Race Weekend Central

Frontstretch Podcast: Alex Bowman Discusses 2019 Season, Previews Playoffs, Dogs

2019 Pocono Mencs Alex Bowman Face Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

In this week’s edition of the Frontstretch Podcast, Dustin Albino and Mike Neff discuss an interesting weekend of racing at Pocono Raceway, which saw Denny Hamlin record his third victory of the season. What’s led to the recent hot streak of the No. 11 team? With three consecutive top-three finishes, is Erik Jones fighting for his ride? Did the …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR DraftKings Forecast: 2019 Gander RV 400

2019 Cup Pocono Zach Catanzareti Paul Menard

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Guess what’s back, back again? Pocono Raceway’s back, tell a friend. The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series teams head back to the Tricky Triangle for Sunday’s (July 28) Gander RV 400. The cars will again use the lower horsepower package with aero ducts. This time around, though, the PJ1 traction compound will be on all …

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5 Points to Ponder: NASCAR’s Rookie Driver Disappearing Act and Cleaning Up the Playoff Bubble

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

ONE: Can Kevin Harvick’s Win Kickstart Stewart-Haas Racing? There’s no doubt Kevin Harvick’s Sunday victory (July 21) at New Hampshire Motor Speedway lifts a monkey off the back of Stewart-Haas Racing. After eight Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victories in 2018, a career high, it took Harvick 20 races to win his first. If nothing …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2019 Foxwoods Resort Casino 301

2019 Loudon Mencs Matt Dibenedetto Car Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who…should you be talking about after the race? Kevin Harvick won at New Hampshire Motor Speedway a year ago, making it his sixth victory of 2018.  He’d go on to win twice more, at Michigan and Texas. But he hadn’t seen the winner’s circle since. That changed on Sunday, when he repeated last year’s feat, outdueling …

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Fire on Fridays: Kurt Busch Needs to Keep Racing

2019 Michigan I Cup Kurt Busch Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Only Kurt Busch could do the unthinkable. Time and time again, the 2004 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion has lifted a struggling team to become triumphant. Chip Ganassi Racing is just the latest in Busch’s quest for another championship ring, and thus far, he’s on pace to potentially have his best season in NASCAR’s premier …

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Friday Faceoff: Is Age a Valid Reason to Get a Playoff Waiver?

2019 Kentucky Ngots Tyler Ankrum Victory Celebration Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Kurt Busch openly admitted to some retirement consideration prior to his win last week. Who hangs it up first: Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick or Busch? Joy Tomlinson: My first thought is Jimmie Johnson since his last Cup Series win was over two years ago. He and his new crew chief seem to have started working together …

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Frontstretch Podcast: Ryan Newman Relives Top 10 Run at Kentucky

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

In this week’s edition of the Frontstretch Podcast, Dustin Albino and Mike Neff discuss a long, hot weekend of racing at Kentucky Speedway, which saw Kurt Busch oust his brother Kyle Busch for his first victory with Chip Ganassi Racing. What did we think of the Kentucky race? The finish was spectacular, as was Clint Bowyer‘s sixth-place run, which …

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NASCAR Mailbox: Who is the Biggest Championship Sleeper?

2019 Kentucky Mencs Kurt Busch Crossing Line Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

As we near the playoffs for the 2019 season, it is time to begin determining championship favorites and championship sleepers. One sleeper after his win at Kentucky would definitely be Kurt Busch. Busch has been a championship contender nearly his entire career with the exception of a few seasons. Can Busch win a title in …

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The 12: NASCAR Power Rankings Quaker State 400 Edition

2019 Kentucky Mencs Kyle Busch Driver Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Kurt Busch got some redemption on Saturday night. While lightning struck in Daytona, costing him a potential victory, he was sure not going to be denied in Kentucky. The elder Busch got his first victory of the season as well as bragging rights over beating his little brother for the win. How will this translate …

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5 Points to Ponder: NASCAR’s Lost Generation?

2019 Kentucky Mencs Joey Logano Kyle Larson Aric Almirola Ryan Blaney Erik Jones Racing Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

ONE: The Young Guns Are in Danger of Being Lost in the Shuffle Kurt Busch did more than just win a thriller against his younger brother at Kentucky Speedway. He bumped the average age of this year’s Cup Series winners back up after Alex Bowman and Justin Haley helped lower it. It now stands at …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in NASCAR: Photo Finish

2019 Kentucky Mencs Kurt Busch Victory Celebration Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

All three NASCAR national series were at Kentucky Speedway last weekend, and it was a bit of a mixed bag. The Gander Outdoors Truck Series was a wreckfest with plenty of drama, with trucks wrecking and running out of fuel, hats flying while tempers flared, and a rookie driver getting his first win. The Xfinity …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Does a GWC Alone Make a Broadcast Great?

2019 Kentucky Mencs Kurt Busch Kyle Busch Racing Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Kentucky Speedway provided viewers with a somewhat mixed race. Yes, you had a classic finish between the Busch brothers. You also had the other 266 laps. How did NBCSN handle them? Quaker State 400 Saturday night saw an average Cup race at Kentucky Speedway. In all honesty, none of these races have ever really been …

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