Race Weekend Central

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Drydene 400 at Dover

2021 Cup Dover Alex Bowman Woo Hoo (Credit: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened at Dover? Alex Bowman won the Drydene 400 at Dover on Sunday (May 16) after taking the lead on pit road and leading the final 97 laps. Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, William Byron and Joey Logano rounded out the top-five finishers. To the No. 48 pit crew … … this one's for you! …

Read more

5 Points to Ponder: 2021 NASCAR Manufacturer Parity Among Ford, Chevy & Toyota

All three NASCAR manufacturers (Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota) battle at Kansas Speedway. (Photo: NKP) Ryan Blaney, Martin Truex Jr, Chase Elliott

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

1: NASCAR manufacturer parity … At the top 12 races into the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, it’s clear three organizations have separated from the rest of the pack. Joe Gibbs Racing (with Darlington Raceway winner Martin Truex Jr.), Team Penske and Hendrick Motorsports are the sport’s new Big 3, sweeping 10 of the top …

Read more

The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 Goodyear 400

Kyle Larson and Chris Buescher race at Darlington Raceway, Goodyear 400, May 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who… should you be talking about after the Goodyear 400? Martin Truex Jr. dominated Sunday (May 9), leading 248 of 293 laps at Darlington Raceway on the way to his 30th career victory. Truex becomes the 28th driver in NASCAR history to win 30 or more races and sits sixth among active drivers in career wins. Truex …

Read more

Up to Speed: Don’t Count Richard Childress Racing Out of the Playoff Picture

Richard Childress and Austin Dillon together during a NASCAR Xfinity Series race in New Hampshire (Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

In the spirit of NASCAR’s throwback weekend at Darlington Raceway, think back to the 2017 season. It’s the last time Richard Childress Racing put multiple cars in the Cup Series playoffs. Can they do it again in 2021? Back then, both drivers punched their tickets to the postseason with victories.  Veteran Ryan Newman stole a …

Read more

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 …

Read more

Friday Faceoff: Should Drivers Be Allowed to Fight?

2021 Phoenix I Cup Christopher Bell Face Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Six different drivers have won the first six NASCAR Cup Series races. How many more weeks will the streak continue? Which driver breaks it? Luken Glover: The streak is in jeopardy this week at Bristol Motor Speedway’s dirt track with guys like Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell in the field. I am not going to …

Read more

Thinkin’ Dirty, Vol. 13: 2021 Bristol Dirt Nationals

Hawkeye 50

Photo Credit: World Racing Group via Jim DenHamer

The A-Main: Yung Money made plenty of noise, but with the big money on the line, Superman Jonathan Davenport answered the call Saturday (March 20). Already the winner of the season’s richest super late model race to date at Arizona in January, Davenport blew past Kyle Larson with 20 laps to go and stomped the …

Read more

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) …

Read more

Here Are the NASCAR Drivers Past & Present Currently Entered at Bristol Dirt Nationals

Kyle Larson face at the 2021 Daytona 500

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

It’s March, which means the inaugural Bristol Motor Speedway dirt races for the NASCAR Cup and Camping World Truck series are upon us later this month. Before both series hit the track, Bristol will host the Bristol Dirt Nationals, a multi-day slate of events featuring some of the best dirt racers in the country. As …

Read more

Daily Fantasy NASCAR DraftKings Forecast: 2021 Dixie Vodka 400

Kyle Larson car in 2021 Daytona 500 Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

It’s time for the third consecutive race in sunny Florida for the NASCAR Cup Series this season, this time at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The Dixie Vodka 400 is set to air on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX. After turning both left and right last week on Daytona International Speedway’s 3.61-mile road course, drivers return …

Read more

5 Points to Ponder: Lady Luck Deals NASCAR Bad Hand in 2021 Debut

Austin Cindric crashes on the final lap of the 2021 Daytona 500.

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

ONE: Lady Luck Big Player in Disjointed Daytona 500 There were a lot of Valentine’s Day dinners ruined Sunday night (Feb. 14) by the Daytona 500 turned 24 Hours of Daytona Lite. A six-hour rain delay felt entirely preventable, the fourth time in the last 10 NASCAR season openers there’s been a rain delay. At what point …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Daytona 500

Michael McDowell Confetti Daytona (Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? Michael McDowell won the 63rd annual Daytona 500 on Sunday (Feb. 14) after a fiery last-lap wreck for his first career victory in his 358th start. Chase Elliott, Austin Dillon, Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top-five finishers. THIS IS HIS MOMENT! Retweet to congratulate @Mc_Driver on winning The Great American …

Read more