Race Weekend Central

Usual Suspects Likely to Win in NASCAR’s Trip to Las Vegas

2019 Las Vegas I CUP Ryan Blaney Joey Logano racing NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Whenever Las Vegas is pictured in movies, photos, print or a backdrop for the latest TikTok, there’s one consistent theme: Excess.  Everyone flocks to Sin City with at least a small hope of getting lucky, hitting big on a slot machine or roulette table and enjoying their spoils with a night on the town. Veteran …

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Chris Buescher ‘Most Relaxed I’ve Been in a Racecar in a Really Long Time’

Chris Buescher

Credit: James Gilbert/Getty Images

Remember Chris Buescher? If the 2015 Xfinity Series champion drifted from your mind over the last five years, he surely got your attention Sunday (Feb. 28) in the NASCAR Cup Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The 28-year-old driver started 12th and took the lead from Brad Keselowski on lap 53. Buescher wound up winning stage …

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Dropping the Hammer: If 2021 Isn’t NASCAR’s ‘Best Season Ever,’ It Could Be Weirdest

Michael McDowell prepares to race in the 2021 Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Putting labels on something — especially ahead of time — can be dangerous. Sometimes, it comes back to haunt you. Other times? It’s unintentionally brilliant. In NASCAR, the most successful example of giving an event a label, or an awesome name, in advance was 1992’s Cup Series All-Star Race. You may also know it as …

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5 Points to Ponder: Myatt Snider’s NASCAR Moment

Myatt Snider celebrates winning at Homestead Miami Speedway February 2021 (Credit: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

ONE: It Gets Late Early Out Here The great Hall of Fame Yankee catcher and 13-time World Series Champion Yogi Berra once quipped “it gets late early out here,” and it’s a Yogi-ism (as his many impromptu lines were known) that fits well with the current playoff picture. It would be fair to say there …

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NASCAR Stat Sheet: Trackhouse Racing Taking NASCAR by Storm

William Byron and the No. 24 team celebrate winning at Homestead-Miami Speedway, February 2021 Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Any interesting story isn’t complete without a good surprise or two. The NASCAR Cup Series has been racing in Florida for better than three weeks, and I don’t think it’s possible for the three trophies to be going back to North Carolina with a more unexpected trio of drivers. But the statistics would support the …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead

NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? William Byron won the Dixie Vodka 400 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday (Feb. 28) after leading a race-high (and career-high) 102 laps. Tyler Reddick, Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Larson and Kevin Harvick rounded out the top five finishers. An impressive drive in so many ways! Retweet to congratulate @WilliamByron on tonight's win …

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The Underdog House: Michael McDowell Makes NASCAR Career History… Again

NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Top Dog Only two drivers currently have finished in the top 10 in the first three races of 2021. One was likely expected in 2014 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick. The other continues to carry on the momentum after a Cinderella story moment at the Daytona 500. Michael McDowell has now finished first, eighth, …

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Up to Speed: Evening Races Perfect Fit for Homestead-Miami Speedway

NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

During the first few weeks of the 2021 NASCAR season, start times of races have become a point of debate.  This weekend’s slate of races at Homestead-Miami Speedway featured the same later-than-usual green flag times as the first two races weekends.  Saturday’s Xfinity Series race took the green flag around 4:45 p.m. local time.  The …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 Dixie Vodka 400

William Byron won the 2021 Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who… should you be talking about after the race? His first win was controversial, coming after he triggered a multi-car crash at Daytona International Speedway in the 2020 regular-season finale to squeeze into the playoffs, but William Byron’s second victory was a statement. Byron dominated at Homestead-Miami Speedway, leading 102 of 267 laps, including the …

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Friday Faceoff: How Many Road Courses Is Too Many?

Chase Elliott leads the pack at 2021 Daytona road course Photo NKP

(photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Does the NASCAR Cup Series schedule feature too many road courses? What is the ideal number? Luken Glover: Yes. Road courses can present great racing, but there are a lot of times when they are uneventful races too. Sometimes they can be wreckfests, like we saw in all three series in some capacity at the …

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Cinderella Story NASCAR Style Times Two

NASCAR Cup Series

c#48: Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro Ally, #34: Michael McDowell, Front Row Motorsports, Ford Mustang Love's Travel Stops, and #37: Ryan Preece, JTG Daugherty Racing, Chevrolet Camaro Kroger/Coca-Cola

Are you tired of us old guys telling you how much better NASCAR was back in the day? Thankfully, I will spare you that argument because while I often miss some of the old days, I don’t miss hearing about drivers getting hurt or killed as often as they did back in the day. Join …

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Did You Notice?: A Cautionary Tale on NASCAR Road Courses

Yellow Flag: Caution

(Photo: Frontstretch.com)

Did You Notice? … This year’s NASCAR Cup Series race at the Daytona International Speedway road course ran 12 of its 70 laps under caution? It adds up to 17% of Sunday’s race (Feb. 21), with only one green-flag run lasting more than 10 laps. The eight cautions were more than any road race outside of …

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