Race Weekend Central

The Big 6: Questions After the 2017 AAA 400

2017 Dover I Cup Joey Logano Pack Racing Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Who… gets the shoutout of the race? There were just too many laps on the scoring pylon for Ty Dillon. Grabbing and maintaining the race lead from Ryan Newman, Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Larson in the final quarter of Sunday’s AAA 400 from Dover International Speedway, the single-car Germain Racing team was in the conversation for a race …

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Did You Notice?: How Quickly Indy 500, Coca-Cola 600 Winners Forgotten

2016 Xfinity Homestead Miami Speedway Austin Dillon Zach Catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Did You Notice? … By Wednesday, no one seems to care who triumphed on the greatest weekend in racing? That the biggest story from both the Indianapolis 500 and Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Coca-Cola 600 had nothing to do with who won? It’s not just that both races suffered through ratings declines (both were down 13 percent). Other sideshow-like …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Indy 500 vs Coca-Cola 600 TV Coverage

2016 Charlotte All Star Showdown Cup Green Flag Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

In the world of motorsports, Memorial Day Weekend is a biggie.  You have Indianapolis, Charlotte, Monaco, Lime Rock and the Nürburgring.  With the exception of Monaco, all of those places saw great finishes over the weekend.  Just thinking about all the action gives me a headache.  There’s a reason why we posted Lime Rock race …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Kyle Busch Snares Huge Victory to Shed Charlotte Monkey

2017 Charlotte All Star Cup Kyle Busch Celebrates John K Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John Harrelson / NKP)

Who’s in the headline: Kyle Busch had won 15 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway in national touring series but never once visited Victory Lane in a Cup car. That changed Saturday night when Busch made an aggressive move on the restart to begin the final segment and took the lead, holding on for the final 10 laps …

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. Most Popular… NASCAR News Story

2017 Richmond I Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

It seems fitting NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., also leads the pack in news coverage. Joyce Julius & Associates revealed this week the veteran tops all NASCAR storylines this season. Earnhardt, retiring at the end of this season has had more stories written about him than anyone else in the sport. According to JJ&A, Earnhardt has …

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2-Headed Monster: Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the Playoffs?

2017 Kansas I Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr Helmet Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell Labounty/NKP)

This week’s Fronstretch debate question: Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s 2017 season has gotten off to a slow start. This being his last full-time NASCAR season, he’d love nothing more to earn a playoff spot and have a shot to win a championship, but as of now, the No. 88’s playoff chances are a bit up in …

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Did You Notice?: Penske Penalties Piling Up, Longest NASCAR Winless Droughts

2017 Talladega I Cup Brad Keselowski Ricky Stenhouse Jr Joey Logano Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

Did You Notice? … Team Penske’s final appeal was denied for Brad Keselowski? After finishing fifth at Phoenix in March, the car failed post-race inspection for having too much skew in the rear suspension. The violation, which NASCAR claimed could improve the car’s handling, led to a $65,000 fine, a three-race suspension for crew chief Paul Wolfe …

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NASCAR Mailbox: Who Has Impressed, Disappointed Thus Far in 2017?

2017 Talladega I Cup Ryan Blaney Pack Racing Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

The 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season has seen it’s fair share of winners and losers thus far. 10 races into the 36-race season, there have been a handful of surprises as well as disappointments. One of those surprises found victory lane this past weekend at Talladega Superspeedway in Ricky Stenhouse Jr. as well …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Talladega Brings Wrecking & Typical Broadcasts

2017 Talladega I Cup Matt Kenseth Brad Keselowski Racing Matthew T Thackernkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

Talladega brings a number of different variables to covering races.  Most of the pack is close together, so showing most of the on-track action isn’t that difficult to do.  The usual pinch points are not necessarily in play.  However, that doesn’t necessarily guarantee a perfect broadcast.  Far from it, actually. GEICO 500 Sunday saw the …

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Stenhouse Takes Cup Series Pole at Talladega

2016 Pocono I Cup Ricky Stenhouse Jr Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: NIgel Kinrade/NKP)

It’s been a long time, but Roush Fenway Racing and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. are climbing up the Cup Series ladder once again. Stenhouse earned just his second Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career pole and first since his rookie season of 2013 Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway. In qualifying late Saturday afternoon, he positioned a surging RFR to …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Coverage Overload

2017 Richmond I Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr Racing Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

Henrico County was a very warm place this past weekend. Viewers saw a couple of interesting races. However, NASCAR broadcasts were dominated by one big media firestorm: Dale Earnhardt Jr. coverage. Earnhardt’s retirement announcement, made last Tuesday remained the big story throughout the Richmond weekend. At the time, it was considered to be a bombshell since …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in NASCAR: Does Etiquette Matter Edition

2017 Fontana Cup Kyle Larson Jamie Mcmurray Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

This season’s low down force package may have had its best results yet with Sunday afternoon’s race at Richmond. There were multiple grooves early in the race and yes, tires were a big factor, too. So when what turned out to the final caution came out, some teams gambled and stayed out while others took …

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