Race Weekend Central

Zach’s Turn: Anthony Alfredo Survives Talladega for First Top 10

Anthony Alfredo Talladega 2 2021

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Anthony Alfredo finally found the good run he’s long been looking for at Talladega Superspeedway. Lost in the shuffle of Bubba Wallace’s historic day, Alfredo kept his No. 38 Georgia Peanuts Ford clean and brought the car home 10th for his first career top 10 in the NASCAR Cup Series. “We’re really proud of that,” …

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Zach’s Turn: William Byron Faces Déjà Vu as Playoffs Bring More Trouble

William Byron

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

William Byron had to dig deep at Bristol Motor Speedway to pull himself above the playoff cut line and advance to the Round of 12. But another round has brought another points hole for Byron to crawl out of after a night of missteps that led him to an 18th-place finish at Las Vegas Motor …

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Stock Car Scoop: How Big a Statement did Joe Gibbs Racing Make at Las Vegas?

Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing talks on pit road at Homestead-Miami Speedway in March 2021. (Photo: NKP)

#11: Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Camry FedEx Small Business Grant Contest

The NASCAR Cup Series’ visit to Las Vegas was helmed by Denny Hamlin, who scored his second win of 2021 in Sin City and locked himself into the Round of 8. Did Joe Gibbs Racing assert their dominance in the championship race after posting a 1-3-4 finish and the win? How do the woes of …

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Joe Gibbs Racing Notches Critical Performance at Las Vegas

2021 Cup Las Vegas Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota, and Kyle Busch, No. 18 Toyota (Credit: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Joe Gibbs Racing has lamented its shortcomings at 550-horsepower racetracks all season, but the team’s performance at Las Vegas Motor Speedway should quell that concern. Denny Hamlin led a 1-3-4 finish for JGR on Sunday night (Sept. 26) with teammates Kyle Busch third and Martin Truex Jr. fourth. Good runs are always appreciated, but a run …

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Zach’s Turn: Pocono Raceway’s Doubleheader Canned Too Quickly

Pocono Raceway 2021

(Photo: James Gilbert/Getty Images via NASCAR Media)

Pocono Raceway finally got to show NASCAR fans exactly how a doubleheader weekend can work. Five races in three days – two Cup Series races accompanied by ARCA Menards, Camping World Truck and Xfinity series events – provided the ultimate weekend for stock car racing fans. The Pennsylvania racing community and its surrounding areas responded …

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Zach’s Turn: NASCAR’s Points Battles You Should Know Exist

NASCAR Cody Ware Ryan Preece 2021 Coca-Cola 600

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

With the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs in full swing, you’re forgiven if you have limited your attention to the 16 eligible drivers. But there are other points battles happening behind them you ought to know about — a point hammered home by Reddit user u/1-800-DADJOKE. That person has been keeping a watchful eye on the …

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Zach’s Turn: Ross Chastain Storms Forward Without Playoff Pressure

Ross Chastain before a NASCAR race at Circuit of the Americas, May 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

As his tenure with Chip Ganassi Racing nears its checkered flag, Ross Chastain has no pressure.

There are no playoff expectations since his No. 42 team didn’t qualify for the postseason. There is no need to audition for a new ride, since he’s already confirmed to join Trackhouse Racing in 2022 as the driver of the team’s new No. 1 car. All there is to do is go out and try to wind up in victory lane.

Hendrick Motorsports Battered & Beaten at Darlington

Hendrick Motorsports Darlington Southern 500

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series regular season was dominated by Hendrick Motorsports, providing plenty of momentum heading into Sunday night’s (Sept. 5) playoff opener at Darlington Raceway.

But whatever momentum they carried into the postseason was largely wiped away over the course of 500 miles at The Lady in Black — at least for three of the organization’s four drivers.

Lawless Alan Frustrated With Derek Kraus After Darlington Crash

Lawless Alan

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Lawless Alan was holding his own and trying to make laps in his sixth NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start.

But his Darlington Raceway debut was disrupted by an incident in turn 3, which began when Derek Kraus got into Alan’s left-rear quarter panel to send the No. 45 Niece Motorsports spinning.

Best Seat at the Track: Zach Sturniolo Joins From Darlington

Zach Sturniolo joins Jared Haas for the latest edition of Best Seat at the Track from Darlington Raceway.

Graphic: Jared Haas

On this Labor Day race weekend, Jared Haas is joined by senior correspondent and editor Zach Sturniolo, who is on-site at Darlington Raceway. The pair discuss the possibility of Denny Hamlin getting a fresh start in the playoffs after not winning in the regular season, as well as the repave of turn 2 and how …

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