Race Weekend Central

It’s Official: Carl Edwards Leaves Full-Time NASCAR Racing

2016 Chicago Cup Carl Edwards Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Carl Edwards is walking away. In an emotional press conference at Joe Gibbs Racing Wednesday (Jan. 11), Edwards refused to mention the “R” word but made it official he’s leaving his full-time ride driving the No. 19 ARRIS Toyota. The move, effective immediately, puts Daniel Suarez in the seat full-time, competing for Monster Energy NASCAR …

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Greg Biffle Leaves Roush Fenway Racing; Chris Buescher To JTG?

2016 Michigan I Cup Greg Bifflw Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell Labounty/NKP)

Roush Fenway Racing was the first home Greg Biffle settled on in the Cup Series. For 13 years, it’s been the only place he’s driven, collecting 19 wins, 13 poles, and a runner-up finish in points in 2005. Whether it’s the last place he’ll drive in Cup remains to be seen. Biffle left RFR Monday, ending …

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Cole Whitt: ‘I Just Spun the Tires’

2016 Xfinity Homestead Miami Speedway Zach Catanzareti Cole Whitt

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Cole Whitt chose not to pit in the final five laps at the season-ending NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, vaulting him from the back of the lead lap right into the lead. Moments later, he was vaulted right into the center of controversy. Whitt, whose car was already slower than the drivers who …

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Tracking the Trucks: William Byron Wins Race, Johnny Sauter the Title At Homestead

In A Nutshell: William Byron won the battle while Johnny Sauter won the war. Byron, after watching his title hopes go up in smoke at Phoenix International Raceway, made up for it Friday night. He was half a second faster than the field in practice, fell back in race trim but fought back after Kyle Larson lost track …

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Kevin Harvick Wins Ford 400 Pole While Best Chaser Runs Ninth

2016 Kansas I Cup Kevin Harvick Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Kevin Harvick may not be in the Championship 4 this year. Instead, he’s been busy embracing a new role: championship spoiler. Harvick won the pole for the Ford 400 Sunday in a qualifying session where none of the Chasers placed higher than ninth. His Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet paced the field with a speed of 177.637 mph, …

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Ryan Newman Leads Opening Cup Practice At Homestead

Ryan Newman

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Championship 4? Chase contender? Ryan Newman was never close to either this season, but that didn’t stop the veteran from leading the field during an uneventful NASCAR Sprint Cup Series opening practice at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Newman, posting a speed of 175.387 mph, led the way in his No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet and now …

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2016 Frontstretch Podcast – Episode 27: NASCAR’s Season Finale

2016 Nascar Sprint Cup Series, Phoenix

11-13 November, 2016, Avondale, Arizona USA Joey Logano celebrates his win with a burnout © 2016, Nigel Kinrade NKP

In the final episode of the 2016 Fronstretch Podcast, Matt Stallknecht is joined by Tom Bowles and Aaron Bearden to preview the NASCAR season finale in Homestead, discuss their final thoughts on the 2016 season, evaluate the state of the sport, and look ahead to what is to come in 2017.

Did You Notice? … NASCAR Parity Not the Answer

2016 Pocono I Cup Joey Logano Martin Truex Jr Racing John Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John Harrelson/NKP)

Did You Notice? … This season has produced more parity than at any time in recent NASCAR history? To answer that question we look no further than this year’s edition of the Championship 4. Each driver has either three or four victories; they’d all be inside the top 10 in points without the Chase. You can …

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Did You Notice? … The Chase Where Nobody Wrecked

2016 Charlotte All Star Cup Tony Stewart Crash Damage Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Did You Notice? … This Chase has been the one where nobody wrecked? We’re on pace for the fewest cautions in the history of NASCAR’s playoff, races decided through a handful of restarts and pit strategy spread out over long green-flag runs. Think back to last year and the title’s defining moments. Joey Logano spins …

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Did You Notice? … NASCAR Institutes Kyle Busch Rule

Kyle Busch

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Did You Notice? … NASCAR’s rule limiting drivers in lower series seems targeted at one driver in particular: Kyle Busch. Busch has become the poster child for fan complaints about Cup drivers taking over in the XFINITY and Camping World Truck series. This year alone, he’s won 11 times across both divisions, including the Kansas XFINITY Chase …

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NASCAR Limits 2017 Cup Driver Participation In XFINITY, Camping World Truck Series

Kyle Busch Donuts Indianapolis Xfinity 2016 Yvonne Leonard

(Photo: Yvonne Leonard)

The era of Sprint Cup drivers moonlighting for the majority of XFINITY and Truck Series races will be curtailed somewhat in 2017. NASCAR announced new rules Wednesday limiting the number of races its top-tier Cup drivers will be able to participate in the minor leagues. Under the new rules, slated to start in February, full-time Cup …

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2016 Frontstretch Podcast- Episode 22: Why We Need Talladega

2016 Talladega I Cup Pack Racing Logan Whitton Nkp

(Photo: Logan Whitton / NKP)

In this week’s edition of the Fronstretch Podcast, Matt Stallknecht is joined by Tom Bowles for a discussion about NASCAR’s biggest, baddest race track: Talladega Superspeedway. The duo discusses Chase implications heading into this weekend, debates whether or not Talladega should be in the Chase, and explains why Talladega is such an important part of NASCAR’s past, …

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