Race Weekend Central

Friday Faceoff: Crime and Punishment, Chapters 2, 3 & 4

2017 Phoenix I CUP Brad Keselowski car NIgel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

1. NASCAR announced heavy penalties for Brad Keselowski and the No. 2 teams this week, including a 35-point deduction and a three-week suspension for crew chief Paul Wolfe,  after the car failed post-race weights and measures at Phoenix International Raceway. The No. 4 team of Kevin Harvick also got hit with a one-race suspension for crew …

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Pace Laps: Pair of Winless Streaks Snapped by Ryan Newman and Justin Allgaier in the Desert, Along with Sebring Chaos

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Ryan Newman Snaps Personal and RCR Winless Streak – Ryan Newman might just be the epitome of the phrase “where did he come from” for the past ten years. In four of his last six victories, the “rocket man” led 12 or less laps on his way to victory. Three of …

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2017 Frontstretch Cup: Camping World 500 Predictions

2016 NSCS - Kyle Busch Phoenix II Photo Chris Trotman NASCAR via Getty Images

(Photo: Chris Trotman/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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Daniel Suarez Has Frustrating Saturday at Phoenix

2017 Las Vegas CUP DAniel Suarez helmet John Harrelson NKP

(Photo: John Harrelson/NKP)

Although he’s not running for the NASCAR XFINITY Series title again this year, it doesn’t take away from the frustration the 2016 series champion Daniel Suarez felt at Phoenix Raceway on Saturday. Suarez, in the XFINITY No. 18 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, struggled all morning in both the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series XFINITY …

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Friday Faceoff: NASCAR Surprises and Disappointments

Chris Buescher Jimmie Johnson Trevor Bayne Daytona Cup 2017 Bruce Nuttleman

(Photo: Bruce Nuttleman)

NASCAR did not issue any penalties to Kyle Busch, Joey Logano or the crewmen involved in Sunday’s post-race pit road brawl.  Was this the right call, or should there have been some form of punishment? Amy Henderson: There should have been penalties in the form of fines and probation for Busch and suspensions for the …

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New Limits On Cup Drivers Not Stopping Their Dominance of NASCAR XFINITY Regulars

2017 Atlanta NXS Kyle Busch MAtthew T Thacker NKP

During the offseason, NASCAR created a rule limiting Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers with five or more years experience to 10 XFINITY Series events per season. The hope was adding that in-season limit could allow more full-time regulars to run up front. Instead? So far it’s same old, same old as Cup full-timers are running roughshod over …

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Nitro Shots: Leah Pritchett Chasing History

Leah Pritchett Phoenix

(Photo: Pete McCole)

By Pete McCole PRITCHETT CHASING HISTORY Leah Pritchett is on pace to do something no one in the history of the Top Fuel division has been able to accomplish: win three straight races to start off a season. After besting Doug Kalitta at the season-opener in Pomona and Brittany Force two weeks ago at Phoenix, …

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2-Headed Monster: Can Danica Patrick Improve?

2016 Indianapolis Cup Danica Patrick Brett Moist NKP

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

This week’s Frontstretch NASCAR debate question: Danica Patrick had a strong performance during Speedweeks, finishing top 10 in both stages and contending until one of the big wrecks knocked her out. She followed it up with a 17th-place, lead-lap finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Is that a sign of things to come this season for NASCAR’s …

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Pace Laps: Harvick’s Speeding Issues, Kyle Busch Dominates XFINITY and Christopher Bell Sends a Message

2017 Atlanta NXS pack racing Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Kevin Harvick was literally too fast for Atlanta Motor Speedway – Leading 293 of 325 laps, pole-sitter Kevin Harvick looked to be home free in his second race with Ford. Lightning-fast pit stops, the top spot on every restart and playoff points in both stages. It sure was a perfect day …

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2017 Frontstretch Cup: Folds of Honor Quik Trip 500 Predictions

elliott & larson daytona 500

(Photo: Barry Cantrell/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 Face-off: What Was to Blame for Daytona Carnage?

Kyle Busch Erik Jones Matt Kenseth Daytona

(Photo: Bruce Nuttleman)

This year’s Daytona 500 saw 15 drivers fail to finish due to wrecks. Is that the result of plate racing, the segments, simply coincidence or… what? Is the damage clock the right length or do you think that was also the culprit? Amy Henderson, Senior Editor: In the 500, it was plate racing more than …

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