Race Weekend Central

NASCAR Stat Sheet: Kyle Busch Takes the Cake on His Birthday

Kurt Busch, Ryan Newman and Kevin Harvick get ready for the Buschy McBusch Race 400 at Kansas Speedway, May 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

In 2009, Kyle Busch became the first driver since Cale Yarborough in 1977 to win a Cup race on his birthday. However, after winning this weekend at Kansas Speedway, Busch is the only driver in series history who is undefeated on his special day. Since Busch joined the Cup tour in 2005, a race has …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 GEICO 500 at Talladega

#2: Brad Keselowski, Team Penske, Ford Mustang MoneyLion, #37: Ryan Preece, JTG Daugherty Racing, Chevrolet Camaro Kroger/Reese’s, #4: Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford Mustang Busch Dog Brew, #10: Aric Almirola, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford Mustang Smithfield, #23: Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing, Toyota Camry DoorDash

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? Brad Keselowski won the GEICO 500 at Talladega on Sunday (April 25) after leading just one lap all day. William Byron, Michael McDowell, Kevin Harvick and Matt DiBenedetto rounded out the top-five finishers. No stopping @keselowski today! The No. 2 car is going back to Victory Lane at @TALLADEGA! pic.twitter.com/LlyRDphhNZ — NASCAR (@NASCAR) …

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3 Drivers Return to Nashville for 2nd Tire Test

2011 Nationwide Nashville

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Kurt Busch, Christopher Bell and Chase Briscoe will head back to Nashville Superspeedway Tuesday and Wednesday, April 20-21, FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass tweeted April 19. They will perform a second tire test to confirm the tire that will be used when the NASCAR Cup Series runs at Nashville in June. The trio first tested Goodyear …

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NASCAR Mailbox: What’s Wrong With Ross Chastain?

NASCAR Cup Series

#42: Ross Chastain, Chip Ganassi Racing, Chevrolet Camaro Clover

What’s up with Ross Chastain? He spun out Brad Keselowski and Erik Jones this past week and doesn’t seem to be living up to expectations this year. — Rick G., Davie, Florida It’s a real shame Chastain hasn’t run better this year. An all-around nice guy who people seem to root for easily, he’s paid …

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Up to Speed: A Rare Bad Day at Martinsville for Brad Keselowski

Brad Keselowski Autotrader No. 2 Penske car at Martinsville spring Cup race

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

As usual, Martinsville Speedway dished out a healthy dose of chaos for the NASCAR Cup Series.  A wet Saturday night delayed all but the opening laps of the race until Sunday afternoon.  But while the skies had cleared by Sunday, a storm brewed on the track. Fifteen cautions took their toll on the field, including …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville

2021 Martinsville I Cup Martin Truex Jr celebrates in victory lane NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? Martin Truex Jr. won the Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville on Sunday (April 11) after a late pass for the win over a dominant Denny Hamlin. Chase Elliott, Hamlin, William Byron and Kyle Larson rounded out the top five finishers. 2️⃣9️⃣ ? for the 1️⃣9️⃣@MartinTruex_Jr | @JoeGibbsRacing pic.twitter.com/72DhiLHWWL — NASCAR (@NASCAR) …

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Did You Notice?: NASCAR Team Orders Creeping Into 2021

2021 Trucks Atlanta Kyle Busch, No. 51 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota, Burnout (Credit: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Did You Notice? … The way in which teammates helped each other out at Atlanta Motor Speedway last weekend (March 20-21)? The most obvious example came in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, where Kyle Busch twice slowed down in the final laps of a stage to let John Hunter Nemechek pass by and win. In …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta

2021-Atlanta-I-Cup-Ryan-Blaney-Victory-Lane-NKP

Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

What happened? Ryan Blaney won the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday (March 21) after passing Kyle Larson with eight laps to go for the victory. Kyle Larson, Alex Bowman, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch rounded out the top-five finishers. RETWEET to congratulate @Blaney on his first win of 2021! …

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3 Drivers Scheduled for Goodyear Tire Test at Nashville Superspeedway

2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series, Nashville

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Three NASCAR Cup Series drivers will perform a Goodyear tire test at Nashville Superspeedway next Tuesday, March 23, according to Bob Pockrass on Twitter. Chip Ganassi Racing’s Kurt Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell and Stewart-Haas Racing’s Chase Briscoe will take to the Tennessee track, representing Chevrolet, Toyota and Ford manufacturers, respectively. It’s in preparation …

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Ross Chastain, Tubi Partnering for 2 Races

Ross Chastain at Homestead, 2/28/2021 (Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Ross Chastain will have another new sponsor on his car this season, as FOX Entertainment’s streaming service Tubi comes aboard, Chip Ganassi Racing announced March 15. Tubi will sponsor Chastain this week at Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 in the NASCAR Cup Series. Additionally, it will sponsor Chastain’s No. 42 …

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Up to Speed: Kevin Harvick Still Searching for 2020 Form

Kevin Harvick stands next to car at 2021 Daytona 500 Cup race Photo NKP

#4: Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford Mustang Busch Light #TheCrew

Sunday’s (March 14) NASCAR Cup Series race was a fairly typical event at Phoenix Raceway.  Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the Instacart 500 was how little the FOX broadcast team called Kevin Harvick’s name.  It wasn’t long ago that Harvick completely dominated the desert mile.  Prior to Sunday, Harvick compiled nine wins, 18 top …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas

2021-Cup-Las-Vegas-I-Larson-Winner-NKP

Kyle Larson celebrates Las Vegas victory (Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? Kyle Larson won the Pennzoil 400 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday (March 7) after leading a race-high 103 laps in just his fourth start for Hendrick Motorsports (fastest in team history). Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney rounded out the top-five finishers. Burning it down on the …

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