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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Daily Fantasy NASCAR DraftKings Forecast: 2021 Goodyear 400

2021 spring Kansas Cup race Kevin Harvick Busch for the farmers car NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

It’s time once again for NASCAR’s throwback weekend at Darlington Raceway, though much earlier in the season than previous years. Let’s get your daily fantasy NASCAR DraftKings lineups set for the Goodyear 400 on Sunday, May 9. Last year the Cup Series took to the Lady in Black three times, including the first two events …

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Stock Car Scoop: Darlington Throwback Weekend

2019 cup pack racing at Darlington sign cars blurry NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The NASCAR Cup Series is heading to Darlington Raceway for throwback weekend this Sunday, May 9. Who has the best throwback paint scheme? Can Erik Jones get his first victory of the year and his first with Richard Petty Motorsports? Or will there be a familiar face that goes to victory lane for the first …

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eNASCAR Pro Invitational iRacing Series: Erik Jones Makes Bold Move for Darlington Win

Erik Jones Darlington iRacing

(Photo: Justin Melillo/NASCAR Media)

In one of the most anticipated sim racing events this year, Erik Jones came home with the victory in the eNASCAR Pro Invitational iRacing Series on Wednesday night (May 5), held on a virtual Darlington Raceway. “We were 11th on that second to last restart then they all crashed and we got up there,” Jones …

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Frontstretch 5: Drivers Who Could Score Birthday Wins in 2021

Erik Jones 2021 Kansas

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Birthdays can be a special and wonderful time for everyone, but winning a NASCAR race on the same day amplifies its sweetness even more. That’s what Kyle Busch did for the second time in his career on Sunday (May 2) in the Buschy McBusch Race 400 at Kansas Speedway, scoring his 58th career NASCAR Cup …

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Richard Petty Motorsports Adds Multi-Year Sponsorship with The Lonely Entrepreneur

Erik Jones primary sponsor The Lonely Entrepreneur bringing awareness to Black Entrepreneur Initiative Photo RPM

(Photo: Richard Petty Motorsports)

Richard Petty Motorsports announced this morning (April 27) the addition of a new primary sponsorship with The Lonely Entrepreneur for three NASCAR Cup Series events in 2021 while also serving as an associate sponsor for the rest of the season. The New York-based organization will team up with RPM through its Black Entrepreneur Initiative, climbing …

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The Underdog House: Michael McDowell Nearly Goes 2-For-2 on Superspeedways in 2021

Michael McDowell waves standing on pit road at Las Vegas. Photo NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Top Dog: Michael McDowell If a 2021 handbook were written on how to survive superspeedway racing, Michael McDowell would likely be the author thus far. February’s Daytona 500 Cinderella victor came just one push away from besting fellow Ford stablemate Brad Keselowski Sunday (April 25) for the win at Talladega Superspeedway. “It means a lot,” …

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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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The Underdog House: Daniel Suarez Is the Big Dog of the Yard Once Again

Daniel Suarez walks down pit road at Homestead-Miami Speedway (March 2021). (Photo: NKP)

#99: Daniel Suarez, TrackHouse Racing, Chevrolet Camaro Camping World

Top Dog A little dirt never hurt anyone. That saying may not have applied to the favorites for the postponed Food City Dirt Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, but Daniel Suarez sure took it to heart. The newly established Trackhouse Racing is not only exceeding expectations but has arguably been the best of the three …

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The Underdog House: Big Day for Bubba Wallace Slips Away at Phoenix

Bubba Wallace talks to Denny Hamlin at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Photo NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Top Dog On paper, the results of the Instacart 500 at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday, March 14 did not manufacture eye-popping runs from the NASCAR Cup Series underdogs. However, that was not the occurrence for most of the race. While a few hungry hounds had brushes in the top 10 today it was Bubba Wallace …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas

2021 Cup Las Vegas I Larson Winner Nkp

Kyle Larson celebrates Las Vegas victory (Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? Kyle Larson won the Pennzoil 400 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday (March 7) after leading a race-high 103 laps in just his fourth start for Hendrick Motorsports (fastest in team history). Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney rounded out the top-five finishers. Burning it down on the …

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The Underdog House: Erik Jones Rebounds for 1st Top 10 with Richard Petty

Ross Chastain and Erik Jones racing during the Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube, 3/7/2021 (Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Top Dog 2021 looks different in many ways for Richard Petty Motorsports. After a year where they ended up in the national spotlight with Bubba Wallace, the team faces an identity shift in 2021 with Erik Jones. While crew chief Jerry Baxter stayed with RPM following Wallace’s departure, the team was faced with a tough …

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