Race Weekend Central

Podcast: Matt DiBenedetto on Personal Growth & 2022 Plans; Championship 4 Breakdown from Phoenix

Matt DiBenedetto joins Davey Segal to talk about the NASCAR Cup Series on the Frontstretch Podcast

Graphic: Jared Haas

Matt DiBenedetto is still searching for a 2022 seat, but he is also trying to enjoy his final weekend driving the No. 21 Ford for Wood Brothers Racing. He joins Davey Segal this week to discuss his mindset heading into another offseason unemployed, but why he’s keeping an open mind. They get deep and discuss …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR DraftKings Forecast: 2021 Xfinity 500

2021 Martinsville I Cup Chase Elliott Martin Truex Jr NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Just two NASCAR Cup Series races are left in the 2021 season, starting with this Sunday (Oct. 31) at Martinsville Speedway. Let’s get your daily fantasy NASCAR DraftKings rosters ready for the Xfinity 500. Seven drivers will fight for three spots this weekend, as Kyle Larson won the last three races and secured his position …

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Did You Notice?: Winless NASCAR Drivers Seeking Talladega Breakthrough

David Ragan celebrates his victory at Talladega Superspeedway with Front Row Motorsports in 2013. (Photo: Nigel Kinrade Autostock)

Photo: Nigel Kinrade Autostock

Did You Notice? … Talladega Superspeedway has always been labeled the best track for winless NASCAR drivers to pull an upset? The 2.66-mile oval has a history of pulling off one-hit wonders, from Richard Brickhouse winning his first and only NASCAR Cup Series race there in 1969 to Ron Bouchard pulling off this three-wide thriller in …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR DraftKings Forecast: 2021 South Point 400 at Las Vegas

Kyle Larson races teammate William Byron in the 2021 Pennzoil 400 Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The NASCAR Cup Series heads out west to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the South Point 400, airing on Sunday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network. Which drivers’ gambles will pay off in your daily fantasy NASCAR DraftKings contests? Read on and find out! Twelve drivers have made it through to …

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Did You Notice?: For Ryan Preece, Matt DiBenedetto the Only NASCAR Way Up Is Down

2021 Nashville Trucks Ryan Preece happy NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Did You Notice? … For Ryan Preece and Matt DiBenedetto, NASCAR Cup Series employment options are shrinking? Both men are likely free agents after JTG Daugherty Racing revealed they’re downsizing to a one-car team in 2022. Matty D has been auditioning for weeks after Harrison Burton announced he’ll be a Cup rookie full-time next season driving …

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5 Points to Ponder: Does Momentum Make Ryan Blaney a Championship Contender?

2021-Cup-Daytona-II-Ryan-Blaney-Wins-NKP

Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

1. How much does momentum matter going into the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs? Asking for a friend named Ryan Blaney. (Note: Blaney and I are not actually friends, having spoken exactly once, but he is a likable gent.) The 27-year-old Team Penske wheelman entered the 2021 season never having won more than one race in …

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Fire on Fridays: Who’s Actually Got a Shot at the Cup Playoffs?

Matt DiBenedetto Tyler Reddick talk Watkins Glen

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

It’s somewhat fitting that this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway has an elimination factor. After all, that’s usually the case at the season-opening Daytona 500, when the pre-race Duels set the lineup and a certain number of cars (four in 2021) are left on the sidelines come the big race on …

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Frontstretch 5: Biggest Do-Or-Die Drivers for Daytona

2021 Watkins Glen Matt DiBenedetto Tyler Reddick NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

This is it. Crunch time. Just one more race remains until the playoff field is set for the NASCAR Cup Series. And what could be a more unpredictable place for it to happen than Daytona International Speedway? Last year, Daytona held the regular season finale for the first time. Several drivers’ playoff dreams were fulfilled …

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NASCAR Stat Sheet: Ryan Blaney Carries Momentum to Michigan Win

Ryan Blaney wins the 2021 Firekeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway, August 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Ryan Blaney is in the midst of what may be the best year of his Cup Series career after winning Sunday at Michigan International Speedway. Blaney, whose father Dave made 473 Cup starts but never finished better than third, scored his second win of 2021. It’s the first time that the High Point, NC native …

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2-Headed Monster: Should Kaulig Racing Give AJ Allmendinger Full-Time Cup Ride in 2022?

2021 NXS Las Vegas AJ Allmendinger Justin Haley NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

A.J. Allmendinger was the surprise winner this weekend in the NASCAR Cup Series race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. His win was the second of his Cup career and the first for Kaulig Racing in the Cup Series. The organization will expand to include a two-car Cup Series team in 2022 after purchasing …

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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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5 Points to Ponder: Aric Almirola Comes Up Big, and What’s Next for Matty D

2021-Cup-Loudon-Aric-Almirola-Wins-NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

1. Has there ever been as clutch a win as the one Aric Almirola just pulled off? Ever since Kyle Larson started getting on a roll, the dream of NASCAR Cup Series playoff intrigue has been just about dead. Then this past Sunday (July 18), Aric Almirola decided to give it the racing equivalent of …

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