Race Weekend Central

Power Rankings: ‘Dega Dominos Edition

2020 Talladega playoff Cup Chase Elliott leads in pack racing Photo NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

You can’t win the clichés during the fourth race of the 10-race playoff schedule, but you can sure lose the cliché battle at Talladega Superspeedway. Unfortunately, drivers pushed the rules envelope on Sunday (Oct. 4), causing NASCAR to actually make a ruling on their beloved “Yellow Line Rule.” For those new to NASCAR, a driver …

Read more

5 Points to Ponder: Rooting for Underdogs to Win at Talladega is Kind of Futile

2020 Talladega II CUP Denny Hamlin pack racing finish NKP

1. Talladega is a Tease for Underdogs Everyone who has followed NASCAR for even a few years knows the narrative about races at Talladega Superspeedway. The Big One is going to strike at some point (sometimes more than once) and a bunch of top cars will be eliminated. Drivers from underfunded teams will be in …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2020 YellaWood 500 at Talladega

2020 Talladega II CUP DEnny Hamlin team celebrates NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened?  Denny Hamlin won Sunday’s (Oct. 4) YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway after three overtime restarts and a controversial last-lap pass.  Erik Jones, Ty Dillon, William Byron and Chase Elliott rounded out the top five after Matt DiBenedetto (originally second) and Chris Buescher (originally eighth) were penalized for their final moves coming through turns …

Read more

The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2020 YellaWood 500

2020 Talladega II CUP Brendan Gaughan NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who… should you be talking about after the race? Denny Hamlin made a hang-at-the-back and avoid trouble strategy work on Sunday (Oct. 4), winning at Talladega Superspeedway with a last-lap pass. That’s after staying out of the fray for much of the day and working his way into position through multiple final shootouts. A bad …

Read more

Stock Car Scoop: Winner Denny Hamlin Calls Talladega Controversy ‘A Non-Story’

2020 Talladega II CUP Denny Hamlin trophy NKP

(photo: nkp)

Denny Hamlin won the YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway (Oct. 4). But the victory didn’t come without some controversy. How did Hamlin deal with the criticism and why does he feel like it’s a “non-story?” Find out what he had to say in the latest edition of Stock Car Scoop.  Frontstretch‘s newest podcast focused on …

Read more

Denny Hamlin Claims Controversial Talladega Superspeedway Win

2020-Talladega-II-Denny-Hamlin-burnout-NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

After four-plus hours of NASCAR Cup Series racing, more than 58 lead changes, and two red flags, Denny Hamlin emerged with a controversial victory in the YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday (Oct. 4).  With the race having already gone into overtime, William Byron and Matt DiBenedetto made contact while racing for the lead. …

Read more

Power Rankings: Luck of the Vegas Native Edition

NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

In Las Vegas, some times it’s better to be lucky than good at the games of chance. On Sunday night (Sept. 27), Kurt Busch hit the jackpot when a caution flew during a cycle of green flag pit stops. That timely caution helped one of Vegas’ own win, but it was an impressive finish that …

Read more

5 Points to Ponder: Form Is Temporary, Class Is Permanent

NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Wildest Card Talladega is the dictionary definition of a wild-card stock car race — just look how many drivers got their first win there. So for those wheelmen currently on the wrong side of the cut line, this weekend offers the best possible chance at booking a spot in the final eight with a …

Read more

The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2020 South Point 400

NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who… should you be talking about after the race? Kurt Busch’s out-of-nowhere hometown win came as he used every advantage presented to him by a caution that fell at just the right time. He snagged the South Point 400’s checkered flag for his first win of the year and secured a berth in the next …

Read more

The Frontstretch 5: Big 2020 NASCAR Silly Season Dominoes Yet to Fall

NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The dominoes began falling in Silly Season 2020 early this year, and they certainly picked up steam this week, with the announcement that Bubba Wallace will join new team owners Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin in a new Toyota NASCAR Cup Series effort for 2021.  With that comes the announcement that Germain Racing will close …

Read more

Power Rankings: Dirty Dozen Edition

Kevin Harvick racing with Kyle Busch in 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Bristol Night race, NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Bristol Motor Speedway is considering importing dirt? If this isn’t an indictment of the current template for NASCAR as it applies to short track racing, I am not sure what else it would be. Since Speedway Motorsports Inc., has decided to add traction compound at the bottom of this track, the racing has gotten much …

Read more

Up to Speed: Tough Decisions Ahead for Ford’s NASCAR Teams

NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The more things change for Matt DiBenedetto, the more they stay the same.  Returning to Bristol Motor Speedway for the 2020 Bass Pro Shops/NRA Night Race, he was in need of an outstanding performance.  For the first time, DiBenedetto came to Thunder Valley as a NASCAR playoff driver.  But a pair of lackluster results in …

Read more