Race Weekend Central

Zach’s Turn: Stop Trying to Predict NASCAR’s Next Gen Era

2022 Next Gen cars Chevrolet Ford Toyota Jared C Tilton Getty

(Photo: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images via NASCAR Media)

The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season is over halfway complete, which means the Next Gen car is closer to its competitive debut than ever. That doesn’t mean we are any closer to knowing what NASCAR will look like past 2021, though. The top tier of stock-car racing is about to undergo a massive shift in …

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The Underdog House: Erik Jones Leads Underdogs on Independence Day at Road America

Erik Jones stands next to his car before the 2021 spring Darlington Cup race Photo: NKP

Erik Jones (Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Setting For the first time in 65 years, the NASCAR Cup Series took the green flag at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. The four-mile track hosted the fourth road course race of the season as the playoff stretch begins to heat up. Additionally, the Jockey Made in America 250 hosted practice and qualifying …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR DraftKings Forecast: Jockey Made in America 250 at Road America

2021 COTA Cup Chase Elliott trophy NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What better way to celebrate America’s birthday this weekend than to go to a track with America in its name? The NASCAR Cup Series goes to Road America to race for the first time in about 65 years. Let’s get your daily fantasy NASCAR DraftKings lineups prepped for Sunday’s (July 4) race! The Cup Series …

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Did You Notice?: Team Penske Instability On the Rise with Brad Keselowski’s Departure

Roger Penske at Indianapolis Motor Speedway 2020 (Photo: IndyCar Media)

Roger Penske (Photo by: Joe Skibinski, courtesy of IndyCar Media)

Did You Notice?… Team Penske has gone from 2021 championship contender to a team that’s struggling to keep up? A slow unraveling at Ford’s top organization this season has taken place since news broke Brad Keselowski would be leaving the team in 2022 to become an owner/driver at Roush Fenway Racing. When that story broke, on …

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Zach’s Turn: Corey LaJoie Holding Out Hope for a Teammate in 2022

Corey LaJoie Pocono 2021

Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

Corey LaJoie knew 2022 would bring a lot of change. How much change, though, remains to be determined. On June 18, Spire Motorsports announced it had sold two of its three charters to Kaulig Racing as the Matt Kaulig-owned team ventures into the NASCAR Cup Series full-time next season. The charters acquired are currently operated …

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The Underdog House: Sweet Music for Daniel Suarez, NASCAR Underdogs in Nashville

Daniel Suarez Nashville Cup 2021 NASCAR race NKP (Tootsies sponsor)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Setting The excitement, energy and enthusiasm of the NASCAR Cup Series heading to Nashville Superspeedway was felt all week across NASCAR Nation. For the first time in 37 years, the Cup tour was stopping in Music City to race the 1.33-mile Nashville Superspeedway on Father’s Day. (I’d like to wish all the Dads out …

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The Underdog House: Numerous All-Star Aspirations Fade in Open

Michael McDowell

Michael McDowell on track at Texas for the All Star Race (Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Setting All three NASCAR series headed to the Lone Star State for dates at Texas Motor Speedway this weekend. This time, however, things felt different. TMS has typically held the first weekend in April, but this year NASCAR shifted the schedule around. While the track’s fall playoff date remained intact, the usual spring points …

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The Underdog House: Daniel Suarez Bounces Back From Coca-Cola 600 Adversity

Daniel Suarez races around the track at Homestead-Miami Speedway (March 2021) (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Top Dog: Daniel Suarez Before we jump into the house and talk about Suarez, I would like to thank all of our veterans and those currently serving in the U.S. military. To the families of those who have sacrificed their lives for our country, we owe a large debt of gratitude to your loved ones …

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Frontstretch Podcast: Corey LaJoie on COTA Visibility, Progression With Spire

#7: Corey LaJoie, Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro Nations Guard Kansas Cup Corey LaJoie smiling NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Fresh off a wet and wild race at Circuit of the Americas, Corey LaJoie joins Davey Segal to discuss NASCAR’s inaugural race weekend at the Austin, Texas road course, what conditions were like in the driver’s seat and how he made it to the end with no defogger or windshield wiper. Plus, he gives his …

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Corey LaJoie on Spire Motorsports, His Future & Rebounding After Sluggish Results

Corey Lajoie COTA 2021

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Corey LaJoie‘s year has not started the way he hoped. Halfway through the regular season, LaJoie sits 30th in points with a lone top-10 in the Daytona 500 and two top-20 finishes, the only other coming at Circuit of the Americas on Sunday [May 23], where he also scored stage points by finishing fifth in …

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The Underdog House: AJ Allmendinger Capitalizes on COTA Road Course Prowess

AJ Allmendinger prepares for a NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. (March 2021) (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Top Dog: AJ Allmendinger AJ Allmendinger may be no underdog on a road course, but the 39-year-old veteran became a bit of a Cinderella story Sunday (May 23) at Circuit of the Americas. While his team, Kaulig Racing, has established itself as a powerhouse in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, it has limited experience at the …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Goodyear 400 at Darlington

Martin Truex Jr. celebrates in victory lane with trophy after Goodyear 400 throwback Darlington weekend 2021 spring Cup Chris Graythen/Getty

(Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images via NASCAR Media)

What happened? Martin Truex Jr. won the Goodyear 400 at Darlington on Sunday (May 9) after leading 248 of 293 laps for his third win of the 2021 season. Kyle Larson, Kyle Busch, William Byron and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top-five finishers at NASCAR’s Throwback Weekend. One of the best burner-outers in the game …

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