Race Weekend Central

Friday Faceoff: Candy Eggs, Easter Bunnies & NASCAR Racing?

Alex Bowman at 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Michigan race

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Kurt Busch and Alex Bowman are tied for the final playoff position above the cutoff heading to Bristol Motor Speedway. Who has the better odds of claiming the 12th slot? Luken Glover: Kurt Busch has a whopping six wins in Thunder Valley, including five top 10s in the last seven races at Bristol. In 10 starts …

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Frontstretch 5: Best Clutch Performances in NASCAR Playoff History

Martinsville Jeff Gordon Team Victory 2015 Cup Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff, Frontstretch)

Four unlucky drivers’ fates will be sealed after this coming Saturday’s (Sept. 18) Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, as the NASCAR Cup Series playoff field will be reduced from 16 to 12 competitors. Alex Bowman, Tyler Reddick, William Byron and Michael McDowell all enter Bristol underneath the cutoff line, and …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Richmond Brings Self-Reflection to NBCSN

2021 Richmond II Cup Martin Truex Jr. pack racing NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Richmond races for the Cup Series have not necessarily been the most competitive in recent years. Honestly, they’ve been Joe Gibbs Racing benefits. Saturday night’s race was no different, despite 21 lead changes. Naturally, given that Saturday was Sept. 11, the anniversary of the terrorist attacks was front and center. Countdown to Green had a …

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Up to Speed: The Hendrick Motorsports Playoff Battle Begins Early

Hendrick Motorsports battles for position at Homestead-Miami Speedway. (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Earlier in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, Hendrick Motorsports looked like the team to beat as all four of its drivers had won a race by Memorial Day.  Kyle Larson was particularly impressive, winning three races in a row plus the non-points All-Star race.  But William Byron, Alex Bowman and Chase Elliott all had their …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond

Martin Truex Jr at Richmond Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

(Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

What happened? Martin Truex Jr. won the Federated Auto Parts Salute to First Responders 400 at Richmond Raceway on Saturday night (Sept. 11) after leading the final 51 laps. Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott and Joey Logano rounded out the top-five finishers. RETWEET to congratulate @MartinTruex_Jr on his WIN at @RichmondRaceway! His fourth win …

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Kurt Busch Loses 4 Pit Crew Members for Richmond Due to COVID Protocols

Kurt Busch at 2021 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway Gearwrench car NASCAR Cup NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

NASCAR Cup playoff driver Kurt Busch will be without all but one of his regular pit crew members Saturday night (Sept. 11) at Richmond Raceway due to COVID-19 contact tracing protocols. Busch’s No. 1 team will be without front tire changer Cory Baldwin, tire carrier Jeremy Kimbrough, rear tire changer Steve Price and jackman Josh …

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4 Burning Questions: What’s Up With CGR & Spire?

2021 Darlington II Cup Corey LaJoie Ross Chastain racing NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened at Darlington Raceway? Last weekend, the NASCAR playoffs began with a bang at Darlington Raceway, where… Oh, forget that nonsense! It’s time for some hard-nosed, no-frills, godforsaken FOOTBALL. Football on Thursday! Football on Friday! Football on Saturday! Football on Sunday! Football on Monday! Football in high school! Football in college! Football between all …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington

Denny Hamlin celebrates his win in the 2021 Southern 500 at Darlington. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? Denny Hamlin won the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington on Sunday night (Sept. 5) after narrowly holding off Kyle Larson in the final corner. Larson, Ross Chastain, Martin Truex Jr. and Kevin Harvick rounded out the top-five finishers. RETWEET to congratulate @DennyHamlin on his #Southern500 win at @TooToughToTame! What a final corner …

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NASCAR Nuggets: Cup Drivers Talk Playoffs, New Packages & New Teams

Kyle busch smiling at NASCAR Cup Michigan race, NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Hours before the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, Aug. 28, 20 drivers of the NASCAR Cup Series stopped by the media bullpen to answer a few questions. One by one, Cup drivers stopped by the gates and spoke about the past, present and future of their careers. There were plenty …

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Cup Series Returns to Darlington After Turn 2 Repave

NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington

(Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

When the NASCAR Cup Series begins its playoff run this weekend, it’ll do so at Darlington Raceway. It will be just the third time this year the series has made a return trip to a track this season, following visits to Atlanta Motor Speedway and the regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway. But the 1.366-mile …

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Friday Faceoff: Can Kurt Busch Win With 23XI?

Kurt Busch walking at road america

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Chris Buescher was disqualified from his second-place finish in the NASCAR Cup Series at Daytona International Speedway for a post-race infraction due to an unapproved track bar mount. Does the punishment fit the crime? Josh Roller: Not enough information was shared by NASCAR to determine whether or not a disqualification was appropriate or not. What made …

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4 Burning Questions: Who’ll Be Eliminated in Each Cup Playoff Round?

2021 regular season Cup champion Kyle Larson with trophy

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who will be eliminated in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs’ Round of 16? Michael McDowell has been disappointing in the second half of the regular season. He had a strong start to the season in addition to his Daytona 500 win, but he’s 28th in total points in the past 10 races among all Cup …

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