Race Weekend Central

5 Points To Ponder: Thank You, Danica Patrick

2017 Kansas I Cup Danica Patrick Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

ONE: Thanks, Danica In the end, it was not the glorious finish Danica Patrick would have scripted to end her long and trailblazing racing career. An unexpected spin and wreck on lap 68 saw her final race, the 102nd running of the Indy 500, end with a violent collision in the outer wall. “I’m not …

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5 Points to Ponder: The Best Day in Motorsports

Austin Dillon Crew Celebration Charlotte Cup 2017 Yvonne Leonard

(Photo: Yvonne Leonard)

ONE: The Streets of Monaco Starting off the best day in Motorsports it’s the historic Monaco Grand Prix, a race first run in 1929. Heading into the fifth event on the 21-race 2018 Formula One schedule, 2017 champion McLaren’s own Lewis Hamilton sits atop the points standings having won the two previous races with a …

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5 Points To Ponder: Lack of Luster for NASCAR All-Star Race

2017 Charlotte All Star Cup Kyle Busch Checkered Flag Nkp

(Photo: NKP)

ONE: NASCAR All-Star Lack of Luster Next up on the schedule, it’s a pause in the regular season for the 2018 All-Star Race, a misnomer of a race title if ever there was one. Unlike other major sports, we actually see less competitors in NASCAR’s version not to mention a series of often wildly shifting …

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5 Points to Ponder: Return of the Matt

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Can Am 500 Phoenix Raceway, Avondale, Az Usa Sunday 12 November 2017 Matt Kenseth, Joe Gibbs Racing, Circle K Toyota Camry World Copyright: Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

ONE: Return of the Matt This weekend will see the return of a familiar face to Cup racing with a championship resume including 39 wins, 181 top-5’s, 327 top-10’s in 650 starts. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Matt Kenseth makes a welcome comeback in the number six Ford Fusion of Roush Fenway Racing at Kansas …

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5 Points To Ponder: Talladega Teamwork Carries Joey Logano, Ford

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Daytona 500 Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fl Usa Sunday 18 February 2018 Ryan Blaney, Team Penske, Menards/peak Ford Fusion And Brad Keselowski, Team Penske, Discount Tire Ford Fusion World Copyright: Rusty Jarrett Nkp

(Photo: Rusty Jarrett/NKP)

ONE: Fords Fight To The Front At A Plate Race… Again Joey Logano won the battle Sunday (April 29) at Talladega, but Fords won the war. The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race was a master class in a manufacturer sticking together in order to keep their place at the front. Team Penske was first …

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5 Points to Ponder: Matt Kenseth Crashes NASCAR 2018 Party

2017 Fontana Cup Matt Kenseth Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

ONE: Matt Kenseth Returns. To Roush. Say What? Five months after being pushed out of NASCAR, Matt Kenseth is back in the driver’s seat. A Monday night report from SB Nation’s Jordan Bianchi revealed Kenseth is heading back to the organization where he won his 2003 Cup Series championship: Roush Fenway Racing. He’ll share the …

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5 Points To Ponder: The Next NASCAR Most Popular Driver?

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Pennzoil 400 Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, Nv Usa Friday 2 March 2018 Ryan Blaney, Team Penske, Ford Fusion Menards / Pennzoil World Copyright: Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

ONE: Blaney’s win will come For the third time this season, Ryan Blaney led a ton of laps in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series but ultimately did not get the result he would have wanted. While lapping traffic from the race lead at Bristol Motor Speedway, Blaney was caught up in a wreck absolutely …

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5 Points To Ponder: Joey Logano’s Comeback Year?

2018 Las Vegas I Cup Joey Logano Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

ONE: Mario Andretti, A True Racing Legend On the Thursday prior to last weekend’s second race of the season at ISM Raceway, the IndyCar community celebrated: “A Night To Remember.” It was the 25th anniversary of racing great Mario Andretti’s final IndyCar victory. Now 78 years old (his last win came at age 53) one of …

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5 Points to Ponder: Starting the NASCAR Engines Back Up

Morgan Shepherd

(Photo: John K Harrelson / NKP)

ONE: Stewart-Haas dominance in the early going Two months into the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, Stewart-Haas Racing has been the sport’s dominant team. They’ve won four of the six races thus far and have all four drivers inside the top 11 in points. Most everyone would have expected multiple race victories from …

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5 Points to Ponder: A Lowe’s Blow

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Ticketguardian 500 Ism Raceway, Phoenix, Az Usa Sunday 11 March 2018 Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro Lowe's For Pros World Copyright: Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

ONE: A Lowe’s Blow The biggest NASCAR news last week came off the racetrack with an announcement Lowe’s will leave the sport at the end of this season. It’s a name brand that’s been synonymous with success in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Involved at the Cup level for two decades, they’ve been primary …

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5 Points to Ponder: Vets, Rookies & the Power of Twitter

2017 Kansas I Cup Jamie Mcmurray Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

ONE: Harvick’s Not the Champ Just Yet Four weeks into the new season and you’d be forgiven for thinking this is the Monster Energy NASCAR Harvick Cup, especially given dominance of the Stewart-Haas veteran who has won three straight following the season-opening Daytona 500. Making matters more concerning for the chasing pack, Kevin Harvick has …

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5 Points To Ponder: Dominant Harvick Tremendous… Or Tiresome For NASCAR?

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Folds Of Honor Quik Trip 500 Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, Ga Usa Sunday 25 February 2018 Kevin Harvick, Stewart Haas Racing, Jimmy John's Ford Fusion Wins World Copyright: Rusty Jarrett Nkp

(Photo: Rusty Jarrett/NKP)

ONE: Harvick On Pace For Record-Setting Start Slaughter, rinse, repeat. For a second straight week, Kevin Harvick laid waste to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series field driving a car levels above the competition. Speed, handling, restarts – you name it, Harvick had the edge. Only pit road kept him from leading 240-250 laps; if not for …

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