daytona watermeln

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Upset Winner Leaves NASCAR Fans Irate Last July, Justin Haley left Daytona International Speedway feeling like the track might have owed him one. His thrilling last-lap pass of Kyle Larson in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race was disallowed when officials determined he dipped below the yellow line. A potential win …

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Friday Faceoff: Will the Summer Showdown At Daytona Be Mild or Wild?

kenseth leading daytona

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero 400 Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL USA Saturday 1 July 2017 Matt Kenseth, Joe Gibbs Racing, DEWALT Flexvolt Toyota Camry World Copyright: Matthew T. Thacker NKP

The traditional-style plate races so far this year in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series have been varied from wild (Daytona International Speedway) to tame (Talladega Superspeedway). What scenario is more likely this week? Frank Velat: Talladega became notorious for having one crash-marred race after another to the point that drivers now seem to go …

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Pace Laps: Big Moments For NASCAR’s Up-And-Coming Talents In Alex Bowman, Cole Custer

2019 Chicagoland NXS Cole Custer Victory Lane Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Alex Bowman’s Big Moment He was the quiet, unassuming replacement for Dale Earnhardt Jr. that spent years toiling in underfunded rides. Alex Bowman has spent the last year-plus racing under the shadows of his flashy, more marketable 20-something teammates: Chase Elliott and William Byron. He’s seven titles short of Jimmie …

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Friday Faceoff: Do Road Courses Need Regular Layout Changes?

Sonoma Kyle Busch

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Should NASCAR have stages on road course events? Mark Howell: NASCAR should reduce stages on road courses down to two, with the break serving as a halftime of sorts when teams can service their cars for the final push to the finish. Road racing is all about managing resources (brakes, tires, fuel). Two stages might …

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Pace Laps: A Sonoma Snoozer, While Ross Chastain Takes NASCAR by Storm

2019 Gateway NGOTS Ross Chastain Trucks Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: New Track, Same Sonoma Story Sonoma Raceway added its famed Carousel for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. But the new 2.52-mile course led to an unexpected challenge, not for the drivers but the fans. A caution-free race, except for stage breaks, became dominated by Kyle Busch and Martin Truex …

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