Race Weekend Central

NASCAR Mailbox: What Made Robert Yates So Special?

Nascar Nextel Cup Series, Darlington. Dodge Charger 500.

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Whenever the NASCAR community loses a beloved member like legendary team owner Robert Yates, the unbelievable sense of closeness shows the true impact someone can have on so many lives. For Yates, his legacy is one that was honored before he passed onto his eternal life, and fortunately so. Yates was selected in May as …

Read more

Truckin’ Thursdays: 8 Drivers, 3 Rounds, 1 Championship

2017 Gateway Cwts Chrostophet Bell Ben Rhodes Barry Cantrell Nkp

(Photo: Barry Cantrell / NKP)

Last weekend at Chicagoland Speedway, the Camping World Truck Series set its playoff field, and for the final seven races on the schedule, all eyes will focus on the championship battle. One thing that’s different this year, though, is the number of playoff points accumulated each week by winning stages and races. Those bonus points …

Read more

Pace Laps: Championship Favorites Reign at Chicago, Josef Newgarden Wins IndyCar Title

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Tales Of The Turtles 400 Chicagoland Speedway, Joliet, Il Usa Sunday 17 September 2017 Martin Truex Jr, Furniture Row Racing, Furniture Row/denver Mattress Toyota Camry Celebrates His Win World Copyright:brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: The Importance of Execution – It ended some days and opened opportunity for others. Heck, it even had its place in the day of the race winner Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway. Execution is an important factor in tying one end of the race to the other, especially once the playoffs …

Read more

Johnny Sauter Wins Chicagoland Truck Series Race, Ben Rhodes Makes Playoffs

2017 Trucks Pocono Zach Catanzareti Johnny Sauter

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Christopher Bell dominated Friday night in Chicagoland but, in the end, just the slightest of wiggles handed the victory over to Johnny Sauter. The defending champion capitalized on Bell’s mistake in the end to secure his second victory of 2017. Chase Briscoe made strides toward the leader after passing Bell but would have to settle for …

Read more

Christopher Bell Victorious in Truck Pocono Battle

2017 Trucks Pocono Zach Catanzareti Christopher Bell

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

It came down to the wire with three drivers going for the win, but Christopher Bell bested the rest of the Camping World Truck Series field at Pocono Raceway. Taking the lead from John Hunter Nemechek with six laps to go, Bell capped off a thrilling three-truck battle with Ben Rhodes in pursuit of the trophy. …

Read more

Ben Rhodes Wins Truck Series Pole at Pocono

2017 Eldora Cwts Ben Rhodes Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty NKP)

For the second time in his Camping World Truck Series career, Ben Rhodes will start on pole. Turning a lap of 52.931 seconds (170.033 mph), Rhodes topped Kyle Busch by only 0.011 to win the pole for Saturday’s Overton’s 150 at Pocono Raceway. The pole, his first of 2017, is the second of his 39-race …

Read more

Couch Potato Tuesday: A Look At the FOX NASCAR Season Finale

2017 Nascar Monster Energy Cup Series, Sonoma

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/ NKP)

If you’ve been reading my columns here at Frontstretch over the past few years, you know that I love road racing.  The one weekend a year that the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series travels to Sonoma Raceway is one of my personal favorites.  That action was combined with two outstanding events for the Camping World Truck …

Read more

Truckin’ Thursdays: 4 Potential First-Time Winners at Gateway

2016 Chicago Cwts Ryan Truex Thinking Brett Moist Nkp

Ryan Truex (Photo: Brett Moist NKP)

Chase Briscoe almost broke through and scored his first career victory last weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. In fact, many thought he was the one who’d weaved through the chaos that ended the race and won, but it was Christopher Bell who emerged victorious. But Briscoe’s near-victory, coupled with Ryan Blaney’s first career Cup Series win …

Read more

Friday Faceoff: What to Do with the Overtime Line?

2017 Dover I Cup Jimmie Johnson Leads Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

1. The teams of both Kyle Busch and Chase Briscoe received heavy penalties after Dover International Speedway, including suspensions of crew chiefs, tire carriers and tire changers after each had a wheel fall off in completion.  Did NASCAR make the right call? Amy Henderson: Yes. The rulebook is pretty specific in this area, and NASCAR was …

Read more

Ben Rhodes Staying Positive Despite Coming Up Short Again

2017 Dover Ben Rhodes Trucks Zach Catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

At the beginning of the final stage, Ben Rhodes found himself in familiar territory in NASCAR’s Camping World Truck Series. Restarting as the race leader, it appeared a first victory would finally be within his grasp. But Rhodes’ road to Victory Lane took yet another detour in a frustrating 2017 season for the driver. Rhodes and crew …

Read more

4 Burning Questions: Will Regan Smith Make the All-Star Race?

2017 Daytona Trucks Zach Catanzareti Regan Smith

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Will Regan Smith Makes the All-Star Race in Almirola’s No. 43? Though Aric Almirola attended the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation’s Catwalk for Cause on Wednesday evening, looking sharp and healthy as can be, he will not be piloting his racecar this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. In his place in the No. 43 Richard Petty …

Read more

Truckin’ Thursdays: Ben Rhodes Heartbroken Yet Hopeful Headed into Charlotte

2017 Daytona I Cwts Ben Rhodes Eddie Triconis Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

It’s something no driver, especially one gunning for a first career win, wants to face. But it’s exactly what happened to Ben Rhodes on Friday night at Kansas Speedway. after a spirited battle with Kyle Busch for the race lead, Rhodes took his No. 27 Toyota and pulled it ahead by more than one second. …

Read more