Race Weekend Central

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 …

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Stock Car Scoop: Kyle Busch’s Lapped Traffic Rant, ‘These Kids Can’t Stay Out Of The Way’

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

It was Kevin Harvick vs. Kyle Busch for the NASCAR Cup Series win at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday night (Sept. 12). In a punch-for-punch battle, Harvick took advantage of lapped traffic late to earn his career-high ninth win of the season. What did the 2020 championship favorite have to say about his performance? Find …

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Power Rankings: No Longer the Action Track Edition

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

They used to call Richmond Raceway the “Action Track,” but after racing 400 laps without a non-manufactured caution flag, they might need to forget that nickname ever existed. This isn’t the fault of the track. This isn’t the fault of the drivers. This is the fault of a rules package that makes a gentle rub …

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Stock Car Scoop: Why Brad Keselowski Called His Shot at Richmond Raceway

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Brad Keselowski told crew chief Jeremy Bullins they would travel to Richmond Raceway and leave with a NASCAR Cup Series victory, and he delivered on his promise, leading four times for 192 laps in a dominating performance. Why was Keselowski so confident heading into the first short-track playoff race of 2020? Find out in the …

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Power Rankings: 1 Down, 9 to Go Edition

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

All season, Kevin Harvick has been very good. Heading into the Southern 500, he had won seven times already this year and had more top-five and top-10 finishes than anyone else. But one thing he has not been until Sunday (Sept. 6) was being lucky! In one of the crown jewels of stock car racing, …

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Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer Crew Chiefs Suspended After Darlington Inspection Woes

Two NASCAR Cup Series crew chiefs are facing penalties after Sunday night’s (Sept. 6) Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. Head wrenches Adam Stevens and Johnny Klausmeier were each suspended for Saturday night’s Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond Raceway, as well as being fined $20,000 for two loose lug nuts. Stevens coached Kyle …

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The Frontstretch 5: Playoff Eliminations, Round of 16

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

1. Austin Dillon Austin Dillon and Richard Childress Racing teammate Tyler Reddick dueled for the win at Texas Motor Speedway in mid-July, with the No. 3 car coming out on top to secure a playoff spot. The pair were on the playoff bubble at the time, Dillon in 16th and barely in the playoffs. In …

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Power Rankings: Here Come the Playoffs Edition

2020 Daytona Ncs Kevin Harvick Regular Season Champion Nascar Media

(Photo: NASCAR Media)

It’s amazing how much has changed in all the many years since I started following NASCAR as a kid back in the late 1960s and ’70s. Thankfully, the racing is much safer. Can I hear a “Hallelujah” that we get live races every week? But one curious development is that back in the day, finishing …

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4 Burning Questions: Would NASCAR Teams Boycott This Weekend’s Races?

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Could NASCAR teams refuse to race this week? Over the past two days, all four major American professional sport organizations have been effected by largely player-led boycotts. The strikes come off the heels of a Black man, Jacob Blake, being shot seven times in the back by police officers on Monday in Wisconsin. A combination …

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The Frontstretch 5: Current NASCAR Cup Bubble Drivers & Their Playoff Chances

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

NASCAR’s regular season ends this Saturday night, Aug. 29, and while Kevin Harvick has already locked down the trophy — and 15 playoff points — for leading the points at that juncture, there’s still plenty on the line. And this year, instead of a tame intermediate track or even the racy Richmond Raceway, the race …

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Power Rankings: Dover Double Take Edition

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Can anyone explain the logic of holding a doubleheader at the Monster Mile with the second race going head-to-head with the Greatest Spectacle in Auto Racing, the Indianapolis 500? Anyone? Anyone? Buehler? Buehler? The good news is that NASCAR saw fit to give the NASCAR Cup Series guys more power and less downforce at Dover …

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Up to Speed: An Actual NASCAR Playoff Bubble Battle? Yes, Indeed

Nascar Xfinity Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The completion of this weekend’s doubleheader races at Dover International Speedway was an important milestone for NASCAR.  The Cup Series is now caught up with its original 2020 schedule.  All of the races with revised dates due to COVID-19 are finished, leaving one race remaining in the regular season before the ten-race NASCAR playoff begins. …

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