Race Weekend Central

Will the Band Play On? Stock Car Racing’s Uncertain Future in the Music City

Nashville Superspeedway 2018

Photo by Bryan Davis Keith

The brave, coverall-clad souls that weathered snow flurries and bitter cold temperatures to attend ARCA’s recent doubleheader at Nashville’s Fairgrounds Speedway were treated to the same tire-grating, close-quarters stock car racing that has made the bullring a destination track for over 100 years. Between Zane Smith powering to his first ARCA Racing Series win and …

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ARCA Breakdown: Music City 200

2016 Nascar Bristol

(Photo: Logan Whitton/NKP)

Though he didn’t end up winning the pole, Zane Smith emerged from qualifying as ready to race as anyone in the field, exclaiming repeatedly over the radio that the team’s adjustments from practice had made a “night and day” difference. Going from day to night did suit the No. 41 team just fine as Smith …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: FOX Sports Unveils New NASCAR Graphics in Daytona

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series The Advance Auto Parts Clash Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fl Usa Sunday 11 February 2018 Ryan Blaney, Team Penske, Menards/peak Ford Fusion, Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports, Mountain Dew Chevrolet Camaro And Joey Logano, Team Penske, Shell Pennzoil Ford Fusion World Copyright: Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Welcome back to Couch Potato Tuesday.  For me, it’s my 10th year of keeping NASCAR’s media partners honest.  For 2018, there will be no real changes in my output, but there are a couple of minor adjustments on the website. You’ve probably noticed that the TV Listings in the tab has been replaced by Television.  …

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Newly Formed DGR-CROSLEY Acquires Assets of Red Horse Racing

2017 Charotte I Cwts Timothy Peters Truck Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

David Gilliland announced that his late model team, David Gilliland Racing (DGR) has merged with the CROSLEY Racing Group.  The resulting entity, DGR-CROSLEY, has acquired the assets of former Camping World Truck Series team Red Horse Racing. The team will operate from Red Horse Racing’s former shop and field teams in late models, the ARCA …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: NBC Provides Good Bristol, Struggles With Progression

2017 Bristol Ii Nxs Pack Racing Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

For many, many years, Bristol Motor Speedway in August was one of the crown jewels of NASCAR’s schedule.  The introduction of the Chase (now Playoffs) in 2004 has weakened the weekend slightly.  However, it is still a good time to catch some action. Before we get started, NASCAR announced last week that they will be …

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Beyond the Cockpit: Justin Fontaine Learning from Highs & Lows of 2017 Season

2017 Arca Justin Fontaine Am Racing

(Photo: AM Racing)

If you’re going to go out, do so in a ball of flames. For 19-year-old Justin Fontaine, his dream of racing at Daytona International Speedway in February ended with a fiery mess after going head on into the frontstretch wall, leaving the rookie driver on his roof just past pit road exit. Following the scary …

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Beyond the Cockpit: Austin Theriault: ‘You Have to Move With How Life Goes’

25 26 September, 2015, Loudon, New Hampshire Usa Austin Theriault ©2015, Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

Unlike his time in national NASCAR competition, Austin Theriault’s month of October could include a championship trophy. That’s because 2017 is Theriault’s first opportunity to race full-time for a series title, doing so in the ARCA Racing Series for Ken Schrader Racing. After the opening eight races, the 23-year-old holds a 135-point lead over the …

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Beyond the Cockpit: Michael Self Wants to Make Living Off Truck Series

2017 Kern County K&n West Zach Catanzareti Michael Self Sinclair Oil

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Before the 2016 season finale for the ARCA Racing Series last fall, Michael Self was a name struggling for relevancy. Competing full time in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West from 2010 to 2013, winning six times, Self picked up a seven-race XFINITY Series deal with JD Motorsports in 2015. After that, Self was on …

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NASCAR Next Class of 2017-2018 Revealed

Nascar Next 17 18

(Photo: NASCAR via Sean Busher)

NASCAR announced the newest group of drivers Wednesday that comprise its NASCAR Next program. Now in its seventh year, the list of nine is designed to highlight young talent throughout the 2017-2018 racing seasons. By putting out their public resumes, the hope is they next get good money and sponsorship to move up the stock car ranks. …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: ARCA Return to MAVTV Does Not Go Smoothly

2016 Pocono I Arca Myatt Snider Austin Cindric Anthony Lumbis Sr.

(Photo: Anthony Lumbis Sr.)

As you’re all likely aware by now, most of the major racing series here in the United States were off last weekend for Easter.  While drivers spent the time relaxing, spending time with their families or daydreaming, teams worked on their cars.  What’s a critic who covers race broadcasts to do in that scenario?  Check …

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Talking NASCAR TV: Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Takes Center Stage For FOX

Clash

Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP

Welcome back to Couch Potato Tuesday (also known as Talking NASCAR TV).  I’m back for my ninth year of TV commentary, suggestions, complaints and more.  It should be a fairly interesting year, although there will be several changes in the personalities that you’ll see.  This week already showed off plenty of them. First off, reporter and NASCAR …

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