Race Weekend Central

Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in NASCAR: Geometry is Difficult

2018 cup pocono zach catanzareti william byron

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup and Camping World Truck series raced at Pocono Raceway this weekend and Kyle Busch added two more trophies to his collection. Busch tied Ron Hornaday for most career CWTS wins with 51 and tied Kevin Harvick for the most MENCS wins this season at six apiece. The MENCS event, Sunday’s Gander Outdoors 400 …

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The Underdog House: Strong Pocono Performances All Weekend

2018 cup pocono zach catanzareti michael mcdowell

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Think Small The two-day weekend got interesting fast for anyone who fielded a car for Sunday’s (July 29) Gander Outdoors 400 at Pocono Raceway. Once qualifying ended for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series the starting grid nearly flipped by thirds. Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch were bumped from the front row after failing post-qualifying …

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Martin Truex Jr. Leads Final Practice at New Hampshire

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

For much of Saturday’s final practice at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Martin Truex Jr. had a top-five car on one-lap speed. But with less than 20 minutes remaining, the No. 78 car hopped to the top of the leaderboard to win the session. Truex posted a lap of 131.624 mph, which narrowly edged out fellow …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Erik Jones Dips & Dives to 1st Career Victory at Daytona

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who’s in the headline Erik Jones survived the carnage Saturday night (July 7) at Daytona International Speedway. That included eight cautions in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 which involved incidents, including one that gave him damage. But Jones came back from a lap down, breezing through the draft and scored his first career win. Ricky …

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‘They Knew He Was Here’: Michael McDowell Puts on Impressive Daytona Performance

Michael McDowell - ISM Raceway 2018

(Photo: Brandon Wright)

Michael McDowell has always been a strong restrictor plate performer in underdog equipment. Entering Saturday night, he had five straight Daytona top-15 finishes in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series to make him one of the sport’s best at this type of racing. But Saturday night took that streak to another level. McDowell put on …

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The Underdog House: Calm Runs on a Wild Day

#47: A.J. Allmendinger, JTG Daugherty Racing, Chevrolet Camaro Kroger ClickList and #34: Michael McDowell, Front Row Motorsports, Ford Fusion Love's Travel Stops Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Think Small Though Chicagoland Speedway gave fans one stellar race up front, the day was actually on the calm side for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series underdogs. The Overton’s 400 was the first summer race for the speedway since 2010 and it proved to play some effect to how the 267-lapper played out for …

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Frontstretch Podcast: Michael McDowell Speaks Strategy at Sonoma

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

In the latest episode of the 2018 Frontstretch Podcast, we review the first road course race of the season at Sonoma Raceway with Dustin Albino, Mike Neff, Zach Catanzareti and Michael McDowell, who finished 21st and picked up stage points in stage two. Martin Truex Jr. dominated the race, leading a race-high 62 laps. It was a pit call by …

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Pace Laps: Kasey Kahne’s Endless Pursuit of… What? & Exciting NASCAR Racing In Iowa

Kasey Kahne

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: The Latest Push To Fix Kasey Kahne June’s off week came with a crew chief change in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Travis Mack was replaced as Kasey Kahne‘s head wrench after just 15 races as the No. 95 Leavine Family Racing team remains mired in midpack. Jon Leonard will …

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Michael McDowell Fitting in with Front Row Motorsports

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Heading into the 2018 NASCAR season, Michael McDowell knew he had the best opportunity of his career competing full-time for Front Row Motorsports. Last year was his first full-time season (though having nine partial seasons before) in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series for Leavine Family Racing. However, the team announced in September that Kasey …

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The Underdog House: No Shortage of Trickery for Underdogs in Pocono

2018 pocono cup zach catanzareti david ragan

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Think Small Pocono Raceway often brings out a little more than most ovals. First off, it’s not an oval per se, although it still leads to similar contenders up front. But it’s an animal in itself every year, offering shifting through its three distinct turns and unique pit strategy over 400 miles. The circumstances make …

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The Underdog House: Darrell Wallace Jr. Leads the Way on NASCAR’s Longest Night

2018 Las Vegas I CUP Darrell Wallace Jr Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

The stars of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series tackled the longest race of the season, the Coca Cola 600, at the Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday night.  This was the only race of the season that consists of 4 Stages, 100 laps each, fora total of 400 laps. This race usually provides some of …

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Barber Motorsports Park: Could NASCAR Be Overlooking Gold?

Alexander Rossi Exits Turn One at Barber

(Photo: Christian Koelle)

Just inside the city limits of Birmingham, Ala., sits Barber Motorsports Park. The 17-turn permanent road course was opened in 2003 and designed by Alan Wilson. A compact design with a number of elevation changes highlights the track itself, but when you look at the environment around the track, only one word can be used: …

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