Race Weekend Central

The 12: NASCAR Power Rankings, Bank of America ROVAL 400 Edition

2019 ROVAL MENCS Martin Truex, Jr. Car NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

So, you stuff it in the wall and your day is over. Well, that is not quite how the script read for Georgia’s favorite son. Daunted by an embarassing mistake that put the No. 9 behind the eight ball, Chase Elliott rallied to win the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series’ Bank of America ROVAL 400 …

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The 12: NASCAR Power Rankings Federated Auto Parts 400 Edition

2019 NASCAR Cup starting grid

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

In a throwback to the 1985 Indianapolis 500, Martin Truex Jr. did his best impression of Danny Sullivan’s “spin and win” as the New Jersian took the top step of the podium at Richmond Raceway for his second consecutive victory. Can Truex make it three-for-three in the first round of the playoffs this weekend at …

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The 12: NASCAR Power Rankings South Point 400 Edition

2019 Las Vegas MENCS Martin Truex, Jr. Car NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The popularity of roller coasters is often attributed to the thrills, exhilaration, speed, and sharp and often sudden inclines and declines. While theme park enthusiasts love the twists and turns that these towering hunks of steel give them, Martin Truex Jr. wasn’t so keen on those twists and turns at Las Vegas Motor Speedway as …

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The 12: NASCAR Power Rankings Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard Edition

2019 Indianapolis MENCS Kevin Harvick Car NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

To simply put it, no one could catch Kevin Harvick last Sunday at the Brickyard. The No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford was out front for 118 of the 160 circuits around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Will such a dominating performance continue this weekend in Las Vegas? A rare engine failure for Kyle Busch on lap …

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The 12: NASCAR Power Rankings Bojangles Southern 500 Edition

2019 Darlington MENCS Kyle Busch Car NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

It was an all-nighter for the top stars of NASCAR at Darlington Raceway this past weekend. In the wee hours of the morning, Kyle Busch clinched the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series regular-season championship despite having multiple forays with the Lady in Black’s enticing wall. Can he go two-for-two and claim his second overall …

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The 12: NASCAR’s Top Up-and-Coming Drivers

2019 Texas GOTS Tyler Ankrum NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

After the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series took a back seat to enjoy the off week, all focus turned to stars of the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series as they navigated the twists and turns of Road America and Canadian Tire Motorsports Park. With the added attention, many competitors in …

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The 12: NASCAR Power Rankings Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race Edition

2019 Michigan MENCS Denny Hamlin Face NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Much to the exasperation of many fans packed into Bristol Motor Speedway last weekend, Denny Hamlin overcame several problems to claim his fourth victory of the season. Is Hamlin potentially the hottest driver going into the playoffs? Chase Elliott has been relatively quiet since his big win at Watkins Glen. Another quiet top five at …

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The 12: NASCAR Power Rankings Consumers Energy 400 Edition

2019 Michigan MENCS Kyle Busch Face NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Kevin Harvick outlasted the competition on fuel mileage to claim the victory in the Consumers Energy 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Is Harvick all of a sudden heating up charged for another championship run? On paper, Brad Keselowski may have had the best car at Michigan to grab a much-needed victory. Since Keselowski has not …

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The 12: NASCAR Power Rankings Go Bowling at the Glen Edition

2019 Watkins Glen MENCS Chase Elliott Victory Lane NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

There were people that said it was going to be tough for Chase Elliott to have a better performance this year at Watkins Glen than last year when he held off Martin Truex Jr to win his first-ever career victory in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Elliott, once again, proved people wrong. The Dawsonville, …

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The 12: NASCAR Power Rankings Gander RV 400 Edition

2019 Pocono MENCS Denny Hamlin Victory Lane NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

When most people think of the racing at Pocono, they think of a snooze fest or a boring afternoon where the cars run single-file after the first few laps of a restart. But this past Sunday was not the Pocono we have seen for the past few years. With the addition of the PJ1 surface …

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The 12: NASCAR Power Rankings Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 Edition

2019 Loudon MENCS Kevin Harvick Victory Lane Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

For Kevin Harvick, everyone knew it was coming. We just didn’t know when. New Hampshire was when. Harvick broke a 22-race winless streak and the first for his Stewart-Haas Racing team in 2019. While Harvick was in victory lane, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch were frustrated over their races as Hamlin led 113 laps but …

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The 12: NASCAR Power Rankings Quaker State 400 Edition

2019 Kentucky MENCS Kyle Busch Driver Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Kurt Busch got some redemption on Saturday night. While lightning struck in Daytona, costing him a potential victory, he was sure not going to be denied in Kentucky. The elder Busch got his first victory of the season as well as bragging rights over beating his little brother for the win. How will this translate …

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