Race Weekend Central

Friday Faceoff: Did NASCAR Go Too Far with Penalties?

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 Kansas Speedway, Kansas City, KS USA Saturday 21 October 2017 Matt Kenseth, Joe Gibbs Racing, DEWALT Flexvolt Toyota Camry World Copyright: Matthew T. Thacker NKP

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

Last weekend’s race featured the second cut in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, and among those out is veteran Matt Kenseth, who was parked by NASCAR for having too many crew members working on his car under the damaged vehicle policy.  Is the consequence for that particular infraction too harsh, or is this …

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Truckin’ Thursdays: Cale Gale Returns to NASCAR Competition

2017 Michigan CWTS DArrell Wallace Jr burnout Rusty Jarrett NKP

(Photo: Rusty Jarrett / NKP)

After taking the Kansas weekend off, the Camping World Truck Series is back in action Saturday afternoon at Martinsville Speedway. While six drivers have their eye on making the Championship 4 over the next three races, another competitor will make his first series start since 2013. Cale Gale, who made just three starts during the …

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Eyes on XFINITY: Christopher Bell’s Kansas Victory Showcases Why He’s Moving Up Next Year

2017 Kansas II NXS Christopher Bell woohoo John K Harrelson NKP

(Photo: John K. Harrelson / NKP)

As the 2017 season inches ever closer to its conclusion, Christopher Bell is making a run for the Camping World Truck Series championship with Kyle Busch Motorsports in what turns out to be his final year in the series. Next season, he’ll join Joe Gibbs Racing to run full-time in the XFINITY Series. “Christopher has …

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Ryan Blaney Finishes 3rd After Qualifying Time Disallowed in Kansas

2017 Cup Kansas Ryan Blaney Pit Road Credit Rick Lunkenheimer

(Photo: Rick Lunkenheimer)

Ryan Blaney entered Kansas Speedway with a nine-point cushion ahead of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoff cut line and a fast car to help move him into the Round of 8 and keep the Wood Brothers’ championship hopes alive. He ran no worse than sixth in all three practice sessions through the weekend. …

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Kurt Busch Rebounds From Early Vibration for Best Finish Since Daytona Win

2017 Cup Kansas Kurt Busch Pit Road Credit Rick Lunkenheimer

(Photo: Rick Lunkenheimer)

Kurt Busch started the season – and Stewart-Haas Racing’s tenure with Ford – with a bang and a victory in the Daytona 500, but since then, the season has been a bit of an up-and-down one for the No. 41 team. Fast forward to Kansas Speedway, and Busch came home with his best result since …

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Round of 8 Set Amid Chaotic Kansas Cup Race

2017 Cup Kansas Jamie McMurray Kyle Busch Racing Credit Rick Lunkenheimer

(Photo: Rick Lunkenheimer)

When the checkered flag flew over the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway Sunday evening, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoff field dwindled from 12 to eight drivers. Given their deficits coming into this race, many expected it would take a victory from Jamie McMurray or Ricky Stenhouse Jr. to keep their championship hopes …

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Aric Almirola Scores Top-10 Finish in Return to Kansas Speedway

2017 Cup Kansas Aric Almirola Pit Road Credit Rick Lunkenheimer

(Photo: Rick Lunkenheimer)

The last time the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series was at Kansas Speedway, Aric Almirola suffered a serious back injury that sidelined him for seven races. This time around, he walked away with a ninth-place finish, though his No. 43 Ford looked like it had been pieced back together. The damage to the car came …

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Kyle Larson Suffers Early Engine Failure in Kansas

2017 Cup Kansas Kyle Larson Engine Failure Credit Rick Lunkenheimer

(Photo: Rick Lunkenheimer)

Kyle Larson’s race – and likely his playoff hopes – quite literally went up in smoke Sunday afternoon in the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway. Early in Stage 1, the driver of the No. 42 Chevrolet brought his car down to the attention of his crew with problems with his engine. After going three …

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Erik Jones Suffers Stinging Defeat in XFINITY Race at Kansas

2017 Talladega I NXS Erik Jones Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Erik Jones nearly scored a dominant XFINITY Series win Saturday afternoon at Kansas Speedway, but with four laps remaining, he lost the lead to Christopher Bell after leading 186 laps on the day. The race went from disappointing to downright frustrating in a matter of seconds for Jones as the Joe Gibbs Racing teammates made …

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Christopher Bell Scores First Career XFINITY Win in Kansas

Christopher Bell Kansas Victory XFINITY

(Photo: Barry Cantrell / NKP)

Christopher Bell scored his first career XFINITY Series win Saturday in the Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway. He led just the final four laps en route to Victory Lane in his fifth series start. “It’s a dream come true to be able to win in the XFINITY Series,” Bell said. “Driving for Joe Gibbs …

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Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney Lead Pair of Cup Practices Saturday in Kansas

2017 Talladega II CUP Ryan Blaney John K Harrelson NKP

(Photo: John K Harrelson / NKP)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series teams took to Kansas Speedway Saturday for two practices ahead of Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400. The first session ran from 11 – 11:50 a.m. ET and Kyle Larson topped the charts with a top speed of 181.671 mph (29.724 sec). By comparison, the pole speed set by Martin Truex Jr. …

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