Race Weekend Central

Kasey Kahne Not Driving at Indianapolis

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Due to what his team called “lingering effects of extreme heat exhaustion” following last weekend’s Bojangles Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, Kasey Kahne will not race this weekend in the Big Machine Vodka 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “Following Sunday night’s race at Darlington, Kahne was taken to the track’s care center where he was …

Read more

The 10: Best Paint Schemes of the Darlington Throwback Era

Darlington Field - 2017

(Photo: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

This week, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series enjoyed its final off weekend of the season. We combed through the throwbacks that have been run since the beginning of the Darlington throwback era and found our 10 favorite throwbacks that have been run. Jeff Gordon/Dale Earnhardt Jr. –  “Gray Ghost” – 2016 The Buddy Baker “Gray …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Kevin Harvick & Kyle Busch Best So Far in 2018

#4: Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford Fusion Busch Light / Mobil 1 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who’s in the headline The 2018 season has been the story of the haves and have-nots. Stewart-Haas Racing has been the strongest organization all season long and its number one driver has been Kevin Harvick. Harvick is the series leader in victories, stage wins and has accumulated the most playoff points. The other driver who …

Read more

Frontstretch Podcast: Josh Williams Tackles Bristol as Kurt Busch Ends Winless Streak

Josh Williams NASCAR Xfinity Series Rinnai 250 Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, GA USA Saturday 24 February 2018 Josh Williams, DGM Racing, StarTron Chevrolet Camaro World Copyright: Barry Cantrell NKP NASCAR Xfinity Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

In the latest episode of the 2018 Frontstretch Podcast, we review a great weekend of racing at Bristol Motor Speedway with Dustin Albino, Mike Neff, Zach Catanzareti and Josh Williams, driver of the No. 90 DGM Racing Chevrolet in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. Williams was on pace for a career-best finish at Bristol before breaking a pair of shock mounts …

Read more

NASCAR Mailbox: Would All-Star Package Lead To More Early Retirements?

Kasey Kahne 2018 MENCS Cup Series, Sonoma

(Photo: Danny Peters)

Last week was a very busy news week for NASCAR, headlined by the announcement by both Kasey Kahne and Elliott Sadler that they would retire at season’s end. There have been several drivers who have hung up the helmet at the top of their game the past few seasons. However, there is suspicion that NASCAR …

Read more

5 Points to Ponder: Bristol is Back, Baby!

21-22 August, 2015, Bristol, Tennessee USA Kyle Busch, Skittles Toyota Camry Denny Hamlin, FedEx Ground Toyota Camry ©2015, Matthew T. Thacker NKP

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

ONE: Bristol is Back That’s right, I said it. Beginning with driver intros that were actually televised so fans could see the song choices and competitors had a rare opportunity to introduce themselves, the hype began. Obviously, some intros were more amusing than others as a handful of drivers brought their children along to do …

Read more

Beside the Rising Tide: Just Walk Away, Renee

#95: Kasey Kahne, Leavine Family Racing, Chevrolet Camaro Procore Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Kasey Kahne’s decision to retire Thursday (Aug. 16) from full-time NASCAR Cup Series racing took me by complete surprise. It is perhaps overstating the moment to say it sent shockwaves through the sport. But at very least, it sent large ripples across a pool of eligible drivers trying to make or remain within NASCAR’s elusive …

Read more

The Underdog House: Small NASCAR Teams Stand Their Ground in Bristol

#37: Chris Buescher, JTG Daugherty Racing, Chevrolet Camaro Bush's Beans and #17: Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Roush Fenway Racing, Ford Fusion Fastenal Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Think Small When you race at Bristol Motor Speedway, whether in Monster Energy Cup, XFINITY or Camping World Trucks, you learn quick how easily that place can take the best out of you. It can make you do things you wish you didn’t and can define or destroy weeks of momentum as the regular season …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Just Like Old Times, Kurt Busch Wins Bristol

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who’s in the headline Kurt Busch owned Bristol at one point in time. He won five races there from 2002 through 2006, including three straight in 2003 and 2004. Since his fifth win in 2006, he didn’t have a single runner-up finish. Busch ran in the top 10 the majority of the night and made …

Read more

Kasey Kahne at Peace with Retirement Decision

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Since the 2004 Daytona 500, one thing has been consistent in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Kasey Kahne has competed in every race. When the checkered flag waves at Homestead in November, that will be no more. In a tweet sent out by Kahne on Thursday morning, he announced he’d be stepping away from …

Read more

4 Burning Questions: Who Retired This Week?

2017 Texas NXS Elliott Sadler Russell LaBounty NKP

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

Who will drive the No. 95 next season? On Thursday (Aug. 16), Kasey Kahne announced his retirement from competing full-time in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at season’s end. pic.twitter.com/0V0keaggcL — Kasey Kahne (@kaseykahne) August 16, 2018 Kahne, who will turn 39 next April, is the latest big name driver to retire in the …

Read more

Voice of Vito: Recent NASCAR Retirements Paving a Shortcut for Careers

2018 pocono cup zach catanzareti matt kenseth

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Kasey Kahne unexpectedly send out his Dear John letter to the racing world on Thursday (Aug. 16), announcing his retirement from the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at the end of 2018. After 15 seasons, one of the original young guns of the early-2000s NASCAR youth movement is calling it a career at the ripe …

Read more

Sign up for the Frontstretch Newsletter

A daily email update (Monday through Friday) providing racing news, commentary, features, and information from Frontstretch.com