Race Weekend Central

4 Burning Questions: Definitely An Xperience

Tony Stewart Return Press Conference Atlanta Motor Speedway 2014 Chris Owens

(Credit: Chris Owens)

Where will Kurt Busch end up? This week, Kurt Busch confirmed to Sirius XM that he has been contact by both 23XI Racing and Trackhouse Racing Team for the NASCAR Cup Series in 2022. 23XI was known about, but Trackhouse being mentioned is very interesting. Team owner Justin Marks said later that day that he …

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Justin Marks: ‘2-Car Team … in the Picture’ for Trackhouse Racing in 2022

2021 Cup Charlotte Daniel Suarez, No. 99 TrackHouse Racing Chevrolet (Credit: NKP)

Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

Trackhouse Racing is looking to add a second entry for the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season, team co-owner Justin Marks said on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Wednesday (June 9). “To start working on the long-term success and long-term viability of Trackhouse we have to think about scale and I think that being that small upstart team, …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma

Kyle Larson celebrates at Sonoma with HANS device on Photo NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? Kyle Larson won the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at his hometown track, Sonoma Raceway, on Sunday (June 6) after holding off two of the sport’s best road racers on two late restarts.  Chase Elliott, Martin Truex Jr., Joey Logano and Kyle Busch rounded out the top-five finishers. Winning in NorCal makes today even sweeter …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 Toyota/Save Mart 350

Kyle Larson in victory lane at Sonoma's Toyota/Save Mart 350 (June 2021). (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who … should you be talking about after the Toyota/Save Mart 350? Is Kyle Larson finally living up to his potential? He’s always had the talent to win but has struggled to close. For the second week in a row, Larson left no doubt whether he could finish out races, dominating the Toyota/Save Mart 350 …

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Did You Notice?: Reimagining A NASCAR Winston Million

2001 Cup Darlington Jeff Gordon Winston Million (Credit: Nigel Kinrade NKP)

Photo: Nigel Kinrade, NKP

Did You Notice? … One of NASCAR’s former crown jewel events, part of the old Winston Million, continues to decline? The 2021 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway averaged 4.06 million viewers last Sunday (May 30), posting a 2.3 Nielsen rating that’s tied for its smallest audience since 1997. Compare that to the Indy 500, …

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Hendrick GM: Owe Chip Ganassi Racing ‘Big Apology’ After Coke 600 Engine Problems

2021 Kansas I Cup Ross Chastain Kurt Busch racing NKP

Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

Hendrick Motorsports’ General Manager issued a public “big apology” to Chip Ganassi Racing on Friday (June 4) for the mechanical failures that resulted in CGR’s two Cup cars finishing in the last two spots of Sunday’s (May 30) Coca-Cola 600. Ganassi is part of a technical alliance with Hendrick. While Hendrick Motorsports won the race …

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4 Burning Questions: Is Kurt Busch Going to 23XI?

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

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Is Kurt Busch coming to 23XI Racing? Last weekend, The Athletic reported that 23XI Racing will be expanding in 2022 and that Kurt Busch is believed to be the main candidate for the organization’s second car, with Bubba Wallace staying put in the No. 23 Toyota in the NASCAR Cup Series. While I trust The …

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Friday Faceoff: Has Ryan Newman Had a Hall-of-Fame Career?

Ryan Newman at 2021 spring Phoenix Cup race NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Chip Ganassi Racing No. 42 in the NASCAR Cup Series has just two top-five finishes since Kyle Larson’s tenure ended more than a year ago. What’s wrong at CGR, and what should be done? Josh Roller: The No. 42 with Ross Chastain behind the wheel is heading in the right direction in 2021, despite only …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte

2021 Cup Charlotte Kyle Larson Woo-hoo celebration after Coca-Cola 600 (Credit: NKP)

Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

What happened? Kyle Larson won the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday (May 30) after a downright dominant performance where he led a career-high 327 laps.  Chase Elliott, Kyle Busch, William Byron and Alex Bowman rounded out the top-five finishers. Soaking in the crown jewel W. ?@KyleLarsonRacin | #CocaCola600 pic.twitter.com/QFjnnEplxX — NASCAR (@NASCAR) …

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Fire on Fridays: How Do We Revive Indianapolis-Charlotte Double?

2014 Indianapolis Indycar Kurt Busch Mike Harding Indycar

(Mike Harding/INDYCAR Media)

Is the Memorial Day weekend double dead? If so, how do we bring it back? A true test of a driver’s pure talent and versatility is for them to compete in the both the NTT IndyCar Series’ Indianapolis 500 and the NASCAR Cup Series’ Coca-Cola 600. Several have done it since Charlotte Motor Speedway’s 600-mile …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Echopark Texas Grand Prix at COTA

Chase Elliott races in the rain at Circuit of the Americas (COTA). May 2021 Cup (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? Chase Elliott won the Echopark Texas Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas on Sunday (May 23) after heavy rain and poor track conditions halted the COTA race early with 14 laps remaining.   Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Ross Chastain and AJ Allmendinger rounded out the top-five finishers. Let the celebration begin! @chaseelliott and …

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Up to Speed: Has the Tide Turned for Ross Chastain?

Ross Chastain at COTA

Ross Chastain on track at COTA (Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

NASCAR’s inaugural weekend at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas featured plenty of surprises.  But one positive outcome that most fans might not have anticipated was a great run for Ross Chastain. Chastain is in the midst of his first full-time NASCAR Cup Series season with Chip Ganassi Racing.  Prior to 2021, he …

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