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 …

Read more

Xfinity Breakdown: Justin Allgaier Checks Darlington Off List; Noah Gragson Disqualified

Justin Allgaier

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Steakhouse Elite 200 at Darlington Raceway began with Dale Earnhardt Jr. pacing the NASCAR Xfinity Series field in a restored No. 8 Chevrolet Nova driven by his father, Dale Earnhardt. The race ended with Justin Allgaier, driving a JR Motorsports throwback scheme to the late Earnhardt, in victory lane. Saturday’s (May 8) race had …

Read more

Jeremy Clements, Ryan Sieg, Alex Labbe Shine in Darlington Runs

Jeremy Clements Alex Labbe Darlington

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

There’s a uniqueness about Darlington Raceway. With its quirks and peculiarities, it presents challenges that drivers and teams are not likely to see at any other venue. So on one hand, it’d be plausible for teams to not put much effort into “The Lady and Black” given that little of what teams can glean is …

Read more

First Pacific Funding Extends Sponsorship With Jeremy Clements

#51: Jeremy Clements, Jeremy Clements Racing, Chevrolet Camaro First Pacific Funding, #19: Brandon Jones, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Supra 2021 spring Phoenix Xfinity race NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Jeremy Clements Racing is now fully sponsored for the rest of the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series campaign. The family-owned team with driver Jeremy Clements has extended its relationship with First Pacific Funding, the company announced April 30. The No. 51 Chevrolet will now carry the FPF colors in the remaining races of the 2021 season …

Read more

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,” …

Read more

The Underdog House: Late Slip Overshadows Eye-Opening Day for Daniel Suarez

Daniel Suarez before the 2021 Daytona 500 Cup NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Top Dog Following last week’s race at Phoenix Raceway, Trackhouse Racing received the news that teams dread to hear. During post-race inspection, Daniel Suarez’s No. 99 Chevrolet was found with two loose lug nuts. That resulted in a one-race suspension for crew chief Travis Mack, along with a $20,000 fine. In his place, the team …

Read more

Xfinity Breakdown: Allgaier Holds Off Dominant Truex Jr.; Gragson and Hemric Throw Fists Post-Race

2021 Xfinity Atlanta Justin Allgaier, No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, Victory Lane (Credit: Sean Gardner/Getty Images via NASCAR Media)

Photo: Sean Gardner/Getty Images via NASCAR Media

It didn’t take long for two-time Xfinity Series champion Martin Truex Jr. to get his sea legs back after an 11-year absence in the series on Saturday (March 20) in the EchoPark 250 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. It only took Truex seven laps to drive from his 18th-place starting position to the lead. However, a …

Read more

10 Cup & Xfinity Teams Penalized for Homestead Lug Nut Violations

NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

NASCAR today (March 2) announced a slew of lug nut-related penalties between the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series after last weekend’s races at Homestead-Miami Speedway. All of the penalized Cup and Xfinity teams were found in violation of section 10.9.10.4 of the rule book., which deals with lug nuts not being properly …

Read more

The Underdog House: Michael McDowell Makes NASCAR Career History… Again

NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Top Dog Only two drivers currently have finished in the top 10 in the first three races of 2021. One was likely expected in 2014 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick. The other continues to carry on the momentum after a Cinderella story moment at the Daytona 500. Michael McDowell has now finished first, eighth, …

Read more

Friday Faceoff: How Many Road Courses Is Too Many?

Chase Elliott leads the pack at 2021 Daytona road course Photo NKP

(photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Does the NASCAR Cup Series schedule feature too many road courses? What is the ideal number? Luken Glover: Yes. Road courses can present great racing, but there are a lot of times when they are uneventful races too. Sometimes they can be wreckfests, like we saw in all three series in some capacity at the …

Read more

The Underdog House: Bubba Wallace Goes Out on Top at Phoenix

NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Top Dog Bubba Wallace stood atop the underdog pile when the final checkered flag waved on Sunday at Phoenix Raceway. After a tumultuous season of ups and downs, Wallace put a period on his tenure in the Petty No. 43 with a 15th-place finish. He ran as high as seventh, and at the end of …

Read more

Xfinity Breakdown: Chase Briscoe Cashes in for Las Vegas Sweep, Ryan Sieg Shows Hidden Playoff Strength

NASCAR Xfinity Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The green flag waved at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to kick off the Xfinity Series playoffs. The 12 playoff drivers got their first chance to show what they’ve got in this first round. Some rolled the dice and came out lucky, while others rolled snake eyes and lost out on valuable points. The driver who …

Read more