Race Weekend Central

James Small Named Martin Truex Jr.’s Crew Chief for 2020

2019 Phoenix Mencs Martin Truex, Jr. Car Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Joe Gibbs Racing has chosen to promote from within to replace the recently departed Cole Pearn as the crew chief of the No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry team. James Small will serve as the crew chief for the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr. in 2020, the team announced Thursday, Dec. …

Read more

2019 NASCAR Driver Reviews: Gaunt Brothers Racing

2019 Cup Atlanta Zach Catanzareti Parker Kligerman

Atlanta Motor Speedway, February 2019. (Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Gaunt Brothers Racing reduced the number of races they ran in 2019 in the NASCAR Cup Series, as well as the number of drivers. In return, Parker Kligerman and Drew Herring helped bring more consistent results and improved performance to the No. 96 Toyota Camry. The 2019 campaign started with jubilation and record finishes for …

Read more

2019 NASCAR Driver Reviews: Landon Cassill

2019 Cup Atlanta Zach Catanzareti Landon Cassill

Atlanta Motor Speedway, February 2019. (Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Fan favorite Landon Cassill returned to the NASCAR Cup Series as a full-time driver for StarCom Racing in 2019, racing with a charter that had been acquired from Richard Childress Racing. In addition to the charter, StarCom received technical support from RCR and engines from ECR. It came to no one’s surprise when Cassill was …

Read more

Busch, Coca-Cola, GEICO & Xfinity Are NASCAR’s Premier Cup Partners for 2020

2019 Nascar Cup Series Logo Announcement Nascar Media

(Photo: NASCAR Media)

NASCAR revealed the premier sponsorship partners beginning in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season on Thursday, Dec. 5. The Cup Series shifts from a title sponsor series to a tiered sponsorship model in 2020, and the four cornerstone brands, called premier partners, will be Busch Beer, Coca-Cola, GEICO and Xfinity. “In addition to the establishment …

Read more

A Rare Gut Feeling Tells Jimmie Johnson ‘It’s Time’ to Retire

2019 Bristol Zach Catanzareti Jimmie Johnson

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

The feeling Jimmie Johnson had been waiting for to decide on his future as a full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver arrived as the calendar flipped from September to October 2019. And it was a feeling that he hadn’t experienced in many years. “It was such a profound moment that I really take it back to …

Read more

Friday Faceoff: Did Kyle Busch Have a Championship-Caliber Season?

2019homesteadmencskylebuschpolishvictorylanecck

Did Kyle Busch have a championship-caliber Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season? Matt McLaughlin: Yes; his second title was more legitimate than the first one. I’m still a fan of a champion being crowned for a full season’s worth of points, but that’s not how the rulebook reads anymore. Kyle Busch‘s second half of the season …

Read more

Tyler Reddick Fastest in Rain-Shortened Xfinity Homestead Practice

Nascar Xfinity Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Mother nature did not cooperate for the NASCAR Xfinity Series on Friday (Nov. 15). The first of two scheduled practices for the Ford EcoBoost 300 was red-flagged 13 minutes into the session and never restarted after it was declared complete with four minutes remaining. The rain continued to fall, and final practice for the Xfinity …

Read more

Grant Enfinger, Stewart Friesen Lead Homestead Truck Series Practices

2019 Michigan Ngots Grant Enfinger Regular Season Championship Burnout Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Grant Enfinger and Stewart Friesen turned the fastest laps in their respective practices on Friday (Nov. 15) at Homestead-Miami Speedway for the Ford EcoBoost 200. Following first practice, Enfinger topped the charts, clocking in at 168.010 mph. Brett Moffitt was second with a speed of 167.639 mph and Austin Hill was third at 167.162 mph. …

Read more

Friday Faceoff: Is ISM Raceway a Better Finale Venue Than Homestead?

Phoenix

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Is moving the NASCAR championship races from Homestead-Miami Speedway to ISM Raceway beginning in 2020 an improvement, downgrade or lateral move? Adam Cheek: Lateral move. I preferred the championship being at a track the series only visits once per year, but I enjoy ISM and think it’s a decent venue for the season finale. There are …

Read more

Stewart Friesen Clinches Championship 4 Spot with Win at ISM Raceway

Nascar Gander Outdoors Truck Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Stewart Friesen held off a hard-charging Brandon Jones to win his second career NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series race in the Lucas Oil 150 at ISM Raceway on Friday night (Nov. 8). Friesen had to work hard to capture his first pavement win, however, as he was penalized for beating the polesitter, Austin Hill, to …

Read more

Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott Top the Cup Series Practice Charts

2019 Phoenix Mencs Kyle Busch Car Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott were the fastest drivers in a pair of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practices at ISM Raceway on Friday (Nov. 8) for the Bluegreen Vacations 500. Opening Practice  After the conclusion of the first practice session of the afternoon, Busch was at the top of the chart with a speed …

Read more