Race Weekend Central

Friday Racing Washed Out at Charlotte

2016 Las Vegas Cup Chase Elliott Aj Allmendinger Racing John Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John Harrelson / NKP)

UPDATE: All on-track activity at Charlotte Motor Speedway has been postponed due to rain. The revised Saturday schedule follows: 9:30: All-Star Practice (FOX Sports 1) 11:00: Sprint Showdown (FOX Sports 1) 12:30: North Carolina Education Lottery 200 (FOX Sports 1) 7:00: All-Star Race qualifying (FOX Sports 1) 9:00: All-Star Race (FOX Sports 1) There will …

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Friday Faceoff: Who’s the Next First-Time Winner?

2016 Dover I Cup Cahse Elliott Kyle Larson Racing Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

The new aero package seemed to work fantastically at Dover while it was not very successful at Kansas. NASCAR is continuing to work on the downforce on these cars. Should NASCAR keep making small adjustments or is it time for a big swing at change? Sean Fesko, Staff Writer: If NASCAR takes a big swing, …

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Holding a Pretty Wheel: Fail Inspection? Time for NASCAR to Take a Hard Line

2016 Kansas I Cup Kyle Busch Team Celebrates Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Another week, another announcement that a top-finishing NASCAR Sprint Cup race car did not pass post-race inspection — and another slap on the wrist for a race team. In the last two races, here’s what’s happened: most recently, the No. 5 team for Hendrick Motorsports, driven by Kasey Kahne, failed post-race inspection at Dover International …

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The Frontstretch 5: Changes the All-Star Race Needs

Nascar Sprint All Star Race

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Make it about the teams again NASCAR made a change to the qualifying rules a few years ago, and it wasn’t the right move. The rules used to say that if a driver and team won a race but parted ways, both driver and team were eligible for the race the following year.  Somewhere along the …

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The Big Six: Questions Answered After the 2016 AAA 400 Drive for Autism

2016 Fontana Cup Kyle Larson Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

Who…gets my shoutout of the race? Looking out the windshield, the yellow rear bumper of Matt Kenseth loomed large in the closing laps, and Kyle Larson, who’s got a reputation for being extremely aggressive, had to have been tempted to use his bumper to push Kenseth aside, and he had a couple of opportunities to …

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Friday Faceoff: Should Excessive Burnouts Put Teams on the Hot Seat?

2016 Kansas I Cup Kevin Harvick Racing Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

Three races into his return, Tony Stewart is making up some ground on 30th in points, the Chase cut-off for a driver with a win.  How likely does that win look for Stewart in the next 15 races? Clayton Caldwell, Contributor: I hate to say it, but not very likely. I think Stewart-Haas Racing/Hendrick Motorsports …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2016 GoBowling.com 400

2016 Texas I Cup Martin Truex Jr Racing Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? From the “where did he come from?” department—Richard Childress Racing driver Austin Dillon put together another strong finish, and he was certainly quiet about it.  Dillon wasn’t talked about much during a race that was dominated by the Joe Gibbs Racing group and affiliate Furniture Row Racing, and …

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Friday Faceoff: Should Lapped Cars Get Off the Track?

2016 Talladega I Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr Carl Edwards Crash Logan Whitton Nkp

(Photo: Logan Whitton/NKP)

After Sunday’s race at Talladega saw 35 of 40 cars involved in on-track incidents, does NASCAR need to reevaluate restrictor plate racing with the current rules? Vito Pugliese, Senior Writer: This kind of hand-wringing happens every few years when there is a big wreck. They’ve been launching them into the air since 1973, and had …

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The Frontstretch 5: Things NASCAR Needs to Address

2016 Talladega I Cup David Gilliland Tony Stewart Kyle Busch Racing Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew Thacker/NKP)

The plate package One thing that has been lacking at Daytona and Talladega with the current package is what once made plate racing entertaining: the lead being the last place a driver wanted to be taking the white flag. The ability for one line to catch and pass the other has diminished, and that’s hurt …

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Beyond the Cockpit: Brendan Gaughan on 2016 and Beyond

2016 Atlanta Nxs Brendan Gaughan Helmet Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

Currently fifth in NASCAR XFINITY Series Points, Brendan Gaughan provides his Richard Childress Racing team with a veteran presence in the driver’s seat.  Gaughan, 40, has had a strong season, in position to make the first XFINITY Chase yet he’s been at the center of speculation about whether 2016 will be his last season in …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2016 Geico 500

2016 Talladega Dale Earnhardt Jr Wreck Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? OK, so Dale Earnhardt, Jr.  finished 40th, and that’s not usually praiseworthy, but he drove his car using just the steering column after the steering wheel came off in his hands. He had a moment of shock, then grabbed the column and held the car steady as he put the wheel …

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