Race Weekend Central

Zach’s Turn: Darlington Highlights Intersection of Old & New as Playoff Opener

Darlington Raceway NASCAR

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Darlington Raceway is an obvious historic landmark for NASCAR. That is part of what makes the 71-year-old facility the perfect start of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, which kick off at the 1.33-mile South Carolinian oval Sunday (Sept. 5) with the 72nd annual Cook Out Southern 500 at 6 p.m. ET. Although the 10-week playoffs …

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Dropping the Hammer: 23XI Racing is Kurt Busch’s NASCAR Endgame

Kurt Busch and Denny hamlin

Kurt Busch team owner Denny Hamlin (23XI Racing)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Kurt Busch’s move to 23XI Racing was announced appropriately. The news was trumpeted in a 37-second video posted on social media, complete with Busch stepping off a private jet and walking to the No. 45 Toyota he will drive in 2022. “And you thought I was leaving,” Busch says over the …

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Kurt Busch to Join 23XI Racing in 2022, Drive the No. 45

Kurt Busch with 23XI Racing

Kurt Busch poses with his No. 45 Toyota for the 2022 season (23XI Racing)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — 23XI Racing announced Friday (Aug. 27) that Kurt Busch would join the team in 2022, driving the No. 45. The 2004 Cup champion will become teammates with Bubba Wallace on the team that is co-owned by Denny Hamlin and NBA legend Michael Jordan. “I cannot begin to express my gratitude for …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Gateway a Nightmare for FS1, Michigan Skewed by Finish

Pack racing in the Firekeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway, August 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

This past weekend was the final split race weekend of the season. The NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series teams were at Michigan International Speedway. Meanwhile, the Camping World Truck Series shared a bill at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway with the NTT IndyCar Series. The two venues brought in completely different races. FireKeepers Casino …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 Firekeepers Casino 400

Kurt Busch looks on at 2021 Cup Circuit of the Americas. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who … should you be talking about after the race? When Ryan Blaney shot to the lead on the final restart, it was easy to think it wouldn’t stick. The final eight laps were the only ones he’d led all day, and he had the dominant Hendrick cars of William Byron and Kyle Larson behind …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan

2021 Michigan Cup Ryan Blaney Trophy Sean Gardner Getty

(Photo: NASCAR via Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

What happened? Ryan Blaney won the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan on Sunday (Aug. 22) after leading the final eight laps, holding off William Byron in the closest finish ever at Michigan. Byron, Kyle Larson, Kurt Busch and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top-five finishers.  Winning is fun. Ryan @Blaney soaked it all in after …

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Dropping the Hammer: Michael McDowell Uncertain of 2022 Plans Despite Daytona Win

Michael McDowell and Bubba Wallace (Credit: NKP)

Michael McDowell raced with Bubba Wallace in 2021. Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

It’s mid-August and Michael McDowell doesn’t yet know his plans for the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season. But that’s typical for McDowell. Every season he’s competed in the Cup Series, including his time with Front Row Motorsports which began in 2018,  McDowell has been on a year-to-year deal. But in previous years, McDowell wasn’t the …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR DraftKings Forecast: 2021 Verizon 200 at the Brickyard

Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin racing each other during the Go Bowling at the Glen at Watkins Glen International, 8/8/2021 (Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

NASCAR Cup Series drivers hope to kiss the bricks this weekend but this time at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Let’s get your daily fantasy NASCAR DraftKings rosters ready for Sunday’s (Aug. 14) Verizon 200 at the Brickyard! It’s the Cup Series’ second consecutive road course event after Kyle Larson earned his fifth win …

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5 Points to Ponder: When Chase (Elliott) Does the Chasing

2021 Watkins Glen Cup Chase Elliott Racing Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

1. Chase Elliott nearly pulls off ridiculous comeback Everybody loves a good come-from-behind victory, but is it still entertaining when the heroic comeback doesn’t quite complete the job at the end of the day? Based on what we saw from Chase Elliott Sunday (Aug. 8), the answer is yes. Given that the defending NASCAR Cup …

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Fire on Fridays: NASCAR Silly Season Dominoes Left to Fall

2021 Charlotte I Cup Ryan Newman Denny Hamlin NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

This NASCAR Cup Series silly season has already been a wild one. From Brad Keselowski buying into Roush Fenway Racing to Trackhouse Racing Team purchasing Chip Ganassi Racing’s Cup program, there hasn’t been a silly season that’s shaken up the garage this much in quite a while. And it’s not over yet. There’s still a …

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Dropping The Hammer: Chase Elliott & Bubba Wallace, the Faces of NASCAR

Chase Elliott and Bubba Wallace

(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

You don’t need me to tell you this, but Chase Elliott is kind of a big deal within NASCAR. We are currently nine months into Elliott’s reign as the defending NASCAR Cup Series champion. We’re also in our third year with the 25-year-old as NASCAR’s reigning Most Popular Driver. This is no small thing. 2021 …

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NASCAR Mailbox: Should the 2-Week Summer Break Be a Mainstay?

2021 Pocono Kyle Busch pack racing James Gilbert Getty

(Photo: James Gilbert/Getty Images via NASCAR Media)

Similar to how Formula 1 operates, I liked NASCAR’s two-week break this summer for the Olympics. Do you think the break should remain on the schedule moving forward? – Tony L., Dayton, Ohio Absolutely, it should. To beat a dead horse, I’m as big of a “less is more” person when it comes to NASCAR …

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