Race Weekend Central

The Underdog House: Erik Jones Best In Class… But Darlington Streak Ends

#43: Erik Jones, Richard Petty Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro STP and #20: Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Camry Rheem racing at 2021 spring Darlington Cup, Photo NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Top Dog: Erik Jones If you tuned into Sunday’s (May 9) Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway with no information on NASCAR Throwback weekend, you may have wondered why there were schemes largely from the 20th century on track. One of those cars would be the easily distinguishable STP colors adorning the No. 43. However, it …

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The Underdog House: Daniel Suarez Rules Richmond Dog Yard

Daniel Suarez competes at Martinsville Speedway in April 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Top Dog: Daniel Suarez In Sunday’s (April 18) Richmond Raceway event that only saw two cautions for incidents, it was hard for smaller teams to gain traction through the field. In fact, the pace set by Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. up front was a struggle for many top teams, too. There were just …

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Cup Qualifying Heat Lineups Set for Bristol Dirt

Brad Keselowski NASCAR Phoenix 2021

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

When the NASCAR Cup Series begin its qualifying heats at the Bristol Motor Speedway dirt track, Quin Houff, Brad Keselowski, Alex Bowman and Corey LaJoie will lead their respective groups to green. The lineups were formed using a random draw, setting Houff ahead in heat one, Keselowski in heat two, Bowman in heat three and …

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Thursday Morning Thunder, Vol. 12: 3 Hard Lessons Learned After 3 Days of Bristol Dirt

2021 - Bristol Dirt - Chris Buescher - Late Model

Photo Credit: Chris Buescher via Roush Fenway Racing

As I sit down to write this, we’re on day three of the Bristol Dirt Nationals, the guinea pig event for the first NASCAR Cup Series race to tackle a dirt surface of any kind in 50 years. It’s the first time any driver has tackled dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway since 2001. And as …

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Did You Notice?: NASCAR Track Rotation Not the Worst Idea

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor Quik Trip 500 Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, GA USA Sunday 25 February 2018 Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing, Jimmy John's Ford Fusion, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Roush Fenway Racing, Ford Ford Fusion, and Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports, Axalta Chevrolet Camaro World Copyright: Barry Cantrell NKP

(Photo: Barry Cantrell/NKP)

Did You Notice?… Atlanta Motor Speedway is one of a handful of tracks to gain back a second NASCAR date in the modern era after losing it? AMS will run its first NASCAR Cup Series race of 2021 this weekend (March 21) before the sport makes a return trip on July 11. There’s a lot of …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead

NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? William Byron won the Dixie Vodka 400 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday (Feb. 28) after leading a race-high (and career-high) 102 laps. Tyler Reddick, Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Larson and Kevin Harvick rounded out the top five finishers. An impressive drive in so many ways! Retweet to congratulate @WilliamByron on tonight's win …

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Pole-Sitter Denny Hamlin Among Drivers Starting From Rear at Homestead

Denny Hamlin

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Pole-sitter Denny Hamlin is among the four drivers who will start from the rear for today’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway (3:48 p.m. ET green flag on Fox). Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota was a late add to the list due to unapproved adjustments. Hamlin is the defending winner at Homestead. Also starting from …

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Steve Letarte Replacing Ryan Sparks as Corey LaJoie’s Homestead Crew Chief

2021-Daytona-road-Cup-Corey-LaJoie-car-NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Steve Letarte will be atop the pit box of Corey LaJoie’s No. 7 Chevrolet team for the NASCAR Cup Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend, as crew chief Ryan Sparks has to step away from the team due to COVID-19 protocols, Spire Motorsports announced Feb. 24. Letarte, NBC Sports analyst and Spire consultant, returns …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: I Missed So Much in Daytona

Denny Hamlin leads the pack during the 2021 O'Reilly Auto Parts 253 at Daytona Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

A second straight weekend in Daytona Beach was not originally on the schedule, but the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic necessitated it. With that, you ended up with a tripleheader weekend on Daytona International Speedway’s road course. Compared to last year, these races were ridiculous. The most looney of all was Friday night’s Truck race. I’ll be …

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The Underdog House: Michael McDowell Proves Every Dog Has His Day

Michael McDowell wins 2021 Daytona 500, Chase Elliott close second, Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Top Dog 10 years after the unthinkable happened when Trevor Bayne won the 2011 Daytona 500, the unthinkable happened again. After 14 years and 358 starts driving for underfunded teams in the NASCAR Cup Series, 36-year-old Michael McDowell is a Daytona 500 champion with Front Row Motorsports. McDowell had been caught up in a 16-car …

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4 Burning Questions: Who Wins the 2021 Daytona 500?

NASCAR Cup Series

#7: Corey LaJoie, Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro Youtheory

Who will win the 2021 Daytona 500? The 63rd running of the Daytona 500 is going to be a rather interesting iteration of the Great American Race. The pomp and circumstance this race usually provides has been muted due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. There will still be a few things such as the pre-race …

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Corey LaJoie Picks Up Youtheory Sponsorship for Daytona

NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Youtheory will adorn Corey LaJoie‘s car in the 2021 Daytona 500, Spire Motorsports announced Jan. 26. The company is also sponsoring the No. 7’s effort at the first event of the season at Phoenix Raceway. “Youtheory played a key role in helping me continue my driving career as far back as 2016,” LaJoie said in …

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