Race Weekend Central

The Frontstretch 5: Thoughts on Kenseth, Bayne, and a Few Other Things

1. How much magic will there be? Once upon a time, Matt Kenseth and Roush Fenway Racing made a lot of magic together. 24 of Kenseth’s 39 Cup wins came in a Roush Ford, along with his 2003 title, which is often (unfairly) maligned as the title run that forced the playoff system on the …

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The Frontstretch 5: Hard NASCAR Questions

2018 Cup Bristol Zach Catanzareti Darrell Wallace Jr.

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

1. What happened to loyalty? It seems like loyalty in NASCAR is becoming a thing of the past as a changing business model takes effect. At least to the naked eye, drivers seem to be the most loyal of the driver-team-sponsor triumvirate. You don’t see drivers walking out all that often in comparison to teams …

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The Frontstretch 5: Easy Fixes for What Pains NASCAR

2018 Las Vegas I Cup Air Wrench Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

1. This air wrench deal There is a myriad of issues NASCAR fans have been vocal about as of late, and not all of them are easy fixes. Some should be exceedingly easy, even if that means admitting mistakes were made, while others are complicated. There are a few changes that could be made either …

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The Frontstretch 5: NASCAR Teams Who Need a Turnaround in 2018

2018 Cup Martinsville Zach Catanzareti Ricky Stenhouse Jr

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Hendrick Motorsports Just a few weeks ago, it was easy to explain the organization’s struggles: it was too early to tell; Chevrolet is behind the curve – which may still be the case; the team has two new drivers. And the thing is, all of that is completely true. But looking at the big picture, …

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The Frontstretch 5: Things That Have Happened Between Clint Bowyer’s Most Recent Wins

2012 Charlotte Ii Cup Clint Bowyer Celebratesnigel Kinrade Autostock

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/Autostock)

1. More than half the field from the 2012 Bank of America 500 is no longer racing in the Cup Series Take a look at the field for the 2012 Bank of America 500. One thing fans will be sure to notice is the number of drivers who have exited the Cup ranks since that …

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The Frontstretch 5: Inspection Pieces to Inspect Further

2017 Indianapolis Cup Aj Allmendinger Pack Racing Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

1. The team factor At the end of every day, when all is said and done, an inspection failure is on the team.  NASCAR took a lot of flack last weekend when 13 cars failed to make it through pre-qualifying tech at Fontana, but it’s not the sanctioning body’s responsibility to make sure teams make …

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The Frontstretch 5: Reasons Not to Take NASCAR Too Seriously

2018 Las Vegas I Cup Kevin Harvick Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

  1. Every race ticket comes with a free cold shower Aside from the racing, people-watching is the most entertaining thing you can do at the racetrack. This story happened when I was a kid in the grandstands at Richmond Raceway. The race had just ended and people were filing out, but my dad and …

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The Frontstretch 5: Early NASCAR Hall of Fame Picks

2016 Pocono Ii Cup Jeff Gordon Helmet Matthew Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

The nominee list for the next NASCAR Hall of Fame class was released on Tuesday, and it’s an intriguing group for many reasons.  More nominees have begun to emerge from outside the national touring series, and while there are still some pioneers on the list who are deserving, voters have done a solid job of …

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The Frontstretch 5: Numbers to Know as NASCAR Hits Las Vegas

2015 Las Vegas Cup Kevin Harvick Wins Race Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

1. 29 That’s the number of drivers who have won a Cup Series race on a 1.5-mile track since 2000, encompassing the careers of every active winning driver. It might seem like a lot, but that’s over the course of 151 total races. That includes just 13 active drivers. When you break it down to …

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The Frontstretch 5: Things We Know After Daytona

2017 Richmond Ii Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr Aric Almirola Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

1. Aric Almirola is an excellent plate racer This fact isn’t news to those who have been paying attention to the new driver of the No. 10. But for so many, Daytona was the first time Almirola made an appearance on the radar. Remember, Almirola’s only Cup win to date came at Daytona in 2014. …

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The Frontstretch 5: Big Questions as NASCAR Opens 2018

2017 Daytona Ii Nxs Pack Racing Nigel Kinrade Nkp

Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

1. Will the Camaro put Chevrolet back in the game? As a whole, Chevrolet teams struggled in 2017.  Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott carried the banner for the manufacturer, but this make wasn’t represented in the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.  The Camaro, which replaces the discontinued SS in the Cup Series this year, put …

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The Frontstretch 5: Ways to Say Goodbye

Cup 2017 Homestead Zach Catanzareti Dale Earnhardt Jr. Matt Kenseth

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

1. Dale Earnhardt Jr. More than 15 years after being thrust into NASCAR’s brightest spotlight after the untimely death of his father, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has grown up and come into his own. He connected with fans in a way that’s become increasingly rare in sports: as a genuine, relatable person.  His Southern drawl and …

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