Race Weekend Central

iRacing Weekly Roundup: Summer Break? Not for Online Racing!

iRacing Weekly Roundup

Photo by Justin Melillo via iRacing.com

The top series in NASCAR are off for the Olympics for two weeks, but besides the 100% Cup Series, that doesn’t mean anything to most racing online. Many of the series that the iRacing Weekly Roundup covers are still in full force during the break. A few special events have also popped up, such as …

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The Underdog House: Sweet Music for Daniel Suarez, NASCAR Underdogs in Nashville

Daniel Suarez Nashville Cup 2021 NASCAR race NKP (Tootsies sponsor)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Setting The excitement, energy and enthusiasm of the NASCAR Cup Series heading to Nashville Superspeedway was felt all week across NASCAR Nation. For the first time in 37 years, the Cup tour was stopping in Music City to race the 1.33-mile Nashville Superspeedway on Father’s Day. (I’d like to wish all the Dads out …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 Coca-Cola 600

2021 Cup Charlotte Pack Racing - Erik Jones, No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet (Credit: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who… should you be talking about after the Coca-Cola 600? Kyle Larson cruised to his second win of the season at Charlotte Motor Speedway Sunday (May 30) with a whopping 10-second lead on second place. With Larson’s victory, Hendrick Motorsports passed Richard Petty Motorsports to set a NASCAR record with 269 wins as an organization. …

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eNASCAR Pro Invitational iRacing Series: William Byron Claims Win at Virtual Bristol Dirt

William Byron beats Tyler Reddick on eNASCAR Pro Invitational iRacing Series 2021 Bristol dirt Photo NASCAR

(Photo: NASCAR Media via Justin Melillo)

Wednesday night (March 24) marked the return of the eNASCAR Pro Invitational Series. After the successful run last year during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, NASCAR and Fox decided to bring it back for another year with all of the Cup drivers for the 2021 season, plus a few special guests. While the world …

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The Virtual Frontstretch: Issue 1

Melillo Virtual Frontstretch 1

Photo by Justin Melillo via iRacing.com

It’s been a wild start to the year in the world of motor-eSports across the iRacing and NASCAR Heat platforms. With the offseason coming to a close and the Daytona 500 kicking off the NASCAR racing season, many special events and league seasons have sprung up across the sim racing world; some of them are …

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Here Are the Changes to the Daytona Road Course Entry Lists

Pack Racing during the 2021 Busch Clash

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

In what will likely become a recurring segment at Frontstretch each week, we’ll run down the driver- and team-related changes to the NASCAR entry lists since they were initially posted, in this case last Saturday, Feb. 13. NASCAR Cup Series (Daytona International Speedway road course) –Garrett Smithley will make his season debut this weekend, driving the …

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Austin Dillon Nabs 2nd Daytona Duel Win, Kaz Grala Qualifies for 500

2021 Daytona I Duel II Dillon winner 2 NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Austin Dillon won on a crossover move in NASCAR overtime to win the second Bluegreen Vacations Duel at Daytona International Speedway to set the field for Sunday’s (Feb. 14) Daytona 500. He bested Bubba Wallace, who debuted a fast No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota. Dillon is seeking his second Daytona 500 victory. He will start …

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3 Cup Car Chiefs Ejected After Inspection Issues

David Ragan car at Daytona 2021, Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

NASCAR ejected the car chief from three NASCAR Cup Series teams after three cars failed inspection at least twice prior to Daytona 500 single-car qualifying. The Nos. 13 and 36, driven by Garrett Smithley and David Ragan, respectively, failed inspection twice. Both their car chiefs were ejected. Noah Gragson‘s No. 62 Chevrolet failed inspection three …

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The Underdog House: Potential 2021 Daytona 500 Cinderellas

2020 Kansas II NXS Austin Cindric NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Dark Horse Field When the NASCAR Cup Series heads to Daytona International Speedway for the 2021 version of the Great American Race, 36 teams walk in breathing easy. The charter they own guarantees them an automatic spot in the Daytona 500 no matter how slow their car is or if they wreck in their …

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2020 NASCAR Team Reviews: Spire Motorsports

2020_Review_Spire

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

When the 2021 season kicks off at Daytona International Speedway in February, Spire Motorsports will be entering its third full-time season as a team in NASCAR. Yes, you heard that right. 

 Their first two years in the NASCAR atmosphere have been interesting, to say the very least. 
After the unfortunate collapse of former championship-winning …

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Xfinity Breakdown: Justin Haley Stays Perfect on Superspeedways

2020 Talladega II NXS Justin Haley burnout NKP

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NASCAR realigned the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course to Talladega Superspeedway. The venue change benefitted Justin Haley most as he led the final two laps en route to winning the 2020 Ag-Pro 300 on Saturday (Oct. 3). It is Haley’s third straight win on a superspeedway as …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: FOX Goes for 2 in Pocono, Gets Exhausted

NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Oh man! If I had the ability to prevent rain delays, this season would be so much less exhausting. After Sunday’s Pocono 350, I noted that covering Sunday’s tripleheader was more tiring than covering Petit Le Mans on-site. Having covered that event for the last four years, I can tell you that (for me), it …

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