Race Weekend Central

The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 GEICO 500

A pack of NASCAR race cars running the GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, April 2021. Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who … should you be talking about after the race? Brad Keselowski led exactly one of 191 laps on Sunday (April 25), but it was the only one that mattered. Keselowski passed Matt DiBenedetto as the white flag flew, leading the field to the checkers for his sixth Talladega Superspeedway victory, tying Jeff Gordon and …

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Did You Notice?: Denny Hamlin Letting Dominant NASCAR Season Slip Through His Fingers

2021 Cup Richmond Denny Hamlin Headshot (Credit: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Did You Notice? … Denny Hamlin has had the best start to a season statistically in his NASCAR career? Hamlin currently leads the points by 81 over teammate Martin Truex Jr., over a full race’s worth, while piling up eight top-five finishes in nine starts. His average finish of 4.2 is less than half the total …

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Dropping the Hammer: Chevrolet Seeing Benefits of GM Overhaul

Alex Bowman and Austin Dillon at Richmond

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Dr. Eric Warren, the director of NASCAR programs at General Motors, had plenty of reasons to be happy on Monday (April 19). The previous day, Alex Bowman and his No. 48 Chevrolet capitalized on a late caution to swoop in and capture the win in the NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway. Hendrick Motorsports …

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5 Points to Ponder: Hendrick Snaps Richmond Drought

2021 Cup Richmond Pack Racing (Credit: NKP)

Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

1. Alex Bowman Breaks Through at Hendrick On The Doors’ 1967 debut album, the band led off with “Break On Through (To the Other Side)” as the first track. Jim Morrison howls the titular lyric over and over. Nine times, to be exact. A full 54 years later, at Richmond Raceway on April 18, Alex …

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NASCAR Stat Sheet: The No. 48 Is Back

2021 Cup Richmond Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Trophy (Credit: NKP)

Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

Alex Bowman may not be the next seven-time champion, but Sunday (April 18) he was able to post a NASCAR stat that Jimmie Johnson couldn’t during his final three years in the NASCAR Cup Series: put the No. 48 in the winner’s circle. It also marked the first win for Bowman since Auto Club Speedway …

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Stock Car Scoop: Did Alex Bowman Steal a Win at Richmond?

Alex Bowman leans on the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Photo NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The NASCAR Cup Series went short track racing this weekend and Alex Bowman overtook Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano and snagged the win at Richmond Raceway on Sunday afternoon. Did Bowman steal this win or did Hamlin or Logano lose it? Stock Car Scoop’s Bryan Nolen and Adam Cheek discuss this and more. Sign up …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond

Alex Bowman

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? Alex Bowman won the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway on Sunday (April 18) following an impressive late-race restart where he lined up in third place. Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, Christopher Bell and Martin Truex Jr. rounded out the top-five finishers. Let the party begin! ? Retweet to congratulate @Alex_Bowman on a huge …

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Up to Speed: Alex Bowman Overcomes Setbacks for Richmond Win

Alex Bowman fixes his shoes at Phoenix Raceway. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

On the day (April 18) when Jimmie Johnson ran his first IndyCar race, it was only fitting that Alex Bowman brought the No. 48 car back to victory lane.  Bowman emerged as a surprise winner at Richmond Raceway, a track where he had never had a top-five finish.  His 2021 win was the first for …

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Alex Bowman’s Richmond Win Caps Off Big Day for Drivers of No. 48

Alex Bowman talks with Jimmie Johnson before 2019 Indianapolis Cup race Photo NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Jeff Andrews was like many of us Sunday afternoon. Even though the NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway was well underway, Hendrick Motorsports’ general manager couldn’t help himself. He had to see Jimmie Johnson’s maiden voyage in an open-wheel car. “I won’t lie, I clicked over to IndyCar there a couple of times during …

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Alex Bowman Uses Final Restart to Steal Victory at Richmond

2021 Cup Richmond Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Burnout (Credit: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Alex Bowman used a restart with 12 laps to go as a springboard for an out-of-nowhere win, passing Denny Hamlin late to win Sunday afternoon’s (April 18) Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway. Joey Logano, Christopher Bell and Martin Truex Jr. completed the top five. Aric Almirola, William Byron, Kyle Busch, Matt DiBenedetto and Austin …

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Massive Crash Takes Out Multiple Cars at Martinsville

2020 Martinsville Ii Cup Racing Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Everything hit the fan with 115 laps remaining in the Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway. The Cup Series race, which was pushed to Sunday after rain stopped the event Saturday night, had largely run incident-free, or at least without incidents that involved a large number of cars, up until 115 to go, …

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Did You Notice? 7 NASCAR Drivers on the Hot Seat 7 Weeks Into 2021

Matt DiBenedetto stands next to car before 2021 spring Las Vegas Cup race NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Did You Notice? … Crazy enough, the 2021 NASCAR season is already two months old headed to Saturday night’s (April 10) race at Martinsville Speedway. The sport’s top three series are all at least 20% through their regular season schedules; the Camping World Truck Series is a third of the way there. It’s a large …

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