Race Weekend Central

Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in NASCAR: William Byron’s Rough Rookie Season Continues

#24: William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro Liberty University, #14: Clint Bowyer, Stewart Haas Racing, Haas 30 Years Of The Vf1 And #31: Ryan Newman, Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet Camaro Bass Pro Shops / Cabela's Wreck Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Chase Elliott earned his second Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series win in three weeks, and the third of his MENCS career, by taking the checkered flag at Kansas Speedway on Sunday in the Hollywood Casino 400. The Hendrick Motorsports driver held off Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch and Chip Ganassi Racing’s Kyle Larson, who finished …

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Friday Faceoff: Is There Such a Thing As Home Track Advantage?

Clint Bowyer sits in the garage area at Kentucky Speedway in 2018. (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

1. Stewart-Haas Racing has put all four of its cars in Victory Lane this season in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Prior to this year, what was the best overall season by a multi-car team? How does that team compare to the 2018 stats put up by SHR?  Michael Massie:  Even with SHR’s dominance, …

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4 Burning Questions: Is This Not It for Regan Smith?

2018 Cup Zach Catanzareti Dover Regan Smith

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

How will Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus fare in their new endeavors next season? The final Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race of the season these last few years at Homestead-Miami Speedway has become a bit of a gala event on the calendar. Not only is it the day four teams have been building toward since …

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Frontstretch Podcast: Daniel Hemric Describes Ins and Outs of Dover

#21: Daniel Hemric, Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet Camaro South Point Hotel & Casino Nascar Xfinity Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

It’s a fun, and entertaining (hopefully) Frontstretch Podcast this week, as the duo of Dustin Albino and Mike Neff join NASCAR XFINITY Series driver Daniel Hemric to discuss the weekend of racing at the Monster Mile — Dover International Speedway. Hemric grabbed the pole for the XFINITY race and led 23 laps en route to a Stage 2 victory. However, the No. …

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Leavine Family Racing Signs Matt DiBenedetto, Teams with Toyota For 2019

2018 Cup Matt Dibenedetto Zach Catanzareti Michigan

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Leavine Family Racing has a new driver for the 2019 season, and his name is Matt DiBenedetto. On top of adding the California native to its roster, the organization is making a manufacturer change to join Toyota Racing. “We’re thrilled to welcome Matt to our organization,” Bob Leavine, owner of Leavine Family Racing, said in …

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Did You Notice?: New, 2019 NASCAR Rules Package Sign of Serious Shakeup Ahead

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(Photo: Frank Velat)

Did You Notice? … Stock car racing threw a grenade into the garage with its redesigned 2019 NASCAR rules package? Between the ROVAL on Sunday (Sept. 30) and a laundry list of changes announced Tuesday, this sport feels like it’s suddenly reinventing itself. Most importantly, the new package removes the words restrictor plate from the Monster …

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Underdog House: Charlotte ROVAL Put Small Teams in NASCAR Spotlight

2017 Kansas Ii Cup Aj Allmendinger Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker / NKP)

Think Small Road courses present a unique opportunity for underdog teams. Much in the same way as restrictor plate races, they are an equalizer in terms of minimizing the performance gap between the haves and the have nots. The absence of the cars’ dependance on aero also contributes to the parity. The previous two road …

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Up to Speed: Part-Time Pays off for Ryan Preece

Nascar Xfinity Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

For the past several years, Ryan Preece has been forging a pathway to the national levels of NASCAR.  He demonstrated his talent in the Whelen Modified Tour, winning 12 times in 56 races from 2012-2015.  But when it came time to take on NASCAR’s XFINITY Series, Preece needed a way to increase his visibility on …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in NASCAR: Richmond, Take II

2018 Las Vegas I Cup Aric Almirola John K Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John K. Harrelson / NKP)

Kyle Busch captured his 50th Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series win by taking the checkered flag on the Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond Raceway on Saturday night. It was the seventh win of 2018 for the Joe Gibbs Racing driver. He was followed by the Ford of Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick in second and …

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4 Burning Questions: Who Goes Where in 2019?

2018 Las Vegas I Cup Matt Dibenedetto Trevor Bayne Racing Rusty Jarrett Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Just how much bigger will silly season be this year? Silly season continued in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, with three drivers confirmed to be leaving their current rides in the past week and a fourth possibly contemplating doing so as well. Matt DiBenedetto announced last weekend that he and Go FAS Racing have …

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Matt DiBenedetto Leaving Go FAS Racing After 2018 Season

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Matt DiBenedetto announced Friday evening that he was leaving Go FAS Racing at the conclusion of the season. DiBenedetto, 27, is in his fourth season in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and second with Go Fas Racing. The California driver has four top-10 finishes in his career, his most recent being a seventh at …

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Matt DiBenedetto Staying Positive with Go Fas Racing’s Overachievement

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

If you were to ask around in the NASCAR garage who is the most underrated driver in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, many would point to Matt DiBenedetto, who’s in his second season with an underfunded Go Fas Racing. DiBenedetto, 27, is in the midst of his fourth full-time season in the Cup season …

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