Race Weekend Central

The Underdog House: Michael McDowell Leads Sluggish NASCAR Underdog Return After Olympic Break

2019 Talladega Mencs Michael Mcdowell Face Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Setting For a brief moment, I was wondering if it was either August or February when NASCAR returned to the track. After a two-week layoff for the Olympics, drivers and teams returned to Watkins Glen International in New York as the grind for the season’s remainder commenced. Watching the Olympics made me entertain the …

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The Underdog House: Silly Season Scoop on NASCAR Underdogs

Erik Jones, part of 2021 Silly Season conversation, prepares to race the No. 43 Richard P

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Setting: Silly Season It has been two weeks since the NASCAR Cup Series last graced the track at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 18. The two-week break has allowed many drivers, teams and organizations to catch their breath as the grind to the playoffs returns Aug. 8 at Watkins Glen. Only four races …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR DraftKings Forecast: 2021 Quaker State 400 at Atlanta

Kyle Larson leads the pack of drivers for your NASCAR DraftKings roster at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the second time this season, the first year the racetrack has hosted two Cup events since 2010. Let’s get your daily fantasy NASCAR DraftKings rosters ready for the Quaker State 400, airing on Sunday, July 11 at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network. Atlanta …

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Did You Notice?: 6 NASCAR Storylines to Follow With 6 Regular Season Races Left

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

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Did You Notice? … There’s six races left in the NASCAR Cup Series regular season? After some incredible parity, with 10 different winners in the first 11 races, the 2021 playoff battle has mostly sorted itself out. We’ve had just one new winner in the last nine races as Cinderellas have been replaced by the typical …

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The Underdog House: Erik Jones Leads Underdogs on Independence Day at Road America

Erik Jones stands next to his car before the 2021 spring Darlington Cup race Photo: NKP

Erik Jones (Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Setting For the first time in 65 years, the NASCAR Cup Series took the green flag at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. The four-mile track hosted the fourth road course race of the season as the playoff stretch begins to heat up. Additionally, the Jockey Made in America 250 hosted practice and qualifying …

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The Underdog House: Trackhouse Racing, 23XI Racing Excel in Pocono Doubleheader

Daniel Suarez of Trackhouse Racing gets into his car at Charlotte Motor Speedway 2021 (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Setting For Trackhouse Racing, 23XI Racing’s Success The NASCAR Cup Series headed to Long Pond, Penn. for the Pocono Raceway doubleheader, the second consecutive year the track has hosted back-to-back races. Drivers tackled a 325-miler on Saturday, June 26 and a 350-miler on Sunday, June 27. The Tricky Triangle presented two thrilling races, with …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR DraftKings Forecast: 2021 Pocono Doubleheader

2021 Pocono II Bubba Wallace car DraftKings

(Photo: DraftKings)

This weekend, the NASCAR Cup Series heads north to Pocono Raceway for a doubleheader, which means twice as many chances to win money in fantasy. Let’s get your daily fantasy NASCAR DraftKings rosters set for Saturday’s and Sunday’s (June 26-27) races! It’s the second year in a row the Tricky Triangle hosts two Cup events …

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The Underdog House: Sweet Music for Daniel Suarez, NASCAR Underdogs in Nashville

Daniel Suarez Nashville Cup 2021 NASCAR race NKP (Tootsies sponsor)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Setting The excitement, energy and enthusiasm of the NASCAR Cup Series heading to Nashville Superspeedway was felt all week across NASCAR Nation. For the first time in 37 years, the Cup tour was stopping in Music City to race the 1.33-mile Nashville Superspeedway on Father’s Day. (I’d like to wish all the Dads out …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 NASCAR All-Star Race at Texas

2021 Texas all Star Race Kyle Larson Burnout NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? Kyle Larson won the NASCAR All-Star Race at Texas on Sunday (June 13) after a bold pass for the lead in the final round. Brad Keselowski, Chase Elliott, Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney rounded out the top-five finishers. YUNG MONEY LARSON.@KyleLarsonRacin wins for the third week in a row, winning the #AllStarRace for …

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The Underdog House: Numerous All-Star Aspirations Fade in Open

Michael McDowell

Michael McDowell on track at Texas for the All Star Race (Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Setting All three NASCAR series headed to the Lone Star State for dates at Texas Motor Speedway this weekend. This time, however, things felt different. TMS has typically held the first weekend in April, but this year NASCAR shifted the schedule around. While the track’s fall playoff date remained intact, the usual spring points …

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10 Questions for the Final 10 Regular-Season NASCAR Cup Races

NASCAR Denny Hamlin leads a pack of NASCAR race cars in the 2021 Coca-Cola 600. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

As hard as it might be to believe, the NASCAR regular season is over halfway complete. It’s been nearly four months since Michael McDowell‘s breakthrough win in the Daytona 500. Over that time we’ve seen numerous winners, stretches of dominance and a basic playoff field take shape. With the opening 16 Cup Series races down, …

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Up to Speed: Will a Teammate Battle Decide the 2021 NASCAR Championship?

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Teammates in NASCAR often have to walk a fine line.  Drivers who compete for the same multi-car organization usually show a certain level of on-track courtesy to each other.  However, racing in NASCAR does not have the same level of comprehensive cooperation among teammates that you sometimes see in other motorsports.  Racers are expected, and …

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