Race Weekend Central

Power Rankings: Darlington I Edition

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Everyone at NASCAR had to be nervous about how all of the new procedures would work out for the first race without fans due to COVID-19 at Darlington Speedway on Sunday (May 17). However, all went well, and it was a monster of a day for NASCAR, earning the highest television rating outside the Daytona …

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Power Rankings: Return to Racing

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

It’s been over two months since the NASCAR and entire sports world was turned upside down. It seems like it’s been over a year since cars have been on the racetrack. But the seconds are ticking away until the season returns this weekend at Darlington Raceway. Let’s take an updated look at the Power Rankings …

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Death Penalty For Parking Violations? A Different Take on the Kyle Larson Saga

(photo: Nkp)

#42: Kyle Larson, Chip Ganassi Racing, Chevrolet Camaro McDonald's

Most people have heard the story by now of Kyle Larson’s NASCAR suspension for a racial slur used during a streamed iRacing event. One week ago (April 12), the incident wound up costing him millions in sponsorship and his full-time job from Chip Ganassi Racing. Let me be clear; there is no excuse for Larson …

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Power Rankings: Fontana Edition

2020lasvegasncskevinharvickcarrlp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Two races on downforce tracks in a row have given us a better look at which teams have improved for the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season. There is no doubt that Hendrick Motorsports is better and that isn’t just because Bowman the Showman ended up in victory lane this past Sunday (March 1) at Auto …

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Power Rankings: Daytona 500 Edition 

2020 Daytona Ncs Denny Hamlin Car Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

I have been told I have the gift of snark, but I am still numb after this year’s Daytona 500. Does anyone really care who won the race? Does anyone really care which teams showed more strength than we expected? Does ANYONE care about anything except hearing better and better news about Ryan Newman? I …

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New and Improved Power Rankings: Busch Clash Edition

2020 Daytona Ncs Martin Truex, Jr. Car Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Whenever money and pride is on the line without points in NASCAR, the outcome is sure to be chaotic and unpredictable. In this day and age of high tech race cars massaged within 1/1000th of an inch of tolerance to gain speed, the winning car look more like something you would find in the Street …

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2019 NASCAR Driver Reviews: Chris Buescher

Chris Buescher

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

It seems strange to say a driver had a career year when they failed to win a race or even post a top-five finish all season, but for Chris Buescher, the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season opened a big opportunity for the future.  Buescher won a NASCAR Xfinity Series title in 2015 and …

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Odds & Ends Around the Track: ISM Elimination Edition

2019 Phoenix I Cup Pack Racing Nkp

While everyone talks about “Game Seven Moments” in stick-and-ball sports, sometimes the most exciting are the Game Six elimination moments. One team has the advantage but wants to finish off their opponent, while the other team is in that win-or-else mode. This weekend at ISM Raceway in Phoenix, we will see that win-or-else mode play …

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Odds & Ends Around the Track: Everything’s Bigger in Texas Edition

Rodney Childers and Kevin Harvick look on in 2019 Cup Michigan race. Photo: NKP

(Photo: NKP)

Everything is bigger in Texas, and nobody finds more ways to entertain NASCAR fans than Eddie Gossage at Texas Motor Speedway. In the NFL, they talk about coaches being from either the Bill Belichick or the Sean McVay coaching trees. In racetrack promotion, they talk about the Humpy Wheeler promotion tree. Mr. Gossage has been …

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Odds & Ends Around the Track: Elimination Edition

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The NASCAR playoffs are heating up this weekend. The first cut from 16 to 12 drivers sometimes eliminates a true contender, but usually it just erases the championship pretenders. But this week, after the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway, we will see some of the top teams end their title hopes. The …

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Odds & Ends Around the Track: Hold Your Breath Edition

2019 Talladega Cup Mencs Zach Catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Why did they build full-sized seats at Talladega Superspeedway? Nobody uses more than the edge of their seat all day. This is not a race – this is an experience. Many years ago, I had the pleasure of hosting a VIP experience for fans in the infield at Talladega. I am not sure I saw …

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