Race Weekend Central

Fire on Fridays: Richard Petty, Jimmie Johnson Declines Aren’t Comparable

Jimmie Johnson & Richard Petty

(Nigel Kinrade Photography)

There’s been a lot of comparisons lately between the long winless droughts at the end of the careers of fellow seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champions Richard Petty and Jimmie Johnson. Petty went winless in his last eight seasons, while Johnson hasn’t been to victory lane since June 2017, both a far cry from their primes. …

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2-Headed Monster: Does NASCAR Need to Use PJ1?

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Last Thursday’s (July 23) NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway was generally well-received. It wasn’t an all-time great race, but it was one that many fans felt had some compelling storylines along with more passing and on-track action. It was the first race in a while without the assistance of PJ1. The traction compound, …

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Frontstretch Podcast: Entertainment in Kansas, Matt Crafton Talks Truck Victory

Nascar Gander Rv & Outdoors Truck Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Subscribe: iTunes In this week’s edition of the Frontstretch Podcast, Dustin Albino and Mike Neff discuss an entertaining weekend of racing at Kansas Speedway, which saw Denny Hamlin victorious again in the NASCAR Cup Series race. Following the race, Hamlin said he believes he now wins races more with his mind than talent; the duo chat how Hamlin has evolved …

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5 Points to Ponder: This Is Denny Hamlin’s Year — No, for Real This Time

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

1. This is Denny Hamlin’s Best Chance Ever for a Championship, Right? Just when the NASCAR Cup Series appeared to be veering toward chaos thanks to back to back surprise victories by Cole Custer and Austin Dillon, Kansas Speedway marked a return to normalcy — albeit in a Thursday night affair with no fans in …

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Beside the Rising Tide: Practice Makes Perfect

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Few of you need me to remind you that all of us are living in extraordinary times right now. By “extraordinary,” I don’t mean to imply this is a great time to be alive, though being alive right now still beats the alternative. Man, it’s summertime, AKA, “the sweet, sweet, summertime, summertime” of Bob Seger’s …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2020 Super Start Batteries 400 at Kansas

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? Denny Hamlin won an action-packed Super Start Batteries 400 at Kansas Speedway on Thursday (July 23) after holding off a late charge from Brad Keselowski. Hamlin led a race-high 57 laps. Martin Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick and Erik Jones completed the top five. Make some room for a FIFTH win sticker on that …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2020 O’Reilly Auto Parts 500

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who… should you be talking about after the race? Sometimes it’s all about being in the right position. Austin Dillon took two tires on his final pit stop, setting him up in second on the first of three late restarts. The two tires were enough to get the jump on teammate Tyler Reddick, who had inherited …

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Up to Speed: Time for Jimmie Johnson to Step Up

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Jimmie Johnson wound up with another rough race in the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500, the latest blow in what’s been a difficult 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season.  Initially, a return to Texas Motor Speedway seemed to offer some hope of a good performance for the No. 48 team.  With seven career wins at TMS, all …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2020 All-Star Race

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who…should you be talking about after the race? Chase Elliott said after the race he and his team had to hit the reset button after a couple of difficult weeks. If that’s the case, they need to hit it before every race, because it worked. Elliott did everything right, his team did everything right and …

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Did You Notice?: That Summertime NASCAR Spark At Stewart-Haas Racing?

2017 Kansas I Cup Tony Stewart Barry Cantrell Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Did You Notice? … How quickly Stewart-Haas Racing has gotten its act together this summer? While Kevin Harvick has been a title contender all season long in the NASCAR Cup Series, his trio of teammates spent the first half of 2020 mired in midpack. Here’s where all four drivers stood through the Martinsville Speedway race June …

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Frontstretch Podcast: Lackluster Racing in Kentucky, Michael McDowell Chats Career Year

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Subscribe: iTunes In this week’s edition of the Frontstretch Podcast, Dustin Albino and Mike Neff discuss the lackluster racing at Kentucky Speedway across the top three national touring series, even though the Cup Series race had an incredible finish.  Cole Custer clinched a playoff spot by making a four-wide pass on Martin Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick and Ryan Blaney on …

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5 Points to Ponder: Cole Custer Shakes Up Rookie, Playoff Races

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

1. Cole Custer Pulls a “Where Did He Come From?” in More Ways Than One As Quicksilver said in The Avengers in his one truly memorable line, “bet you didn’t see that coming.” By that, I mean Cole Custer making his thrilling late charge to win his first NASCAR Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway. …

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