Race Weekend Central

Fire on Fridays: Who Is Each NASCAR Cup Team’s Alpha Driver?

Ryan Blaney grits his teeth at LA Clash, Joey Logano smiles, NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

A rundown of alpha drivers in each NASCAR Cup Series team.

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2022 Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway

NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: NKP)

What happened? Reigning NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kyle Larson continued where he left off in 2021 by winning his first race of 2022 at Auto Club Speedway on Sunday, Feb. 27. It is his second career NASCAR Cup Series win in the California-based circuit. Following close behind him was Austin Dillon, who held off Erik …

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The Underdog House: Erik Jones Returns No. 43 to Former Glory

NASCAR Cup Series

#43: Erik Jones, Petty GMS, Chevrolet Camaro FOCUSfactor

It had been nearly a decade since Richard Petty’s famous No. 43 had started on the front row for a NASCAR Cup Series race. The last occurrence happened in 2013, when Aric Almirola sat on the pole for the fall Talladega event.

However, the streak came to a halt with the Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway (Feb. 27) when Erik Jones piloted the No. 43 to the outside pole position.

Kyle Larson Surges Late, Begins NASCAR Title Defense with Auto Club Win

Kyle Larson takes the checkered flag to win the WISE Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway, 2/27/2022 (Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

On Sunday (Feb. 27) at Auto Club Speedway, Kyle Larson’s No. 5 came to life late, and the defending champ held off all comers to win his first race of 2022 in the Wise Power 400 and open his title defense.

NASCAR 101: A Menagerie of Unknowns, Potential Surprises at Daytona

Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 DeWalt Toyota, Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 McDonald's Toyota, Kurt Busch, driver of the #45 Monster Energy Toyota, and Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, drive during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series 64th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2022 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Things couldn’t be more nebulous to begin the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season.

What They Said: Daytona 500 Media Day Quotes

Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 DeWalt Toyota, Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 McDonald's Toyota, Kurt Busch, driver of the #45 Monster Energy Toyota, and Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, drive during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series 64th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2022 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Check out what the Daytona 500 competitors had to say Wednesday, Feb. 16, during media day for the 64th annual Great American Race.

Couch Potato Tuesday: For Me, Clash Broadcast Was a Nightmare to Watch

Kyle Busch takes the green flag to kick off the NASCAR Busch Clash heat races at the LA Colusseum.

(Photo: Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Welcome back to another year of critiquing of motorsports on TV. This will be my 14th year here at Frontstretch, giving you nuggets to think about in regards to race broadcasts. Crazy when you think about it. This past weekend, NASCAR ventured west out to Los Angeles to enter uncharted territory. The Los Angeles Memorial …

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2022 NASCAR Preseason Power Rankings: Nos. 30-21

2021 Talladega II Cup Bubba Wallace Matt DiBenedetto pack racing NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

It’s February, which means the NASCAR Cup Series takes to the track to start the 2022 season this month at Daytona International Speedway. With a wide array of driver and team changes from Silly Season alongside more minor personnel tweaks — or even a few lineups that stayed exactly the same — there’s a lot …

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