Race Weekend Central

Friday Faceoff: Are Airborne Cars Just Part of the Game At Talladega?

2016 Talladega I CUP multicar crash John Harrelson NKP

(Photo: John Harrelson / NKP)

NASCAR made a few judgment calls late Sunday during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series event at Talladega Superspeedway, including a red flag, allowing the race to continue after one last-lap crash but throwing the caution after a second. Did the sanctioning body properly handle each situation? Mark Kristl: Typically the sanctioning body is in …

Read more

The Frontstretch 5: NASCAR Feel-Good Stories

2006-Daytona-I-CUP-Joe-Nemechek-John-Hunter-Nemechek-NKP

(Photo: NKP)

1. A silver lining On a Sunday in March 1997, the Truck Series raced at Homestead Miami Speedway. Late in the event, John Nemechek, the younger brother of Cup driver Joe Nemechek, spun in the first corner and slammed into the wall with the driver’s side. He was taken to the hospital with severe injuries. …

Read more

Pace Laps: Chevy Teamwork Takes Center Stage In Talladega’s GEICO 500

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

(Courtesy: NKP)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Chevy Shuts Down 2019 Shutout With a Little Hendrick Motorsports Teamwork It may have been a brand new Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series package at Talladega Superspeedway Sunday (April 28). The cars may have run without restrictor plates for the first time in 30 years, posting 38 lead changes and …

Read more

Pace Laps: NASCAR Resets After Easter Off Week

2018 talladega team penske cup zach catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Talladega Up Next Easter has become a NASCAR tradition. Or, should we say, a NASCAR vacation. It’s the only weekend from February through November none of the sport’s top three series show up and race. As you’d expect, no racing led to a quiet news week. But business is about …

Read more

Frontstretch Podcast: Martin Truex Jr. Breaks Through, Matt DiBenedetto Chats 2019

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

In this week’s edition of the Frontstretch Podcast, Dustin Albino and Mike Neff discuss Martin Truex Jr. breaking through to win at a short track in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series — hist first, at Richmond Raceway. Other questions they debate: is how much longer did Joey Logano need to pass the No. 19 car to take …

Read more

Pace Laps: Martin Truex Jr. Snaps Winless Streak, Alexander Rossi Dominates in Long Beach

#00: Cole Custer, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford Mustang Haas Automation NASCAR Xfinity Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Martin Truex Jr. Snaps Short-Track Winless Streak There was no stopping Martin Truex Jr. on Saturday night at Richmond Raceway, as the driver of the No. 19 Toyota held off a fading Clint Bowyer and a hard charging Joey Logano to win his first short track event. Kyle Busch led …

Read more

Friday Faceoff: Is It Time For Bristol To Downsize Its Seating Capacity?

2016 Bristol Motor Speedway NSCS Matt Kenseth leads pack credit NASCAR via getty images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Kyle Larson had another miserable day while his teammate Kurt Busch finished second. What’s wrong in the No. 42 camp? Neff: Racing is cyclical. The No. 42 team is struggling right now. They will be fine and Larson will win at Michigan if not before. Gable: It was pretty surprising that Larson was a non-factor …

Read more

Pace Laps: Joe Gibbs Racing Captures Bristol Sweep, While IndyCar Hits Barber

#20: Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Supra Rheem celebrates his win NASCAR Xfinity Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Bristol Brings Missed Opportunity Kyle Busch has been dominating every facet of the 2019 NASCAR season. But Sunday’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway wasn’t supposed to be his moment. Busch’s car was a shell of itself less than three laps into the race, the victim of contact from Ricky Stenhouse …

Read more

Friday Faceoff: Is Hendrick Motorsports Finally On The Upswing?

2019 Phoenix I CUP Jimmie Johnson pack racing NKP

(Photo: NKP)

Is Hendrick Motorsports on their way back to the top tier, or was their showing at Texas a one-time thing? Bryan Gable: It is best not to read too much into one race.  Just a few weeks ago, we were talking about how Hendrick Motorsports had zero top fives through the first five races of …

Read more

Pace Laps: Joe Gibbs Racing Takes Over Texas

2019 Atlanta CUP Denny Hamlin car NKP

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Denny Hamlin’s Quick Road To Healing It was Homestead-Miami Speedway, the site of the 2018 championship finale and Denny Hamlin was clearly upset. The main storyline centered around whether he’d help title contender Kyle Busch with pit stall selection after winning the pole. But you could tell, from the second …

Read more

Friday Faceoff: Which NASCAR Track Is In Danger Of Losing A Race In 2021?

2017 Indianapolis Motor Speedway MENCS Kyle Busch Kevin Harvick photo credit NASCAR via getty images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

With the release of the 2020 schedule, which NASCAR track change will be the most well received by fans and which will likely be viewed as the biggest mistake? Zach Gillispie: Honestly, I think the move to ISM Raceway for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship race is great. Why should the champion be …

Read more

Pace Laps: NASCAR Experiences Martinsville Monotony?

#2: Brad Keselowski, Team Penske, Ford Mustang Reese/DrawTite Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Martinsville Monotony? 2019 has been a bit of a mixed review for NASCAR to date. An increase in TV ratings and attendance at certain tracks is a promising sign. There’s an openness and excitement within the building as new leadership, led by NASCAR CEO Jim France and President Steve Phelps, …

Read more