Race Weekend Central

4 Burning Questions: Finally, the Rock Has Come Back?

2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rockingham

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Are two dead racetracks returning to NASCAR? This week, it was revealed by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper that a portion of the American Relief Plan allocated to the state, $30 million in total, would be awarded to three racetracks located in the state: Rockingham Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway and, surprisingly, North Wilkesboro Speedway. There …

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NASCAR Stat Sheet: 103 Checkered Flags at Dover

Kyle Larson leads the field in the Drydene 400 at Dover International Speedway, May 2021.

(Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

Hendrick Motorsports was able to achieve something that only Roush Fenway Racing had achieved in 60 years of NASCAR Cup racing: field the first four finishers in a race. Some fans, however, may remember another team in recent years almost marking the same accomplishment. In September 2019, Joe Gibbs Racing entered Richmond Raceway having won …

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4 Burning Questions: Should NASCAR Limit Cup Organizations to 2 Teams?

Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch talk before 2021 Bristol Motor Speedway dirt race Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Should NASCAR further limit an organization’s car count? Last year, I wrote a column about what my vision for NASCAR would be in 10 years’ time. One of what I feel were one of the more interesting things I wrote about at the time was the idea of NASCAR going to more of a rigid …

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NASCAR 101: The 5 Best — & 5 Worst — Throwback Paint Schemes

2020 Darlington III fall Reed Sorensen throwback car NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

It’s throwback weekend at Darlington Raceway. The concept seems to be starting to wear out just a bit. In fact, the vast majority of Cup throwbacks this year are either bad or just average. All of the truly great NASCAR schemes have been done to death, and very few sponsors want to actually throwback to …

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4 Burning Questions: Will the SRX Format Be Successful?

2022 NASCAR Cup Next-Gen-Ford-Mustang-Driver-Side

(Photo: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images via NASCAR Media)

Will the SRX Format be successful? Superstar Racing Experience released its race and points format on Thursday, and the results are a bit questionable. Timed races seem like not a great idea, judging by how they were received in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series a few years ago. At the same time, SRX also …

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4 Burning Questions: The Vaccine Column

#16: A.J. Allmendinger, Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet Camaro Ellsworth Advisors and #11: Justin Haley, Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet Camaro LeafFilter Gutter Protection at Homestead-Miami Speedway, March 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What is the COVID situation currently? It has now been two weeks since the COVID-19 vaccines were made available to all adults in the United States, and it’s clear that the key to getting this virus under control is getting as many people as possible vaccinated. This is certainly not a political issue. Regardless of …

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Charlie Glotzbach Passes Away At 82

(Photo: Brandon Reed Collection)

(Photo: Brandon Reed Collection)

“Chargin’” Charlie Glotzbach, four time NASCAR Cup Series winner, passed away on Friday at the age of 82. Glotzbach enjoyed success on a part-time basis in a career spanning four decades, with his first start coming in the 1960 fall event at Charlotte Motor Speedway at age 22 and his final appearance in a Cup …

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4 Burning Questions: Is Chase Elliott Underperforming as Champion?

Chase Elliott at Martinsville

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What is a Pearson Grade? A couple of years ago, I created a metric using loop data called a Pearson Grade. Every driver has a Pearson Grade, and it is determined after a race. Simply put, it is the difference between a driver’s average running position, or ARP, and a driver’s average finishing position, or …

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4 Burning Questions: Reviewing SRX’s Broadcast Team

James Hinchcliffe at 2019 Texas IndyCar race Photo: IndyCar Meda

(Photo: IndyCar Media)

How will SRX’s broadcast crew work out? This week, CBS Sports announced its on-air talent for their broadcasts of Superstar Racing Experience this summer. The six-race season, held over six consecutive Saturday nights, will be anchored by Allen Bestwick as the play-by-play announcer and Lindsey Czarniak as the host of the program. Brad Daugherty has …

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4 Burning Questions: Chatter About Charters

Bubba Wallace races at Phoenix in No. 23 23XI Toyota 2021 spring Cup NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What is the state of team ownership in NASCAR? Right now, there are currently 17 NASCAR race teams operating the 36 Cup Series charters. It is expected that NASCAR’s next TV contract will see an increase in rights fees being paid, as this column elaborated on last month after both the NHL and NFL signed …

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4 Burning Questions: Can Denny Hamlin Win It All?

Denny Hamlin FedEx No. 11 races with Bubba Wallace's McDonald's No. 23 at 2021 Atlanta spring Cup race NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Can Denny Hamlin win it all this year? It’s clear that Denny Hamlin is going to be the NASCAR Cup Series championship favorite for the rest of this season. Although Hamlin has not been able to win so far this year, he has six top-five finishes in seven starts so far this year, with his …

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4 Burning Questions: It’s Dirt, Baby

dirt racing

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

Go cars go? NASCAR is going racing in the Windy City… virtually. Earlier this week, NASCAR announced that the Pro Invitational Series will be racing on the Chicago Street Course. By all accounts, this racetrack is going to at least look absolutely beautiful. NASCAR really picked the best layout possible when it comes to getting …

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