Race Weekend Central

The Underdog House: Teamwork Makes the Cream Rise to the Top in Talladega

Aj Allmendinger 1000bulbs.com 500 Practice

(Photo: Christian Koelle)

Think Small This weekend was it for the underdogs of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. No longer will they end their interviews with, “We still have Talladega out there, so we’re looking forward to that.” And no longer will they have more than a slight chance at scoring a victory in 2018. This final …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Aric Almirola Finally in Victory Lane After Stewart-Haas Domination at Talladega

Aric Almirola 1000bulbs.com 500 Victory Lane

(Photo: Christian Koelle)

Who’s in the headline There is domination by drivers and domination by teams. Sunday was total domination by the Stewart-Haas Racing organization. They won every stage and the race with a different driver doing each, and the driver who didn’t win any of them finished second in all three. In the end, fuel mileage bit …

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Underdog House: Charlotte ROVAL Put Small Teams in NASCAR Spotlight

2017 Kansas Ii Cup Aj Allmendinger Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker / NKP)

Think Small Road courses present a unique opportunity for underdog teams. Much in the same way as restrictor plate races, they are an equalizer in terms of minimizing the performance gap between the haves and the have nots. The absence of the cars’ dependance on aero also contributes to the parity. The previous two road …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in NASCAR: Charlotte ROVAL Brings Chaos, Excitement

Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Camry M&m's Kevin Harvick, Stewart Haas Racing, Ford Fusion Busch Beer Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Coming into this ROVAL experiment at Charlotte Motor Speedway, I was hesitantly in favor of NASCAR adding more road course layouts to tedious ovals. After the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series’ Bank of America ROVAL 400 on Sunday, I’m a believer. (Sorry if the Monkees are now stuck in your head.) It was also the elimination race …

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Up to Speed: Part-Time Pays off for Ryan Preece

Nascar Xfinity Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

For the past several years, Ryan Preece has been forging a pathway to the national levels of NASCAR.  He demonstrated his talent in the Whelen Modified Tour, winning 12 times in 56 races from 2012-2015.  But when it came time to take on NASCAR’s XFINITY Series, Preece needed a way to increase his visibility on …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Ryan Blaney Wins the ROVAL, Kyle Larson Survives to Advance

#12: Ryan Blaney, Team Penske, Ford Fusion Menards/pennzoil Celebrates His Win Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who’s in the headline The list of road course favorites was long going into the first ROVAL race, and it was a safe bet that Ryan Blaney wasn’t on most of those lists. However, sometimes it is better to be lucky than good, and Blaney was lucky to be in the right place at the …

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4 Burning Questions: How Will Ryan Newman Fare in the No. 6?

2018 Watkins Glen Cup Zach Catanzareti Kyle Busch

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

What will the ROVAL bring us? This weekend will introduce the first new track to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series since 2011, and only the second since 2001. It’s finally Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL weekend. There’s really no telling how the Cup race on Sunday is going to end up. It could be a …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR FanDuel Forecast: Bank of America Roval 400

2018 Atlanta Zach Catanzareti Cup Aj Allmendinger

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

This weekend’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race is the last in the sport’s three-week first round of the playoffs. Following Sunday’s (Sept. 30) Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL debut, only 12 of the 16 drivers will transfer to the next round. The green flag flies for the Bank of America ROVAL 400 at 2 p.m. …

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Did You Notice?: Kyle Busch Is On Pace To Make More NASCAR History?

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Did You Notice? … Kyle Busch has hit 50 career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victories? That number ties him for 11th all-time at just 33 years of age. So much has been made of Busch challenging Richard Petty’s record of 200 career wins when you compile his totals in all three major NASCAR series. He’s …

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Frontstretch Podcast: Ryan Preece on Richmond, Full Throttle Weekend in New Hampshire, Future

Nascar Xfinity Series Ryan Preece

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

It’s a busy Frontstretch Podcast this week, as the trio of Dustin Albino, Mike Neff, Zach Catanzareti join NASCAR XFINITY Series driver Ryan Preece break down a busy weekend of racing at Richmond Raceway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Preece finished 18th at Richmond in Friday’s XFINITY Series race before driving north to New Hampshire, where he competed in the Whelen Modified Series race. …

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AJ Allmendinger, JTG Daugherty Racing Parting Ways After 2018

2018 Atlanta Zach Catanzareti Aj Allmendinger Cup

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

AJ Allmendinger will not return to JTG Daugherty Racing in 2019. Despite reportedly having two seasons left on his contract, the driver of the No. 47 for the team in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will move elsewhere next year, the team announced Tuesday, Sept. 25. “AJ Allmendinger has been a valuable asset to …

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5 Points to Ponder: A NASCAR Unknown (For Once)

2018 Las Vegas I Cup Denny Hamlin Rusty Jarrett Nkp

(Photo: Rusty Jarrett/NKP)

ONE: The Roval Awaits Despite all the week to week drama inherent in NASCAR, the truth is not much really — and I mean, really — changes. But this weekend, we truly have a difference maker: a brand-new track, a first-time road course in the post season and as the final race of the first …

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