Race Weekend Central

XFINITY Breakdown: Kyle Busch Cruises to Another Bristol Victory

Kyle Busch Bristol Burnout

(Photo: Rusty Jarrett / NKP)

When Kyle Busch claimed his fifth career XFINITY Series pole Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway, he was the odds-on favorite to take the checkered flag. Busch dominated, leading 186 of 300 laps and winning the opening stage in commanding fashion after fighting off Justin Allgaier over the first 50 circuits. But when the No. 18 …

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2017 Frontstretch Podcast Powered by DraftKings – Episode 22: Twisty Turns

pack racing michigan

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Episode 21: Twisty Turns Frontstretch Podcast with Dustin Albino, Joseph Wolkin and Zach Catanzareti In this week’s episode brought to you by DraftKings, Dustin, Joe and Zach discuss Martin Truex Jr.’s title hopes, Hendrick Motorsport’s youth movement, Kyle Busch v. Brad Keselowski, free agency talks with Aric Almirola and a preview of racing at Michigan International Speedway! This week’s episode was brought …

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Beyond the Cockpit: Aric Almirola Relieved to Be Back, Focused on His Future

2017 cup new hampshire zach catanzareti aric almirola

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

The famed No. 43 Ford is the machine Aric Almirola continues to pilot since he first stepped behind the wheel of the sky blue car in 2012.  As Richard Petty Motorsports is in the midst of a transformation, forming its own chassis department at the start of 2016, Almirola began to see the massive undertaking pay off …

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The Underdog House: Curbing Spending Would Be Good For NASCAR

2017 Watkins Glen CUP Michael McDowell Aric Almirola racing John K Harrelson NKP

(Photo: John K. Harrelson/NKP)

Think Small Dale Earnhardt Jr. was addressing the media at Watkins Glen last weekend when the subject turned to driver contracts and salaries.  The NASCAR economic climate, as everyone knows has changed drastically in recent years.  When the NASCAR fad was at its height almost 20 years ago, corporate interest and driver income skyrocketed. For a while, that …

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The Underdog House: Sponsorship Changes on the Horizon?

2017 Richmond I CUP Michael McDowell pack racing Russell LaBounty NKP

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

Think Small With Target pulling out of motorsports after this year, it leaves just two NASCAR teams on the circuit using a single primary sponsor for all 36 races. Jimmie Johnson‘s No. 48 has backing from Lowe’s (and Kobalt Tools, manufactured and sold by the store) while the No. 11 run by Denny Hamlin has FedEx.  That leaves …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 22 Down, One to Go as Kyle Busch Knocks Pocono Off of Winless List

2017 cup pocono zach catanzareti kyle busch

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Who’s in the headline – There are 23 racetracks on the Cup schedule. After Kyle Busch’s win at Pocono Raceway this weekend, he has a points-paying victory at every track on the current schedule except for Charlotte Motor Speedway. It had been 36 races since Busch won a Cup race but the much-maligned slump is finally …

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NASCAR 101: 10 Longest Winless Streaks Among Full-Time Cup Drivers

2017 dover cup zach catanzareti paul menard

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Few things are more gratifying than breaking a negative streak. Bear that in mind if you wondered why Kasey Kahne‘s victory in the Brickyard 400 in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series last weekend found the driver and his team so elated in Victory Lane. Sure, it’s Indianapolis Motor Speedway, so a victory at the …

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Did You Notice?: NASCAR Silly Season Turns Toward The Sophisticated Business Of NASCAR Charters

2017 Phoenix I CUP Ryan Blaney pack racing Russell LaBounty NKP

(Photo: Russell Labounty/NKP)

Did You Notice? …. That Brad Keselowski’s signing narrows down the list of Silly Season question marks? Keselowski’s extension, announced Tuesday, keeps him in the Team Penske No. 2 Ford with sponsorship from Miller Lite. The move came paired with a new contract for crew chief Paul Wolfe as well; the duo will continue their successful …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: The PJ1 Trackbite Dominates NASCAR at Loudon

2017 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series, New Hampshire

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Last weekend, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup and XFINITY Series teams descended upon New Hampshire Motor Speedway for a now-traditional July weekend of speed.  Given the track’s typical single groove nature, PJ1 TrackBite was laid down in the turns.  Did it have an effect on the races?  Yes.  Did it also affect the broadcasts?  Oh …

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Aric Almirola ‘Knocking the Cobwebs Off’ in Return New Hampshire Weekend

2017 cup aric almirola new hampshire zach catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

After what doctors told Aric Almirola in May, the situation could not have healed better. Following a hard crash that caused a fractured vertebra in his back at Kansas Speedway, Almirola was told he would be out of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series racing for eight weeks at best. Wouldn’t you know, the Florida native …

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4 Burning Questions: Will Aric Almirola Struggle to Compete in 2017?

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling 400 Kansas Speedway, Kansas City, KS USA Friday 12 May 2017 Aric Almirola, Richard Petty Motorsports, Smithfield Ford Fusion World Copyright: Brett Moist NKP

Aric Almirola (Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

Will Aric Almirola Struggle to Compete at Loudon and Beyond? In the last eight Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races, there have been four different drivers in the No. 43. But this one is the name that has been on the windshield all along. Aric Almirola is back in action for Sunday’s Overton’s 300 at …

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Aric Almirola Returning to Richard Petty Motorsports at Loudon

2017 Texas I CUP Aric Almirola Russell LaBounty NKP

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

The name sitting on top of the No. 43 car will make the driver’s identity for the first time since Kansas Speedway. Aric Almirola will make his return to NASCAR competition at New Hampshire Motor Speedway this weekend. The Florida native will step behind the wheel of the No. 43 Ford for Richard Petty Motorsports for …

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