Race Weekend Central

Waid’s World: NASCAR’s 1st Time in New York Was an Adventure for Many, to Say the Least

Waid's World Graphic

Graphic: Jared Haas

Well, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season is over, and the new series champion, a very deserving Kyle Larson (don’t even try to argue with me) will be officially recognized at the Awards Banquet and Ceremony in Nashville. This will be the second year the affair has been held in Nashville. It was held in …

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Frontstretch 5: Things That Made the 2021 NASCAR Season So Great

COTA rain field NASCAR Cup

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Leading up to the Daytona 500, we were all told by FOX Sports that the 2021 NASCAR season would be the best one ever. Now that we’re at the end of it (hard to believe, am I right?), it’s now our turn to analyze and reflect on everything that the season gave us. From big …

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F1 Review: Max Verstappen Magnificent in Mexico, Lost Opportunities Aplenty

2021 Mexico Formula 1 Max Verstappen Lars Baron Getty Red Bull

(Photo: Lars Baron/Getty Images via Red Bull Content Pool)

Max Verstappen failed to earn the pole for the Mexican Grand Prix and it may have been a blessing in disguise. His third-place starting position allowed him to use the slipstream to blow past the Mercedes front row and then steal off into the distance. With P1 secure, he tore away from second-place Lewis Hamilton …

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NASCAR Stat Sheet: Kyle Larson Earns the Most Important Stat of the Year: Champion

Kyle Larson celebrates his 2021 NASCAR Cup Series championship at Phoenix Raceway. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Despite being a force to be reckoned with in nearly every race in 2021, Kyle Larson entered the finale at Phoenix Raceway on a level even with the other three championship-eligible drivers.

Zach’s Turn: Pit Crew, Cliff Daniels Rocket Kyle Larson Toward 1st Cup Championship

Kyle Larson Phoenix NASCAR Championship

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

PHOENIX — When the caution flag came out with 64 laps to go at Phoenix Raceway, Kyle Larson found himself in a predicament. Fellow Championship 4 driver Martin Truex Jr., who had proven his strength on the long run, caught a lucky break by being on pit road when Anthony Alfredo slammed the turn 2 …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4 Finale at Phoenix

Kyle Larson bests the NASCAR Championship 4 in the 2021 Season Finale 500 at Phoenix Raceway as the sun sets above him. (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? Kyle Larson won the Season Finale 500 at Phoenix on Sunday (Nov. 7) to clinch his first career NASCAR Cup Series title. Championship 4 contenders Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott finished second, third and fifth, respectively, while Ryan Blaney finished fourth. A win he’ll never forget!@KyleLarsonRacin is the CHAMPION in …

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Up to Speed: NASCAR Playoff Points of the Past Revisited

NASCAR Playoff drivers Chase Elliott and Martin Truex Jr. lead the field at Phoenix Raceway. (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Earlier this year, I explored how NASCAR playoff points earned during the regular season impacted drivers’ performances in the playoffs themselves.  The goal of that study was to determine if a driver’s playoff point total could predict when they would be eliminated from title contention.  I also wanted to see if there were any notable …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 Season Finale 500

Larson

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who … should you be talking about after the Season Finale 500? A year ago, Kyle Larson watched the NASCAR Cup Series finale on TV and wondered what might have been. Now, a little older and a lot wiser after he chose to learn from a mistake that saw him banned for most of 2020 …

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Was Phoenix Raceway Ryan Newman’s Final NASCAR Cup Series Race?

Ryan Newman races in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Season Finale 500 at Phoenix Raceway. (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: NIgel KInrade Photography)

Almost exactly 21 years to the day, Ryan Newman made what could have been his final NASCAR Cup Series start at the same track where it all began: Phoenix Raceway. Since late July, we’ve known Brad Keselowski will take over as driver of the No. 6 Roush Fenway Ford in a minority owner partnership, leaving …

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The Underdog House: Ryan Preece Caps 2021 by Leading NASCAR Underdogs

2021 Nashville Trucks Ryan Preece happy NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Top Dog: Ryan Preece While the large majority of attention was justifiably on Championship 4 contenders, the underdogs of the NASCAR Cup Series sought to finish off their 2021 seasons strong at Phoenix Raceway (Nov. 7). The action matched the desert heat throughout the field, unfortunately scorching a few underdogs in catastrophic ways. Several of …

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Stock Car Scoop: Are Kyle Larson and Hendrick Motorsports On the Verge of NASCAR Dynasty?

Kyle Larson celebrates his first NASCAR Cup Series championship after winning the Season Finale 500 at Phoenix Raceway. (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The NASCAR Cup Series championship on Sunday (Nov. 7) at Phoenix Raceway came down to a final round of pit stops, and Kyle Larson’s crew turned in lightning-fast service to springboard him to the lead, as well as the eventual race win and championship. With 10 wins on the season and overall dominance from the …

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