Race Weekend Central

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2019 Brickyard 400

2019 Indianapolis MENCS Kevin Harvick Victory Lane NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Headline(s): A series of hard wrecks and hair-raising restarts made Sunday (Sept. 8) one of the wilder Brickyard 400s in recent memory. One of them involved Jimmie Johnson, whose spin in front of nearly the whole field ended his 15-year streak of NASCAR postseason appearances. Clint Bowyer and Ryan Newman were then able to …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2019 Southern 500

2019 Darlington MENCS Erik Jones Burnout NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Headline(s): “When I met you, I was but the learner. Now I am the master.” Erik Jones may not have the stature of Darth Vader in Cup racing, but on this Sunday night, he bested mentor Kyle Busch in a crown jewel race, forcing the No. 18 into a late-race mistake that allowed Jones …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2019 Bristol Night Race

2019 MENCS Bristol Denny Hamlin Burnout NKP

Denny Hamlin filling Bristol with the scent of rubber (Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Headline(s): Rebounding from early crash damage and a loose wheel that trapped the team a lap down in the second stage, Denny Hamlin used a long green-flag run to run down Matt DiBenedetto at Bristol Motor Speedway, ruining a Cinderella story by making the final pass for the lead on lap 489 and driving …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2019 Consumers Energy 400

2019 Michigan MENCS Kevin Harvick Victory Celebration NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Headline(s): Last week at Watkins Glen International, Chase Elliott repeated as the defending Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series winner at the road course. This week at Michigan International Speedway? Kevin Harvick, who won the 2018 edition of this race, scored his second 2019 win in four weeks in what turned into a fuel mileage …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2019 Go Bowling at the Glen

2019 Watkins Glen MENCS Chase Elliott Victory Celebration NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Headline(s): What difference does a year make? None at Watkins Glen International. Capping a dominant run from the pole that saw him win both stages of the Go Bowling at the Glen, Chase Elliott snapped a two-month cold streak with his second consecutive win at the road course, keeping a hard-charging Martin Truex, Jr. …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2019 Gander RV 400 at Pocono

2019 Pocono MENCS Erik Jones Racing Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

The Headline(s): After a late-race wreck involving Kurt Busch and Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. (more on that later), Denny Hamlin prevailed on an overtime restart and held off teammate Erik Jones to win his fifth career race at Pocono, scoring his third win of 2019, the 34th Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series win and 53rd NASCAR …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2019 Foxwood Resort Casino 301 at Loudon

2019 Loudon MENCS Kevin Harvick Victory Lane Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Author’s Note: In remembrance of Nick Harrison, the Kaulig Racing crew chief who tragically passed away prior to Sunday’s Cup race at Loudon, “let’s go hauling balls.” The Headline(s): Though a crippled Austin Dillon did everything he could to obstruct Kevin Harvick (more on that later), Harvick was able to withstand two bump-and-run attempts from Denny …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2019 Quaker State 400 at Kentucky

2019 Kentucky MENCS Kurt Busch Victory Celebration Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Headline(s): The “Battle of the Brothers” ain’t just for college football in Utah anymore. This Saturday night, it found a new home in the Bluegrass state. After a 70-plus lap green flag run was interrupted on lap 262 by a Bubba Wallace spin that took the race into overtime, older brother Kurt Busch bested …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2019 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona

daytona coke zero 400 wreck

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

The Headline(s): With weather impending after a lap 119 wreck, Kurt Busch came to pit road after NASCAR gave the one-to-go command, handing the race lead to Justin Haley. NASCAR then reversed course and kept the race under yellow after lightning reportedly struck within eight miles of Daytona International Speedway, necessitating a red flag that …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2019 Camping World 400 at Chicagoland

2019 Chicagoland MENCS Alex Bowman Victory Lane NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Headline(s): After getting passed by Kyle Larson on lap 256 and appearing destined for another crushing runner-up finish, Alex Bowman regrouped clear of lapped traffic, built a killer run and got around Larson in turn 4 on lap 262, driving away to his first career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victory after a three-plus …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2019 Toyota/Save Mart 350k at Sonoma

Sonoma Kyle Busch

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

The Headline(s): Toyota absolutely dominated their namesake race, with Martin Truex, Jr. leading 58 of 90 laps to score a comfortable win over teammate Kyle Busch, his fourth victory of 2019, his 23rd in Cup and his 36th career NASCAR national series triumph.  Now THAT’s the way a @ToyotaRacing #Camry is supposed to look! Nice …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2019 FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan

2019 Michigan I CUP Joey Logano burnout NKP

The Headline(s): Just like Martinsville, a Penske Ford proved all but impassable at the front of the field, though this time it was Joey Logano. And just like Richmond, though both Martin Truex, Jr. and Kurt Busch were able to catch the leader in the closing laps, none was able to get alongside the No. …

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