Race Weekend Central

Friday Faceoff: Who’s Sandbagging Who?

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pure Michigan 400 Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, MI USA Sunday 13 August 2017 Brad Keselowski, Team Penske, Miller Lite Ford Fusion World Copyright: Rusty Jarrett NKP

(Photo: Rusty Jarrett/NKP)

Last weekend at Michigan International Speedway, Brad Keselowski had some harsh words for the factory Toyota teams, accusing them of sandbagging after NASCAR floated the possibility of taking equipment from teams for comparison tests to avoid changes from the sanctioning body to increase parity.  Is there any merit to Keselowski’s argument, and does it signal …

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Pace Laps: Miraculous Michigan, Sam Hornish Jr.’s Big Win & Bubba Wallace’s Return

2017 Mid-Ohio NXS Sam Hornish Jr woohoo Brett Moist NKP

(Photo: Brett Moist / NKP)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Michigan a Welcome Back for Multiple Drivers – Sunday’s Pure Michigan 400 may have been a return to Victory Lane for Kyle Larson, but Michigan International Speedway gave several other drivers a warm welcome back to the front after 202 laps. Starting with one on the podium, Erik Jones tied …

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2017 Frontstretch Cup: Pure Michigan 400 Predictions

pack racing michigan 1

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

Welcome to our 10th year of staff predictions! Each week, our experts attempt to tell you who the winner of each Cup race will be. Take a look to see who your favorite writers think will win it all (or at least score some points) this week! Think you can out-prognosticate our staff?  Leave your …

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2-Headed Monster: Is William Byron Ready for Cup?

2017 Indianapolis NXS William Byron woohoo Rusty JArrett NKP

(Photo: Rusty Jarrett / NKP)

With the recent announcements of Kasey Kahne being released from Hendrick Motorsports at seasons end, 19-year-old phenom William Byron will take over the No. 5 Chevrolet in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series next season. The youngster began racing just five years ago, and has rapidly ascended to the top of the mountain when it comes to North American …

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Pace Laps: Daniel Suarez Impresses & Cup Drivers Dominate XFINITY Series at The Glen

2017 xfinity watkins glen zach catanzareti kyle busch sparks

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup: Career Day for Daniel Suarez – In the opening 21 races of 2017, Daniel Suarez has been the “other” at Joe Gibbs Racing. The dominate Kyle Busch, the two veterans of Denny Hamlin and Matt Kenseth and then, the rookie, is how JGR’s line-up looks on paper this year. Sunday, however, Suarez made …

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2017 Frontstretch Cup: I Love New York 355 at the Glen Predictions

2016 Watkins Glen International NASCAR K&N Pro East Series Austin Cindric photo credit NASCAR via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Welcome to our 10th year of staff predictions! Each week, our experts attempt to tell you who the winner of each Cup race will be. Take a look to see who your favorite writers think will win it all (or at least score some points) this week! Think you can out-prognosticate our staff?  Leave your …

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Friday Faceoff: Beating Around the Busch

2017 dover cup zach catanzareti kurt busch

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

NASCAR announced further restrictions on full-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers running in the XFINITY and Camping World Truck series in 2018.  Was this the right move for the sport, or is there a better alternative? Samarth Kanal: That’s the right move. It’d be nice to restrict Cup drivers’ appearances in the XFINITY and …

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2-Headed Monster: Who’s the Title Favorite? Martin Truex Jr. or Kyle Busch?

2017 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series, Sonoma

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma, CA USA Saturday 24 June 2017 Martin Truex Jr, Furniture Row Racing, Furniture Row/Denver Mattress Toyota Camry World Copyright: Nigel Kinrade NKP

Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch have not only been the class of the Toyota’s, but also the entire Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series field in the past few weeks. With Busch’s victory this past weekend at Pocono, he is now guaranteed a playoff spot. Truex Jr.’s three race victories and 14 stage wins will also put …

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Pace Laps: Kyle Busch Gets That Monkey Off His Back

ryan preece iowa

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/ NKP)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Last Lap the Sweetest for Kyle Busch – It took 1,114 laps led for Kyle Busch to turn into Victory Lane in 2017. Starting from pole for the fifth time this season, Busch led the most laps in Sunday’s Overton’s 400 at Pocono Raceway (74), surviving a 55-lap green-flag run to the end …

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2017 Frontstretch Cup: Overton’s 400 Predictions

2016 Pocono I CUP Ryan Newman pack racing Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Welcome to our 10th year of staff predictions! Each week, our experts attempt to tell you who the winner of each Cup race will be. Take a look to see who your favorite writers think will win it all (or at least score some points) this week! Think you can out-prognosticate our staff?  Leave your …

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Friday Faceoff: What’s the Biggest Move of NASCAR Silly Season 2017?

2017 Indianapolis CUP Trevor Bayne Austin Dillon crash Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

The Cup race at Indianapolis featured some exciting moments, but also a lot of crashes, while the XFINITY Series tried a race package that included restrictor plates and air ducts in the front of the cars. Did the lower series put on the better show, and should Cup consider using the same package next year?  …

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Pace Laps: A Major Weekend at Indianapolis for Hendrick Motorsports & Eldora Madness

2017 Indianapolis NXS William Byron burnout Matthew T Thacker NKP

(Photo: Matthew T Thacker / NKP)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Kasey Kahne Happy Again – “This shows that I want to do it.” Sunday’s Brickyard 400 for Kasey Kahne was more than a victory. For a driver who hasn’t won a race in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in nearly three years, it was a statement. Not only is …

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