Race Weekend Central

Xfinity Breakdown: Allmendinger’s Loose Wheel & Spin Aids Hemric’s Championship

2021 Xfinity Phoenix AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet (Credit: NKP)

Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

With just over 20 laps to go in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway Saturday night (Nov. 6), Austin Cindric boasted a two-second lead. While the margin between him and second place shrunk a bit while navigating lapped traffic, the championship looked to be his to lose. Well, there’s an old saying: …

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Xfinity Breakdown: Daniel Hemric Advances, But Late Caution Thwarts Another Victory

Daniel Hemric Martinsville 2021 Xfinity pack racing NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Austin Cindric and AJ Allmendinger each entered Saturday’s (Oct. 30) NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Martinsville Speedway 47 points above the cutline. Race smart and complete all the laps meant they were likely racing for a championship next weekend. After stage two, both received the notification they were locked in the Championship 4 race at …

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Friday Faceoff: Are Tracks Dropping the Ball When Marketing Their Events?

Kyle Larson leads a pack cars at Texas Motor Speedway, October 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Former drivers Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr and Clint Bowyer tested the NASCAR Cup Series’ Next Gen car at Bowman Gray Stadium Oct. 26. Should NASCAR race there? Luken Glover: Absolutely! Tracks like Rockingham Speedway, North Wilkesboro Speedway and Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville have topped my list, but if Bowman Gray is a realistic possibility, it immediately …

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Xfinity Breakdown: Tires, Non-Playoff Drivers Affect the Playoff Picture After Kansas

Ty Gibbs celebrates in victory lane after winning 2021 NASCAR Xfinity race at Kansas, NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

There’s no place like Kansas. Since the playoffs were introduced to the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2016, Kansas Speedway has been a Round of 8 race. And every year since 2016, no fewer than five playoff drivers have suffered issues. Saturday’s (Oct. 23) Kansas Lottery 300 saw six drivers experience something that put a kink …

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Friday Faceoff: Does an Underperforming Team Deserve to Lose Its Charter?

Cody Ware No. 51 Rick Ware Racing car at Texas Motor Speedway NASCAR All-Star Open, NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

With Kyle Larson locked into the Championship 4, should the No. 5 car help to get teammate and defending champion Chase Elliott in? Stephen Stumpf: Absolutely not. The two may be teammates, but Kyle Larson is having one of the most dominant seasons in the 21st century and should have his eyes focused on his first …

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Friday Faceoff: Which Eliminated Playoff Driver Will Bounce Back Best in 2022?

William Byron’s No. 24 AXALTA rainbow colored Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet racing with Tyler Reddick’s No. 8 Richard Childress Chevy at 2021 Kansas NASCAR Cup race

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

NASCAR VP Scott Miller said the sanctioning body will “do what we think is necessary” to put a stop to the feud between Chase Elliott and Kevin Harvick. Is it time for NASCAR to step in? Josh Roller: I’m neutral on this, because on one hand, the feud is creating a talking point and excitement for …

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Friday Faceoff: Has Time Run Out for NASCAR’s Damaged Vehicle Policy?

#5: Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro Cincinnati on pit road at Talladega fall NASCAR Cup playoff race 2021

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Kyle Larson wound up crashing during a feverish attempt to record a fast enough lap to avoid being parked by the NASCAR damaged vehicle policy in the NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway. Does the current rule need any tweaking? Josh Roller: I’ve noticed when crews are repairing a car while under the clock, they …

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Xfinity Breakdown: Organized Chaos, 1st-Time Winner Highlight Talladega

Talladega Brandon Brown burnout NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Two red flags and extensive cleanup efforts following wrecks slowly decreased the chances that the Sparks 300 at Talladega on Saturday (Oct. 2) would be completed in full. The beneficiary of these delays was Brandon Brown, who was the leader through the most recent scoring loop when the caution was displayed for the final time. A …

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Friday Faceoff: Does NASCAR Have An Electric Future?

NASCAR Next Gen car

(Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Ford announced it will be investing billions into further development and production of electric cars. Does NASCAR have a future with electric racecars? Luken Glover: It’s been rumored that NASCAR was at least once exploring a potential series that was all electric. The possibility of an all-electric series in the near future is very feasible. It …

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Xfinity Breakdown: Josh Berry Spoils Playoffs With Vegas Victory

Josh Berry poses with his trophy after winning the Sept. 2021 race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Turn the clock back to March, race number four of the 2021 season, and you’ll see Josh Berry finished seventh in the first NASCAR Xfinity Series trip to Las Vegas Motor Speedway. At the time, it tied for his best result in a budding NXS career. In the months leading into Saturday’s (Sept. 25) Alsco …

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Friday Faceoff: Would a Move to Streaming Benefit NASCAR?

Martin Truex Jr leads a pack of NASCAR Cup cars at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Streaming could play a larger role in the next NASCAR TV deal. Would the sport benefit from such a move? Dalton Hopkins: Streaming live races could create a cause and effect that gets rid of NASCAR’s controversial stage racing format. It’s a steep slope, but hear me out. With streaming, there’s the benefit of having no …

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Xfinity Breakdown: 2-Lap Grudge Match Settles Bristol; Allmendinger Victorious

AJ Allmendinger and Austin Cindric crashing at the finish line at Bristol Motor Speedway in the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series playoff cut off race, NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

In the first half of Friday’s Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway, it looked as if Justin Allgaier might return to victory lane at Bristol or Daniel Hemric would finally get his first victory. In the second half, Sam Mayer looked to be the favorite before Austin Cindric took control. The driver of the …

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