Race Weekend Central

5 Points to Ponder: Ch-ch-changes

2017 pocono cup zach catanzareti darrell wallace jr.

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

The Track Side interviews: First up, this week, a quick word about NBC’s new “trackside” winner interviews conducted on the frontstretch immediately post-burnout. My quick take is they’re excellent, and it’s a tremendous addition to the overall broadcast. Why? Primarily because it’s a chance to see some raw emotion from the winning driver before they’ve …

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The Underdog House: Talented But Opportunity Hard to Come By

kentucky underdogs

(Photo: Logan Whitton/ NKP)

Think Small I’ve written before about the small-team drivers and how they’re often overlooked, to their detriment.  They’re virtually ignored on broadcasts unless they’re doing something wrong, and seem to be considered damaged goods in the free-agent market, though their racing efforts are often hampered more by budgets and equipment than any lack of ability. …

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Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Entry List: Quaker State 400

brad keselowski

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

After a weekend of restrictor plate racing on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series heads to Kentucky Speedway for Saturday night’s Quaker State 400. The trip to Sparta, Ky. marks the only trip there for the MENCS field this season. There are 40 cars on the preliminary entry list, …

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Entry List: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero 400

elliott leads daytona 500

(Photo: Barry Cantrell/NKP)

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series returns to Daytona this weekend for the Coke Zero 400. The entry list for the race has been released and there’s a number of notable changes after the road course event at Sonoma last weekend. A full field of 40 cars will contest the 160-lap, 400-mile race that’ll be broadcast …

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The Underdog House: NASCAR About to Get Silly?

2017 Kansas I CUP Michael McDowell car Barry Cantrell NKP

(Photo: Barry Cantrell/NKP)

Think Small Track surfaces aren’t the inly thing heating up as summertime hits full swing.  NASCAR’s Silly Season is coming, and while so far, it’s been confined to rumblings and rumors, there’s potential for things to blow up.  While most of the speculation concerns the bigger teams in the sport, including who will fill the …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Michigan Brings Debris Issues to the Forefront

2016 NSCS - Kyle Larson Chase Elliott Restart Michigan Photo Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/ NKP)

Welcome back, race fans.  This past race weekend, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup and XFINITY Series were in action at Michigan International Speedway.  Fans saw what amounted to two completely different races.  One had an exciting finish and was quite competitive.  The other was one of the least competitive races at Michigan in a number …

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The Underdog House: NASCAR’s Vicious Cycle

2017 Dover I CUP AJ Allmendinger pack racing Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Think Small It’s hard for small teams to get noticed.  This is something that’s been discussed over and over  and continues to create a vicious cycle for these teams: Lack of money leads to lack of performance, and lack of performance makes sponsors shy away, leading to a lack of money…you see the problem here? …

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Billy Johnson to Drive No. 43 Car for RPM at Sonoma

2016 Road Atlanta CTSC Billy Johnson Phil Allaway

(Photo: Phil Allaway)

Billy Johnson’s job this upcoming weekend will be considerably shorter than his job this past weekend. Johnson, an IMSA sportscar racer, will make his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut this weekend at Sonoma Raceway in the famed No. 43 Ford for Richard Petty Motorsports. Driving the No. 66 Ganassi Ford GT this past weekend …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Looking Back On FOX’s Drivers Only Broadcast

2017 Kansas I CUP Ricky Stenhouse Jr Barry Cantrell NKP

(Photo: Barry Cantrell/NKP)

Greetings, race fans.  Last weekend was a very interesting and tiring time at Pocono Raceway.  As you can imagine, the primary source of discussion in TV land was the drivers-only broadcast of Saturday’s Pocono Green 250. Since this event was such a big deal, I will be focusing solely on that broadcast.  Don’t worry, I …

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Going It Alone: Ryan Reed Now Sole Focus For Roush Fenway Racing in XFINITY Series

2016 Fontana NXS Ryan Reed Brett Moist NKP

(Photo: Brett Moist / NKP)

Ryan Reed is going it alone. This year’s Daytona winner in NASCAR’s XFINITY Series no longer has a teammate at Roush Fenway Racing. Monday, the organization announced it’s shutting down their No. 6 Ford following this weekend’s event at Pocono Raceway. The move, due to lack of funding and Darrell Wallace Jr. heading to Cup cuts RFR to just one …

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Kyle Busch Wins Second Straight MENCS Pole Award

2017 pocono cup zach catanzareti kyle busch

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

For the second consecutive week, car No. 18 will lead the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series field to the green flag on Sunday afternoon. Kyle Busch took over Pocono Raceway, clocking in a time of 50.237 seconds, giving the Joe Gibbs Racing driver his 21st career pole in NASCAR’s premier division. Busch outran reigning Pocono …

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Darrell Wallace Jr. Enters Pocono Raceway with Pressure to Perform

2017 pocono cup zach catanzareti darrell wallace jr.

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Darrell Wallace Jr. always wanted this day to come. He knew it would come at some point, but he didn’t think the pieces of the puzzle would come into place so easily. When Aric Almirola’s injury was revealed to the public, rumors swirled about the Roush Fenway Racing XFINITY Series driver taking the helm of …

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