Race Weekend Central

Kyle Busch Conquers Gander Outdoors 400 After Wild Finish

2018 kyle busch richmond cup Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Not even failing post-qualifying inspection could stop NASCAR’s Big Three. And when Kevin Harvick fell apart in the second half of the Gander Outdoors 400, Kyle Busch was there to pick up the slack. Busch survived a handful of late restarts out front at Pocono Raceway to win Sunday’s (July 29) Gander Outdoors 400. Busch …

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Terrifying Crash For Darrell Wallace Jr. At Pocono Raceway

2018 cup richmond darrell wallace jr bubba wallaec zach catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Darrell Wallace Jr. walked away from a terrifying crash late in Sunday’s (July 29) race at Pocono Raceway. Wallace was on the lead lap, vying for a top-20 finish in his No. 43 Ford when the brakes apparently failed and sent him hurtling into the Turn 1 wall at high speed. Very scary hit for Bubba …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After The Foxwoods Resort Casino 301

2018 cup new hampshire zach catanzareti chase elliott

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? Sure, he didn’t win; in fact, Kurt Busch was lucky to scrounge up eighth after tumbling late in the race following a bizarre green-flag pit sequence where he got caught up with Ryan Blaney. Busch stopped before his pit box, thinking Blaney was done with his service but wound up …

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Kevin Harvick Nudges Kyle Busch Out of the Way To Win New Hampshire

#4: Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford Fusion Busch Beer celebrates after winning Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick have been two of the best cars all season long. But for the first time all year, a race between them was decided by contact. Harvick pushed Busch out of the way in the closing laps, surging ahead after applying a bump-and-run to win the Foxwoods Resort Casino 301. Busch …

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Did You Notice?: Loudon’s Lonely Spot On The NASCAR Schedule

2017 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series, New Hampshire

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Did You Notice? … Loudon’s lonely spot within the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series? The 25th anniversary of New Hampshire Motor Speedway earning a Cup date is coinciding with its schedule getting cut in half. Loudon had one date, of course, from 1993 – 1996 before owner Bob Bahre conspired in a deal that changed the …

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Did You Notice?: How Fast Are NASCAR’s Young Drivers Winning?

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bank of America 500 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, NC USA Friday 6 October 2017 Kyle Larson, Chip Ganassi Racing, Credit One Bank Chevrolet SS World Copyright: Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Did You Notice? … The sigh of relief among NASCAR officials the second Erik Jones reached Victory Lane? Jones is just the third 20-something driver to win this year, joining Austin Dillon (Daytona) and Joey Logano (Talladega). All of them have won at restrictor plate races, known for parity and a different type of driver skill. …

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Did You Notice?: 10 NASCAR Winners in 10 Races? It’s Possible

2018 daytona cup bruce nuttleman jimmie johnson

(Photo: Bruce Nuttleman)

Did You Notice? … The fab foursome of Martin Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch and Clint Bowyer were at it again? Sonoma saw them 1-2-3-4 for most of the race; they would have finished that way if not for late-race pit stops designed to try and win. In the end, they’ve won 14 of 16 …

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Martin Truex Jr. Uses Pit Strategy, Surges To Sonoma Victory

Martin Truex Jr. Victory Lane Sonoma 2018

(Photo: Danny Peters)

Martin Truex Jr. had the skills. Crew chief Cole Pearn had the strategy. Add them both together and you get a dominating Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series win at Sonoma Raceway. Truex cruised to victory in the Toyota/Save Mart 350 Sunday (June 24) after his strategy to pit later in Stage 3 worked perfectly. Rivals Kevin …

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Did You Notice?: Does NASCAR Practice Make Perfect?

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Did You Notice? … Practice doesn’t always make perfect? So often, we analyze NASCAR practice results over the weekend to find clues as to who will do well on Sunday. But do the one-lap fast practice speeds matter over a 400 or 500-mile race the next day? I took the 15 races this season, looked at …

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Lapped Traffic Proves Tricky For Justin Allgaier, XFINITY Race At Iowa

2017 xfinity richmond zach catanzareti justin allgaier

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Lapped traffic is a constant presence at most short tracks and the 7/8-mile speedway at Iowa is no exception. On Sunday (June 17), winner Justin Allagier had lapped traffic to thank for his trip to the front. But he also nearly had it to blame for his defeat in a highly competitive Iowa 250. Let’s start …

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Did You Notice?: NASCAR Penalties Are Affecting the Championship

2015 Charlotte I CUP Ryan Blaney inspection credit Amy Henderson

(Photo: Amy Henderson, Frontstretch)

Did You Notice? … The number of penalties handed down in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series this season? Joe Gibbs Racing was the latest to get hit hard Tuesday after three of their cars had splitter violations discovered in Michigan pre-race inspection. That led to $25,000 fines and one-race car chief suspensions for the teams …

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Did You Notice?: Making The NASCAR Playoffs Is Easy? No, Really

#4: Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford Fusion Jimmy John's and #19: Daniel Suarez, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Camry ARRIS Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Did You Notice? … Only 31 drivers have started every Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race this year? That means it’s easier to qualify for the NASCAR postseason right now than almost any stick-and-ball sport. Let’s explain. To make the playoffs, a driver must start every regular season race unless they’re given a medical waiver. Slots …

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