Race Weekend Central

Friday Faceoff: Good Races or Good Finishes?

2016 Phoenix I CUP Kasey Kahne Ryan blaney racing Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

After Martin Truex, Jr. said that his team would communicate with suspended crew chief Cole Pearn via FaceTime at Phoenix International Raceway, NASCAR announced it’s looking for way to limit communication with suspended crew members.  Is this something that needs to be done, or is remote communication enough of a hindrance on its own? Mark Howell, …

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Eyes on XFINITY: No Easy Solution to Cup Driver Dominance

2016 Phoenix I NXS DArrell Wallace Jr car Matthew T Thacker NKP

There have not been many high points in 2016 for XFINITY Series fans who favor a second-tier series without Sprint Cup driver dominance. In the last three races, reigning Sprint Cup champ Kyle Busch has looked nearly unstoppable, and he stands a good chance at getting his fourth consecutive victory at Auto Club Speedway. Busch’s …

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Pace Laps: Young and Hungry Rookies, Mikhail Aleshin Impresses & K&N Pro Series Action

2016 Phoenix I NXS Erik Jones Daniel Suarez Kyle BUsch racing Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Sprint Cup: Young & Hungry – We are starting to witness a pattern in the Sprint Cup Series: The young drivers are here to race. The three men in particular are Austin Dillon, Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney as each of them scored a top-10 result Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway. If Sunday was your first …

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XFINITY Breakdown: Three Wins in Three Starts for Kyle Busch

2016 Phoenix I NXS Kyle Busch wins Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Kyle Busch made his third XFINITY Series start of the season on Saturday and took home his third victory of 2016 at Phoenix International Raceway. Busch was once again the dominant force of the afternoon, starting third and leading 175 of 200 laps in the Axalta Faster. Tougher. Brighter. 200. The win was his 79th …

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Friday Faceoff: Will Matt Kenseth Turn it Around?

2016 Las Vegas CUP Matt Kenseth Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade NKP)

Matt Kenseth, who entered the season as a title favorite, has yet to score a top-10 finish through three races.  Is it time for the No. 20 team to hit the panic button, or is the slow start just a bump in the road? Dustin Albino, Contributor: Matt Kenseth has had an opportunity to win …

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Eyes on XFINITY: Darrell Wallace, Jr. is Ford’s Best Championship Hope

2016 Atlanta NXS Elliott Sadler Darrell Wallace Jr racing NKP

It is still early in the XFINITY Series season, but we are beginning to see which drivers will emerge as championship contenders. There are not many surprises among those names. Most fans assumed that Erik Jones and Daniel Suarez would be in the title hunt, and the Joe Gibbs Racing drivers have shown the most …

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XFINITY Breakdown: Kyle Busch Crushes the Competition in Las Vegas

2016 Atlanta NXS Kyle Busch burnout Matthew T Thacker NKP

(Photo: Matthew T Thacker / NKP)

Defending Sprint Cup champion Kyle Busch picked up right where he left off last week in the XFINITY Series. After securing his first XFINITY win at Atlanta seven days ago, Busch accomplished the same feat at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the Boyd Gaming 300, putting on a display of dominance before his hometown crowd, …

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Friday Faceoff: How Far Can Jimmie Johnson Go?

Jimmie Johnson’s win tied him with Dale Earnhardt for seventh all-time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. How high will Johnson rise on the list before he retires? Can he catch mentor Jeff Gordon, who sits third with 93 wins?  Amy Henderson, Senior Editor: I think Jimmie Johnson’ll slot in just behind Jeff Gordon.  He …

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Eyes on XFINITY: Sin City Showdown Will Set the Tone for 2016

2016 Atlanta NXS pack racing Matthew T Thacker NKP

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker / NKP)

Following the XFINITY Series’ second race of the season, the biggest storyline was Kyle Busch, once again, curb-stomping the competition on his way to his first XFINITY victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Busch faces a similar task this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, another venue where he has never won an XFINITY race. However, …

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XFINITY Breakdown: Kyle Busch Knocks Item Off NASCAR Bucket List

Kyle Busch Bank of America 500 2015 Charlotte Cup Mike Neff

(Photo Credit: Mike Neff, Frontstretch)

Cross another track off of Kyle Busch’s list. Stepping into the No. 18 car in NASCAR’s XFINITY Series for the first time this season, Busch started on the pole and led 119 of 163 laps en route to his first ever XFINITY Series victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the Heads Up Georgia 250. Holding …

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Friday Faceoff: How Important Is Track Position?

A quick exam of the last few seasons shows that only the best restrictor plate drivers – Denny Hamlin, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski – have been able to get to victory lane. Is it still fair to say anyone can win at Daytona or Talladega, or has NASCAR finally put fate in …

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Eyes on XFINITY: A Step Down is a Step Up for Allgaier

Justin Allgaier Darlington Cup Retro 2015 Mike Neff-096

(Photo Credit: Mike Neff, Frontstretch)

Justin Allgaier is back in familiar territory. After a two-year stint in the Sprint Cup Series, he has returned to the XFINITY Series to race for a championship. He finished 12th at Daytona in his first race with JR Motorsports, putting himself in contention for the win before a pit road speeding penalty doomed his chances …

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