Race Weekend Central

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Coke Zero 400 Reminder of NASCAR Plate Race Problems

2016 Daytona Ii Cup Kasey Kahne Crash Damage John Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John Harrelson/NKP)

The Key Moment – On the final restart, Brad Keselowski got a much-needed push from teammate Joey Logano. Behind him, the Busch brothers battled (though not with paddles, in a bottle, on poodles). Team Penske’s Logano faded and Keselowski, topping off a dominant night, went on to score his first win at Daytona International Speedway. In a …

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NASCAR Mailbox: Predicting the Future

2106 Sonoma Cup Tony Stewart Helmet Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

With a new aerodynamic package added to the mix in 2016, many things have remained the same. The same core of organizations are winning races, ultimately dominating the sport. Could there be a change in the near future? Familiar foes are near the Chase cutoff, and it’s something that those drivers and teams are accustomed to, …

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5 Points to Ponder: Wine Country and the Power of a Win

2016 Phoenix I Cup Joey Logano Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

ONE: 11 to Go After the off-week for Sprint Cup, it’s back at it this weekend at Sonoma Raceway in picturesque wine country (more on that below). In total, we have 11 races to go before the Chase and ten race winners to date, so there’s still plenty of time for those on the outside looking in …

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Kyle Larson Penalized Again; 20 Others Cited by NASCAR

2016 Michigan I Cup Chase Elliott Kyle Larson Tony Stewart Racing Matthewt Thacker Nkp

Wednesday was a huge day for NASCAR penalties and warnings. Kyle Larson, who finished third in last weekend’s FireKeepers Casino 400, was docked 15 points as part of a P3 penalty levied against the team for failing post-race inspection. Larson’s crew chief for the week, Phil Surgen, was fined $25,000 as part of the penalty. …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not: Post-Michigan Edition

2016 Michigan I Cup Joey Logano Confetti John Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John Harrelson / NKP)

The racing weekend at Michigan and Texas gave fans plenty of variety. Youth showed us their talents, restarts were crazy, at least two of the finishes were well worth waiting for and then there was a special groundhog appearance. Just your normal racing weekend. HOT Sooner or later Joey Logano was going to win a …

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Cool Down: The Youth Movement Shines in Michigan and Texas

2016 Michigan I Cup Pack Racing John Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John Harrelson/NKP)

There was a time not long ago when the future stars of NASCAR couldn’t be found anywhere. As drivers like Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart slowly raced into the twilight of their careers, the drivers who would rise up and take over their spots atop the sport were nowhere to be seen. Just …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2016 FireKeepers Casino 400

2016 Michigan I Cup Tony Stewart Pack Racing John Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John Harrelson / NKP)

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? If anyone thought that Tony Stewart was going to simply ride quietly into the sunset, he set them straight on Sunday, qualifying third and driving to his second top 10 of the year. Stewart’s struggles since his 2013 injury have been well-documented, but it’s hard to say that he doesn’t have a …

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Up To Speed: Joey Logano Enjoys Driving on the ‘Ragged Edge’

2016 Michigan International Speedway Nscs Joey Logano Burnout Photo Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

After 14 races this season, there were two 2015 winners who had yet to win this season: Joey Logano and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. While it was surprising on the part of both drivers that neither had made it to Victory Lane, Logano’s winless season was arguably the most unfathomable considering he had a series-high six …

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Opinions on Downforce Package Lean Positive After Michigan

2016 Michigan | Cup Full Field Restart Photo Drew Hallowell/getty Images

(Photo: Drew Hallowell/Getty Images )

As Joey Logano crossed the start-finish line to complete lap 200 of the Firekeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway, the first test of a new lower-downforce package for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series came to a close. The package, implemented for Michigan and the July 9 Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway, included a reduction …

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Joey Logano Scores First Win of 2016 in Ford’s Backyard

2016 Phoenix I Cup Joey Logano Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

Looking for a win to join teammate Brad Keselowski in the Chase, Joey Logano finished a complete weekend at Michigan International Speedway with a Coors Light Pole Award and a victory in Sunday’s Firekeepers Casino 400. Logano led the way for much of the day, pacing the field for 139 of the race’s 200 laps …

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Logano Surges to FireKeepers Casino 400 Pole

Logano2

Photo: Zach Catanzareti

In Ford’s backyard, it’ll be Joey Logano – in a blue oval – leading the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series to the green flag in the Irish Hills of Michigan. Logano topped the final round of NSCS qualifying with a 199.557 mph lap to top Coors Light Pole Qualifying for Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan …

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Logano Paces Second Michigan XFINITY Practice

Team Penske’s No. 22 Ford has suffered a fair share of performance issues thus far in the 2016 NASCAR XFINITY Series season. However, if Friday’s second practice at Michigan International Speedway is any sign, the team may be getting things back on track. An early 191.826 mph lap from Joey Logano topped the session for …

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