Race Weekend Central

Odds & Ends Around the Track: ISM Elimination Edition

2019 Phoenix I Cup Pack Racing Nkp

While everyone talks about “Game Seven Moments” in stick-and-ball sports, sometimes the most exciting are the Game Six elimination moments. One team has the advantage but wants to finish off their opponent, while the other team is in that win-or-else mode. This weekend at ISM Raceway in Phoenix, we will see that win-or-else mode play …

Read more

Odds & Ends Around the Track: Everything’s Bigger in Texas Edition

Rodney Childers and Kevin Harvick look on in 2019 Cup Michigan race. Photo: NKP

(Photo: NKP)

Everything is bigger in Texas, and nobody finds more ways to entertain NASCAR fans than Eddie Gossage at Texas Motor Speedway. In the NFL, they talk about coaches being from either the Bill Belichick or the Sean McVay coaching trees. In racetrack promotion, they talk about the Humpy Wheeler promotion tree. Mr. Gossage has been …

Read more

Odds & Ends Around the Track: Elimination Edition

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The NASCAR playoffs are heating up this weekend. The first cut from 16 to 12 drivers sometimes eliminates a true contender, but usually it just erases the championship pretenders. But this week, after the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway, we will see some of the top teams end their title hopes. The …

Read more

Odds & Ends Around the Track: Hold Your Breath Edition

2019 Talladega Cup Mencs Zach Catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Why did they build full-sized seats at Talladega Superspeedway? Nobody uses more than the edge of their seat all day. This is not a race – this is an experience. Many years ago, I had the pleasure of hosting a VIP experience for fans in the infield at Talladega. I am not sure I saw …

Read more

Odds & Ends Around the Track: ROVAL Time

2018 Cup Charlotte Roval Zach Catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

This weekend’s race on the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL separates the old-school fans from the newer NASCAR fans quicker than anything else does in the sport. Most of the old-school fans like me look at the ROVAL as a gimmick. I have no problem with including a road course in the NASCAR playoffs, but this …

Read more

Odds & Ends Around the Track: Richmond Edition

2019 Cup Richmond Zach Catanzareti Restart

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Richmond Raceway is one of my all-time favorite tracks on the NASCAR circuit, but they need to officially drop one of their nicknames. Its original nickname of “Strawberry Hill” is fine, even if I don’t automatically think of Richmond, Virginia, when I think of strawberries. “America’s Premier Short Track” is fine too, although I know …

Read more

Odds & Ends Around the Track: Viva Las Vegas Edition

2019 Las Vegas I Cup Ryan Blaney Joey Logano Racing Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Do the NASCAR playoffs do anything for you? Maybe I am too old-fashioned, but having a one-race, winner-take-all race just doesn’t do it for me. The concept to have more “Game 7 moments” in the sport was to generate more interest. But television ratings are only big for big races, not for the playoffs. It …

Read more

Odds & Ends Around the Track: Brickyard Edition

2017 Indianapolis Motor Speedway Mencs Kyle Busch Kevin Harvick Photo Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

In NASCAR racing, there is always this tendency to repeat mistakes. There was a time when night races were rare and very popular. Now, we have so many night races, the originals aren’t special any more. Darlington Raceway came up with a unique and clever idea with the Throwback Weekend. Now, people are saying there …

Read more

Odds & Ends Around the Track: Darlington Edition

2018 Darlington Cup Zach Catanzareti Brad Keselowski

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Nothing beats the anticipation of the beginning of the season and the thrill of the Great American Race — the Daytona 500. We waited all winter for it, and it’s a sign that spring is on the way when NASCAR returns. But a close second to the excitement of the Daytona 500 is the anticipation …

Read more

Odds & Ends Around the Track: Last Week Off Edition

2019 Mencs Bristol Matt Dibenedetto Face Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Is anyone else going to enjoy a weekend off from Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series racing? Me neither, I was only checking on you. Real NASCAR fans would love to see 52 weeks of NASCAR Cup racing. But the competitors do need a break, and maybe the reality is that a little less NASCAR racing …

Read more