Race Weekend Central

Friday Faceoff: Do NASCAR’s New Rules Go Too Far?

2016 Xfinity Homestead Miami Speedway Zach Catanzareti Kyle Larson

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

NASCAR implemented some new penalties for 2017, including immediate consequences for some infractions. Kyle Larson was parked during the Advance Auto Parts Clash for having too many men over the wall making repairs to his car, one of the new provisions.  Are the new, stiffer penalties a good deterrent to breaking the rules, or do …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not: Bring On NASCAR 2017

Johnson Larson Patrick Daytona

It’s true NASCAR has the shortest offseason of any major sport. But really, why does it seem like forever between the season finale at Homestead and the start of Daytona Speedweeks? It’s just 90 days, far shorter than the end of the Super Bowl and the start of NFL Training Camps midsummer. For me, the …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not: NASCAR Championship Edition

2016 Indianapolis Cup Jimmie Johnson Hat Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

The final race of the season ended with the kind of drama that NASCAR could only hope for when it devised the Chase system, and especially this current Chase system. There was no ceremonial ride around for 267 laps for the champion as there had been at times when the championship was all but won …

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Friday Faceoff: Enough of a Sendoff for Smoke?

2016 Kentucky Cup Tony Stewart Helmet Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell Labounty/NKP)

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is now a year into the caution clock rule.  Did it work as advertised, and should NASCAR consider it in the XFINITY and Cup series? Jeff Wolfe, Senior Writer: I’m not sure if it’s the best idea for the XFINITY or Cup series, but I have liked the way …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in NASCAR: Desert/Dessert Edition

Tony Stewart

Photo: Zach Catanzareti

NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series made its final trip West for the 2016 season with a lot on the line. Six drivers sparred for just two remaining spots in Arizona to run for the championship this coming week at Homestead. Four of them were left feeling like they were stuck in the desert, where this Phoenix event just happened to be …

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Friday Faceoff: Does NASCAR Need a New Tire War?

2016 Phoenix I Cup Jimmie Johnson Chase Elliott Pack Racing Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

The question of whether or not Chase races should be rain-shortened arose once again this week after rain cut the AAA Texas 500 41 laps short.  Is there anything NASCAR could have done differently to get the race in, or is the outcome acceptable as is? Jeff Wolfe, Senior Writer: I don’t think there is …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in NASCAR: Rainy Nights Edition

2016 Nascar Sprint Cup Series, Texas

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Sometimes the rain taketh away and sometimes it giveth. Carl Edwards was glad to be on the good side of that precipitation equation in what turned out to be a Sunday night race at Texas Motor Speedway following rain and a slow-drying track. With his victory, Edwards has joined Jimmie Johnson to make up two of …

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Friday Faceoff: Are Jimmie Johnson’s Titles Equal to Earnhardt’s and Petty’s?

2016 Indianapolis Cup Jimmie Johnson Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

After his win at Martinsville Speedway, Jimmie Johnson will have the chance at a record-tying seventh title, but if he wins, will fans view seven Chase-era titles as equal to those of Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty?  Should they? Amy Henderson, Senior Editor: I don’t think fans will view Jimmie Johnson’s titles on the same …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in NASCAR: Trick or Treat Edition

Jimmie Johnson Sunlight Burnout Martinsville Cup 2016 Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

The first race in the third round of the Chase was a bit of a treat for some drivers and teams and maybe a bit of trick for others trying to become one of the four drivers to compete for the title in Homestead later this month. And of course, one of those drivers is …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not: Waiting For The Big One Edition

2016 Pocono Ii Cup Joey Logano John Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John Harrelson/NKP)

When it comes to restrictor place races at Talladega and Daytona, the big question is, when will the big one happen? As in, when will we see a big crash with at least seven or eight cars involved. If you were waiting on that to happen during Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at Talladega, then you …

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