Race Weekend Central

Did You Notice? … Whether Change Can Keep NASCAR Afloat?

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(Photo: Bruce Nuttleman)

Did You Notice? … Just a NASCAR change or two has descended upon us since we last came together? Since November, the sport has taken on a new title sponsor in Monster Energy, adopted a flurry of new rules designed to spice up competition, and split with tradition by chopping even the Daytona 500 into …

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Five Points: Pondering An Avalanche Of NASCAR Change In 2017

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ONE: All Change There is an old adage that states “the only constant in life is change.” It’s a quote widely attributed to Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher who lived five hundred years before the birth of Jesus — 535 BC to 475 BC, if you want the exact numbers. And despite the quote being several …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not: Bring On NASCAR 2017

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It’s true NASCAR has the shortest offseason of any major sport. But really, why does it seem like forever between the season finale at Homestead and the start of Daytona Speedweeks? It’s just 90 days, far shorter than the end of the Super Bowl and the start of NFL Training Camps midsummer. For me, the …

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Friday Faceoff: Who’s the Top NASCAR Rookie For 2017?

2016 Xfinity Iowa

(Photo: Russell LaBounty / NKP)

Carl Edwards pulled off a move that shocked the racing community, announcing he’ll step away from NASCAR competition full-time.  If Edwards has really hung ’em up for good, what is his legacy in the sport?  Is he a future Hall of Famer? Amy Henderson, Senior Editor: I think he goes down as one of the …

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NASCAR’s Carl Edwards Walks Away: Humble, Human & Healthy

2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Texas

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

20 years ago, Carl Edwards walked around telling his world he’d rise to the top in NASCAR. No one believed him. 20 years later, Edwards walked to the podium, an established NASCAR star and told the world he was walking away. No one wanted to believe him. Yet here he was, the opening act of a cool winter morning …

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It’s Official: Carl Edwards Leaves Full-Time NASCAR Racing

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(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Carl Edwards is walking away. In an emotional press conference at Joe Gibbs Racing Wednesday (Jan. 11), Edwards refused to mention the “R” word but made it official he’s leaving his full-time ride driving the No. 19 ARRIS Toyota. The move, effective immediately, puts Daniel Suarez in the seat full-time, competing for Monster Energy NASCAR …

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Daniel Suarez Moving to Cup in 2017, Replacing Carl Edwards

2016 NXS - Daniel Suarez Cockpit

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

For the second year in a row, the reigning NASCAR XFINITY Series champion will be making the jump to full-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series racing the following year. After Carl Edwards‘ surprise move away from full-time racing that was officially announced today via a press conference (after initially being reported yesterday by sources to …

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Carl Edwards Stepping Away from NASCAR in 2017

Cup 2016 Charlotte carl edwards Zach Catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Carl Edwards will not race in NASCAR in 2017. According to FoxSports.com, Edwards, previously the driver of Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 19 in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, will step away from the sport in 2017, devoting his time to non-driving interests. A press conference scheduled for Wednesday is expected to reveal Daniel Suarez …

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2016 NASCAR Rewind: Carl Edwards

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(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Carl Edwards should take away a lot of good memories from his 2016 season.  From dominant victories to comeback performances, from thrilling finishes to his first appearance in the Championship Round of the Chase, Edwards’s second season with Joe Gibbs Racing was a step forward from his up-and-down 2015 campaign.  Yet amid all those positive …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not: NASCAR Championship Edition

2016 Indianapolis CUP Jimmie Johnson hat Russell LaBounty NKP

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

The final race of the season ended with the kind of drama that NASCAR could only hope for when it devised the Chase system, and especially this current Chase system. There was no ceremonial ride around for 267 laps for the champion as there had been at times when the championship was all but won …

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Jimmie Johnson Wins Historic 7th Sprint Cup Championship

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(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

After one swift pass on a restart with two laps to go, Jimmie Johnson matched history in Sunday’s Ford EcoBoost 400. Scoring his first victory at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Johnson beat championship rival Joey Logano to grab his seventh Sprint Cup Series championship. In just his 15th season, he’s now equaled Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt …

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