Race Weekend Central

Martinsville Next Gen Test Featuring Manufacturer-Built Cars

2019 Martinsville Mencs Racing Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The new NASCAR Next Gen returns to the track on March 30-31 at Martinsville Speedway for its next test session. However, this session will be different from others. Three cars will appear at the test session, the most NASCAR has held for its evaluation of the new car. Each car will be manufacturer-specific, according to …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR DraftKings Forecast: 2021 Food City Dirt Race

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

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

NASCAR Cup Series drivers might need a good laundry detergent to clean up their firesuits after March 28 is over, because they’ll be racing in the dirt. Let’s get your fantasy NASCAR DraftKings lineups ready for this weekend’s 2021 Food City Dirt Race at the Bristol Motor Speedway dirt track. This race marks the first …

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Alex Bowman, Ryan Blaney Lead Cup Practices at Bristol Dirt

2021 Cup Bristol Dirt Practice Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (Credit: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

For the first time since its 2021 season-opening race weekend at Daytona International Speedway, the NASCAR Cup Series held on-track practice. Alex Bowman and Ryan Blaney posted the fastest times in each respective practice session at the Bristol Motor Speedway dirt track on Friday (March 26). Practice 1 Bowman completed 42 laps in the opening …

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Cup Qualifying Heat Lineups Set for Bristol Dirt

Brad Keselowski NASCAR Phoenix 2021

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

When the NASCAR Cup Series begin its qualifying heats at the Bristol Motor Speedway dirt track, Quin Houff, Brad Keselowski, Alex Bowman and Corey LaJoie will lead their respective groups to green. The lineups were formed using a random draw, setting Houff ahead in heat one, Keselowski in heat two, Bowman in heat three and …

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Dropping the Hammer: Embracing Pandora’s Box of Bristol Dirt Race

Daniel McFadin Dropping the Hammer

Graphic by James Crow

OK, let’s get this out of the way up top. I’m not a fan of dirt racing. There, I said it. In my 30 years on this planet, aside from a couple events as a child I have no memory of, I have yet to attend a race that involved dirt. That’s due more to …

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Up to Speed: Ryan Blaney Adds to His History of NASCAR Clutch Wins at Atlanta

Ryan Blaney gives the checkered flag to a fan at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Photo NKP

Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

Check off another unique winner for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season.  Ryan Blaney emerged as a surprise victor at Atlanta Motor Speedway, capturing the fifth win of his career in dramatic fashion.  Despite a dominating performance from Kyle Larson, who led 269 of 325 laps, Blaney was the one who took the trophy and …

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Alex Bowman Quietly Earns 1st Top-5 Finish of Season

Alex Bowman at Atlanta

Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

While all eyes were on Ryan Blaney and Kyle Larson’s battle for the win Sunday (March 21) at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Alex Bowman quietly finished third for his first top-five finish of 2021. It was Bowman’s first top five since the Texas Motor Speedway playoff race last fall. “We kind of struggled on long runs …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Instacart 500 at Phoenix

2021 Phoenix I Cup Martin Truex Jr Victory Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened?  Martin Truex Jr. won the Instacart 500 at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday (March 14) after leading the final 25 laps following a pass on the last restart.  Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski and Chase Elliott rounded out the top-five finishers. RETWEET to congratulate @MartinTruex_Jr on his desert dominance! pic.twitter.com/PMjFeMvw7l — NASCAR (@NASCAR) …

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Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 Instacart 500

2021 Phoenix I Cup Martin Truex Jr Burnout Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who… should you be talking about after the race? A grand total of 30 races separated Sunday’s Instacart 500 (March 14) from the last time Martin Truex Jr. scored a NASCAR Cup Series victory. That came under the lights at Martinsville Speedway last year. Truex was nowhere to be found in the top 10 when …

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NASCAR Stat Sheet: Larson Lights Up the Stage in His Second Act

Kyle Larson celebrates his win in the 2021 Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who doesn’t love a good redemption story? Just under a year ago, Kyle Larson became the poster boy for thoughtless expression, firing off without taking into account what his words might mean to someone else. But we all do stupid things. It’s how you use the experience to better yourself that defines you. While the …

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Up to Speed: A New Attitude of NASCAR Equality at Hendrick Motorsports

2019 Talladega Mencs William Byron Car Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Just four races into the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, Hendrick Motorsports has already won twice.  Last week at Homestead-Miami Speedway, William Byron drove off to a convincing win, the second of his Cup Series career.  This past Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, it was Kyle Larson’s turn to capture the checkered flag.  Larson, …

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Fire on Fridays: 7 NASCAR Cup Drivers Who Have to Win in 2021

Kyle Larson talks with Matt DiBenedetto 2021 Daytona 500 Photo NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Entering August 2020, if you’d asked me which drivers were on the hot seat and might lose their ride if they didn’t produce soon, William Byron would’ve been near the top of my list. Sure, Byron signed an extension with Hendrick Motorsports that month, but contracts aren’t always fulfilled in sports. Plus, Rick Hendrick doesn’t …

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