Race Weekend Central

Fire on Fridays: Changing Things That Need Changing Isn’t a Bad Thing

2019 Daytona Clash Cup Track Overhead Nkp

(Photo: NKP)

As 2021 looms, so does the implementation of the Next Gen car, new wheels, a revamped schedule and possible new venues, among other things. For the most part, NASCAR fans have (surprisingly) been receptive to the changes that are on the way in what’ll be the biggest single year of change in the sport’s half-century-plus …

Read more

Fire on Fridays: A Missed Opportunity for Richmond & NASCAR Trucks

2020 Daytona Ncs Kyle Busch Car Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Richmond Raceway and NASCAR have got to be kicking themselves. Last Saturday, Kevin Harvick added some interest to Kyle Busch‘s remaining 2020 NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series schedule when he introduced a bounty against the defending Cup Series champion. Sounds good to me!!! $100,000 grand boys!!! #gameon https://t.co/YtlsMWx5ka — Kevin Harvick (@KevinHarvick) February …

Read more

Fire on Fridays: The Highest Highs, the Lowest Lows

Olympus Digital Camera

(Photo: Rick Lunkenheimer)

I’d never felt the palpable energy on Sunday afternoon leading up to the Daytona 500. I’d also never felt the gut punch and fright I felt Monday after the checkered flag flew. The 36 hours from when the 500 began to when it ended, including the events that preceded and followed, had some of the …

Read more

Fire on Fridays: NASCAR Needs Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

2020 Daytona Ncs Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. Face Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Something that has consistently dumbfounded me is the amount of hate and disrespect Ricky Stenhouse Jr. gets from fans on social media. There’s constantly jokes about him wrecking and insults being thrown around. There’s even a parody account or two. Yes, Stenhouse is an ultra-aggressive driver, and sometimes that can lead to incidents, but don’t …

Read more

Fire on Fridays: Denny Hamlin’s Mindset Is Championship Caliber

2019 Phoenix Mencs Denny Hamlin Victory Lane Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

A week ago, Denny Hamlin was getting peppered with questions about the impending weekend that was: essentially a win-or-go-home race, with a Championship 4 berth on the line, in his best career season to date, driving for an organization that has clearly been the class of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, one week removed …

Read more

Fire on Fridays: Denny Hamlin Needs This Cup Title

2019 Michigan Mencs Denny Hamlin Face Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Denny Hamlin is giving Mark Martin some competition: Which of the two drivers is the best to never win a NASCAR title? Martin, a NASCAR Hall of Famer, had 40 wins in his 30-year Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career, while Hamlin currently has 36 in half the seasons. Hamlin, though, has only finished runner-up …

Read more

Fire on Fridays: Let Them Fight or An All-Out Brawl?

Cale Yarborough And Donnie Allison

(Photo: ISC Images & Archives/NASCAR via Getty Images)

The big talking point in the NASCAR world this week has revolved around the fight we saw this past weekend at Martinsville Speedway involving the No. 11 team of Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing and the No. 22 team of Joey Logano of Team Penske in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Notice how …

Read more

Fire on Fridays: The 5 Best NASCAR Personalities to Follow on Twitter

2019 Phoenix I Cup Chase Elliott Pack Racing Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

These days, the news cycle never ends. People can drop an atomic bomb in the wee hours of the morning or oh so late in the evening. That’s when the world of Twitter comes into play. The social media outlet is perfect for NASCAR news, no matter the time of day. It’s incredibly easy to …

Read more

Fire on Fridays: Talladega Always the Ultimate Form of Entertainment

2019 Talladega Mencs Pack Cck

(Photo: Christian Koelle)

For the past few years, the argument of NASCAR heading in the direction of entertainment rather than pure racing has been met with mixed emotions. It’s the traditionalists clashing with the newer fans. Like it or not, the sanctioning body is going in the direction of the former, opting for the current rules package (higher downforce, lower …

Read more

Fire on Fridays: Next Gen Car Needs to Suit Fans Old & New

2018 Chicago Cup Pack Racing Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Next Gen (formerly known as Gen 7) NASCAR racecar finally took its first laps on a racetrack this week. Austin Dillon and his Richard Childress Racing squad were the lucky folks to be the first ones to test the car this week at Richmond Raceway, with little to no concrete expectations entering the test. …

Read more

Fire on Fridays: Is The Pay To Play Era In NASCAR Ending?

Ross Chastain Daytona Watermeln

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

As long as racing has been in existence, money has been paramount. That will never change, but as of late, the concept seems to be morphing to some degree. When the sport was at its peak in the early-to-mid 2000s, sponsors aplenty came into NASCAR like clockwork. Heck, I can only imagine what it’d be …

Read more

Fire on Fridays: Roush’s Rejuvenation

2019 Las Vegas I Cup Chris Buescher Flamingo Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Jack Roush has spoken. Unfortunately, that means the folks at Natty Light might be a bit upset. But bringing Chris Buescher back is the smartest move Roush Fenway Racing could make for its Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. While it might be a surprise, considering that Buescher and Roush both claimed they officially split ways …

Read more