Race Weekend Central

Michael McDowell: ‘I’m Not Done Yet’

Michael Mcdowell New Hampshire

(Photo: Brett Moist / NKP)

Michael McDowell is searching for options after Leavine Family Racing announced it will have Kasey Kahne on board for the 2018 season. Soon after Kahne won July’s Brickyard 400, he became one of the hottest free agents on the market, and his talents are being taken to LFR. While the team would like to have two cars down the road, they’ve …

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5 Points to Ponder: A Sluggish Start to the NASCAR Playoffs — Why?

2017 Michigan Ii Cup Jimmie Johnson Helmet Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

ONE: Sluggish Start to NASCAR’s 10-Race Playoff It’s fair to say for NASCAR that it hasn’t been the compelling start to the 2017 playoffs the powers that be at Daytona Beach, Fla.,  would have wanted. We’ve had two poor races with limited-to-no excitement. There hasn’t been a great deal of passing, not really any it seems …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Kyle Busch Sneaks by With New Hampshire Win

Loudon

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Who’s In The Headline After events conspired against him at Chicagoland Speedway, the stars aligned for Kyle Busch in Loudon to allow him to win his 41st career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race. He was in second place at the mid-point of the race when Kevin Harvick spun and ended up sideways in the middle …

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2017 Frontstretch Podcast Powered by DraftKings – Episode 28: Playoffs, Please

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Overton’s 301 New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, Nh Usa Sunday 16 July 2017 Kevin Harvick, Stewart Haas Racing, Busch Beer Ford Fusion And Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing, Fedex Office Toyota Camry World Copyright: Rusty Jarrett Nkp

(Photo: Rusty Jarrett/NKP)

Episode 28: Playoffs, Please Frontstretch Podcast with Dustin Albino, Davey Segal and Zach Catanzareti In this week’s episode brought to you by DraftKings, Dustin, Davey and Zach recap the opening round of the playoffs from Chicagoland, discussing pit road problems and possible trouble afoot for some top contenders. We also debate Kasey Kahne’s move to Leavine Family Racing for 2018 and compare …

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2-Headed Monster: Will Leavine Family Racing Resurrect Kasey Kahne’s Career?

2017 Kansas I Cup Kasey Kahne Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

On Tuesday afternoon, Leavine Family Racing announced Kasey Kahne will join the organization next season, replacing Michael McDowell. Hendrick Motorsports will release Kahne at the end of the 2017 season, and he was without a ride for a handful of weeks. McDowell now joins the circus of remaining free agents for the upcoming 2018 season. …

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Did You Notice?: The Legend Of Allstate Kasey Kahne Lives On

Mcdowell Daytona

(Photo: John K Harrelson / NKP)

Did You Notice? … The powerful resume of Kasey Kahne? This year’s Brickyard 400 victory, combined with years of wooing major sponsorship, tipped the scales for single-car Leavine Family Racing. Despite a major leap forward with Michael McDowell this season, on-track potential wasn’t enough to keep the ride. “We look at this as an opportunity for …

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Kasey Kahne Signs with Leavine Family Racing for 2018

2017 Fontana Cup Kasey Kahne Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Kasey Kahne, winner of 18 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races over 14 years, including this year’s Brickyard 400, will be joining Leavine Family Racing starting with the 2018 season. Owned by Bob Leavine, LFR is a small team that is in the middle of its second full-time season in MENCS competition after five part-time seasons. …

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The Underdog House: NASCAR Must ‘Cope’ With Slow Cars On Track

2017 Las Vegas Cup Landon Cassill Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Think Small After last weekend’s race at Richmond Raceway, where Derrike Cope brought out a late caution while racing several laps down, fans and some media suggested Cope should have been removed from the track by NASCAR long before the incident. That group, which included regular season champion Martin Truex Jr., claimed Cope was so far in …

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The Underdog House: The Invisible NASCAR Season

2017 Richmond Ii Cup Corey Lajoie Pack Racing John K Harrelson Harrelson Photography Inc

(Photo: John K. Harrelson/Harrelson Photography Inc.)

Think Small Ah, fall.  Race fans can welcome cooler temperatures, cheer for their favorites in the playoffs…and kiss the chance of seeing the smaller teams mentioned during the broadcast goodbye. With the exception of Ryan Blaney, who made the postseason, all other underdogs will fade into the background of championship talk. That goes for any …

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NASCAR 101: Michael McDowell’s Series-Leading Stat in 2017

Mcdowell Daytona

(Photo: John K Harrelson / NKP)

Kasey Kahne. Ryan Newman. Jeff Gordon. Jamie McMurray. Paul Menard. Those are the five drivers who have led a very specific statistic in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in the last five seasons. Clearly it has nothing to do with the championship; none of these drivers have won one since 2001 (and Gordon’s the only one …

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The Underdog House: Curbing Spending Would Be Good For NASCAR

2017 Watkins Glen Cup Michael Mcdowell Aric Almirola Racing John K Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John K. Harrelson/NKP)

Think Small Dale Earnhardt Jr. was addressing the media at Watkins Glen last weekend when the subject turned to driver contracts and salaries.  The NASCAR economic climate, as everyone knows has changed drastically in recent years.  When the NASCAR fad was at its height almost 20 years ago, corporate interest and driver income skyrocketed. For a while, that …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not In NASCAR: Live Edition

2017 Charlotte All Star Cup Kyle Busch Checkered Flag Nkp

(Photo: NKP)

After having endured two rain outs and going back to Pocono Raceway for Monday races last year, it was a perfect weather day at the Northeast Pennsylvania track on Sunday. So, yes, it was in one sense a perfect day to be there, but in another sense, maybe not so much considering the lack of …

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