Race Weekend Central

Pace Laps: Texas Tires, Penske Dominance & Newgarden Prevails in Phoenix

Goodyear Tires ready for NASCAR action. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Texas Tears Up Tires Kyle Busch may have edged Kevin Harvick to finally get that winless monkey off his back, but Sunday’s (April 8) race at Texas Motor Speedway for the MENCS was more notable for who wasn’t around at the finish. Kyle Larson. Martin Truex Jr. Ryan Newman. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. …

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Fitzgerald Glider Kits Expands Team Penske Sponsorship

2017 Dover I Nxs Ryan Blaney Car Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

On Wednesday morning, Team Penske announced an expansion of Fitzgerald Glider Kits’ partnership with the race team.  For 2018, the company will serve as the primary sponsor of Team Penske’s No. 22 Ford Mustang in the XFINITY Series for 16 races.  All of the races were not announced, but highlighted events include Daytona in February, …

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Happiness Is: The Drivers Edition

2016 Darlington Cup Jeff Gordon Zach Catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

The playoffs have started in NASCAR; the IndyCar season is over; and Formula 1 is about to begin its drive home. Happiness Is… Gordon.  Jeff Gordon has been out the sport for two years now (sort of), having joined the madness of the FOX broadcast team and attempted to contribute a sensible voice.  When his …

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5 Points to Ponder: The Power of NASCAR Social Media

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Brickyard 400 Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis, In Usa Saturday 22 July 2017 Brad Keselowski, Team Penske, Miller Lite Ford Fusion World Copyright: Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

ONE: Twitter Wars I’m sure by now you’ve seen the tweet from Brad Keselowski Friday, prior to the race at Chicagoland Speedway this past weekend where he took to Twitter to opine on the form of the Toyotas. Just in case, here’s the tweet in question: We are all in for a rude awakening. Haven't seen …

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Simon Pagenaud Wins IndyCar at Sonoma, Josef Newgarden Takes Series Championship

2017 Long Beach Indycar Simon Pagenaud Car Phil Allaway

(Photo: Phil Allaway)

Simon Pagenaud may have won the battle in Sunday’s Verizon IndyCar Series contest at Sonoma Raceway, a thrilling open-wheel finale on the winding road course, but the big winner on the day was Josef Newgarden. On a picture perfect day in the rolling hills of northern California’s wine country, Newgarden took home his first IndyCar title and …

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Pace Laps: Championship Favorites Reign at Chicago, Josef Newgarden Wins IndyCar Title

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Tales Of The Turtles 400 Chicagoland Speedway, Joliet, Il Usa Sunday 17 September 2017 Martin Truex Jr, Furniture Row Racing, Furniture Row/denver Mattress Toyota Camry Celebrates His Win World Copyright:brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: The Importance of Execution – It ended some days and opened opportunity for others. Heck, it even had its place in the day of the race winner Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway. Execution is an important factor in tying one end of the race to the other, especially once the playoffs …

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Beside The Rising Tide: With Autumn Closing In

Darlington Cup 2017 Aric Almirola 2 Throwback Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

Ain’t it funny how the night moves? When you just don’t seem to have as much to lose, Ain’t it funny how the night moves? With autumn closing in…. -Bob Seger While it hasn’t quite reached the level of the Memorial Day weekend yet, Labor Day weekend offered race fans a full slate of action …

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Despite Watkins Glen Trouble, Josef Newgarden Still Has Points Advantage, But .…

Jgs 1027 1

(Photo: Joe Skibinski)

Josef Newgarden finished 18th in the IndyCar Grand Prix at the Glen on Sunday after an accident with Sébastien Bourdais while leaving pit road, but nonetheless maintains a three-point lead over four-time champion Scott Dixon in the standings. Newgarden was racing Team Penske teammate Will Power off pit lane during the final round of stops when …

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Pace Laps: Denny Hamlin Dominates Darlington, IndyCar Series Title Battle Tightens

Hamlin Darlington Nxs

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Denny Hamlin Makes a Darling out of Darlington – Nobody, even the drivers, seem to understand why a certain track brings success to a certain driver. Jimmie Johnson has Dover, Jeff Gordon had Martinsville. Why? “It just suits my driving style.” For Denny Hamlin, a sweep of the weekend at …

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5 Points to Ponder: The Sharp End of the 2017 NASCAR Season

2017 Indianapolis Cup Kyle Busch Pack Racing Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

ONE: 12 to go We’re exactly two thirds of the way through the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series schedule. 24 races are in the books leaving just 12 to go before we crown a 2017 champion. Two unique tracks, Darlington Raceway and Richmond International Raceway, await us next before the playoffs begin. Given that for many drivers, …

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Pace Laps: Jeremy Clements Gets Long Awaited Victory, Josef Newgarden Extends Points Lead

2017 Road America Nxs Jeremy Clements Woohoo Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist / NKP)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: What to Do With An Off-Week – Hopefully, you enjoyed your off-weekend, because they will be no more in 2017. After an 18-week stretch for the Cup guys, they all kept it easy this last weekend of August before a final 12-week haul leads us to the offseason. But let’s …

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