Race Weekend Central

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Earns Pole Position For 2020 Daytona 500

2020 Daytona Ncs Daytona 500 Qualifying Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

New team for Ricky Stenhouse Jr.? No problem. The former restrictor plate ace continued his strength Sunday (Feb. 9) at Daytona and Talladega while putting his car on the pole for the 2020 Daytona 500. Stenhouse spent much of the session as much as a half-second faster than the rest of the field before some …

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2019 NASCAR Driver Reviews: Aric Almirola

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: NKP)

2019 was supposed to be the year Aric Almirola shed his Cinderella label for a different identity: blue-chip contender. One of 2018’s biggest surprises, Almirola took over a car piloted to years of mediocrity by Danica Patrick and left it on the doorstep of the Championship 4. A win at Talladega Superspeedway catapulted him into …

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Did You Notice?: For Jimmie Johnson, 2020 Was the Right Time for NASCAR Retirement

2019 Kansas Mencs Jimmie Johnson Car Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Did You Notice? … For Jimmie Johnson, 2020 is the right time to call it quits. The seven-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion announced Wednesday (Nov. 20) on Twitter next season will be his last. #Chasing8 one final time pic.twitter.com/ZoldabKy9M — Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) November 20, 2019 Speculation about Johnson’s retirement has run rampant since primary …

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Kyle Busch Cruises To Ford EcoBoost 400 Victory, 2nd NASCAR Cup Title

2019 Homestead Mencs Kyle Busch Trophy Cck

(Photo: Christian Koelle)

Kyle Busch is a NASCAR champion once again. For the second time in five years, Busch won the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway and with it the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series title. A 21-race winless streak left Busch a bit of an underdog heading in, but a consistent, mistake-free performance led to a …

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Tyler Reddick Captures Back-To-Back NASCAR Xfinity Titles With Ford 300 Win

2019 Homestead Nxs Tyler Reddick Trophy Cck

(Photo: Christian Koelle)

The 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series title came down to the three drivers that have dominated its season: Tyler Reddick, Cole Custer and Christopher Bell. A trio that won 21 of 33 races this season ran 1-2-3 entering the closing laps of Saturday’s (Nov. 16) Ford 300. In the end, it was a battle for who …

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Kyle Busch Leads Lone Homestead Practice, Joe Gibbs Racing 1-2-3

2019 Homestead Cup Kyle Busch Car Phil Allaway

Joe Gibbs Racing came out swinging in the only Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice held before Sunday’s (Nov. 17) season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Kyle Busch led a 1-2-3 practice sweep as the team’s three title contenders led from virtually the drop of the green flag. Busch posted a one-lap speed of 168.966 mph, …

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Tracking The Trucks: Inside Winless Wonder Matt Crafton’s Championship Season

2019 Phoenix Ngots Matt Crafton Truck Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

In a Nutshell: Austin Hill placed the perfect bookend on his 2019 NASCAR Gander Outdoor Truck Series season by cruising to victory in the Homestead-Miami Speedway season finale. His Ford 200 trophy earned Friday night (Nov. 15) matched up perfectly with a victory in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway. Unfortunately for Hill, though, …

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Did You Notice?: NASCAR Championship Leaves Non-Playoff Teams Fighting For Scraps

Denny Hamlin and Matt DiBenedetto are solid picks for the 2021 Busch Clash Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Did You Notice? … The focus on the NASCAR championship has made non-playoff teams more irrelevant than ever? Over 15 years into the concept of a postseason and six years into the current format, drivers failing to make the playoffs are struggling to gain any momentum once the final 10 races begin. We saw this development …

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Denny Hamlin Dominates in Phoenix, Earns Spot in NASCAR Championship 4

2019 Phoenix Mencs Denny Hamlin Victory Lane Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Denny Hamlin entered the Bluegreen Vacations 500 at ISM Raceway 20 points away from making the Championship 4. Conventional wisdom was he needed a win in Phoenix to advance to Homestead. Hamlin left nothing to chance. The driver of the No. 11 Toyota outright dominated Sunday (Nov. 10), taking the lead during the final stage …

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Did You Notice?: NASCAR Parity Producing a Tiresome Championship 4?

Harvick Media Day 2018

Kevin Harvick while being interviewed at Championship 4 Media Day at The Miami Beach EDITION on Thursday, November 15, 2018. (Photo/Davey Segal)

Did You Notice? … The 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4 could be an exact replica of 2018? Two of last year’s drivers, Martin Truex Jr. and Kevin Harvick, have already qualified by winning in this year’s Round of 8. Kyle Busch and Joey Logano, meanwhile, hold at least a 20-point edge over their …

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Did You Notice?: Joey Logano’s Historic Martinsville Mayhem & 2020 is Austin Dillon’s Make-or-Break Year

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Did You Notice? … Joey Logano has had season-defining moments at Martinsville Speedway in four of the past five Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series fall races? The latest occurred Sunday (Oct. 27) in the First Data 500 with his late-race contact turned shoving match with Denny Hamlin. The incident has resulted in a suspension of a …

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