Race Weekend Central

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Las Vegas NASCAR Playoff Race

2021 Cup Las Vegas Pack Racing Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford (Credit: NKP)

Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

What happened? Denny Hamlin won the South Point 400 at Las Vegas on Sunday night (Sept. 26) after leading a race-high 137 laps, including the final 39. Chase Elliott, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Blaney rounded out the top-five finishers. "Vegas Baby!" ? Take a look at @dennyhamlin's final lap to win at …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the Bristol Night Race

Kyle Larson leads the pack in the 2021 Bristol Bass Pro Shops Night Race. (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Kyle Larson took the lead away from Kevin Harvick in the closing laps and held on to win at Bristol Motor Speedway Saturday (Sept. 18). Lapped traffic was a factor all night, allowing cars in second place to close in on the leader. Such was the case near the end of the race; Larson went to the bottom and then back up the track, squeezing Harvick a bit. The No. 5 of Hendrick Motorsports then slid up in front of Harvick, preventing the No. 4 from getting another run on Larson.

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol

Kyle Larson Bristol 2021 NASCAR

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? Kyle Larson won the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol on Saturday night (Sept. 18) after a wildly chaotic final few laps, both for the win and the final playoff spot. Kevin Harvick, William Byron, Ryan Blaney and Alex Bowman rounded out the top-five finishers. A burnout for the books. ?@KyleLarsonRacin | …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 Federated Auto Parts 400

#19: Martin Truex Jr., Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Camry Bass Pro Shops Red White Blue celebrates winning the Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond. NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who … should you be talking about after the Federated Auto Parts 400? Joe Gibbs Racing as a whole demolished its competition on Saturday (Sept. 11), leading 326 laps as a team and running 1-2-3 at the finish. Martin Truex Jr. claimed the victory, his third in the last five Richmond Raceway events, and the …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond

Martin Truex Jr at Richmond Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

(Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

What happened? Martin Truex Jr. won the Federated Auto Parts Salute to First Responders 400 at Richmond Raceway on Saturday night (Sept. 11) after leading the final 51 laps. Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott and Joey Logano rounded out the top-five finishers. RETWEET to congratulate @MartinTruex_Jr on his WIN at @RichmondRaceway! His fourth win …

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Podcast: Ryan Blaney on Darlington Chaos, Rebounding at Richmond

ryanblaneypodcast

Graphic: Jared Haas

After losing brakes at Darlington, Ryan Blaney‘s playoffs aren’t off to the best start. But thanks to his back-to-back wins entering the postseason, he’s in solid position as the circuit heads to Richmond Raceway. The Team Penske driver joins Davey Segal this week to discuss the chaotic Southern 500, why Richmond hasn’t been good to …

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5 Points to Ponder: Can NASCAR & Hollywood Mix in L.A.?

2021 Darlington II pack Jared C Tilton Getty

(Photo: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

1. NASCAR Racing in L.A. Coliseum? A Hollywood affair? The NASCAR world was caught by surprise with Monday’s (Sept. 6) Labor Day bombshell in The Athletic about a potential 2022 exhibition race in Los Angeles. According to sources in the story, the Busch Clash would be moved from its traditional spot, Daytona International Speedway, to a short …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington

Denny Hamlin celebrates his win in the 2021 Southern 500 at Darlington. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? Denny Hamlin won the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington on Sunday night (Sept. 5) after narrowly holding off Kyle Larson in the final corner. Larson, Ross Chastain, Martin Truex Jr. and Kevin Harvick rounded out the top-five finishers. RETWEET to congratulate @DennyHamlin on his #Southern500 win at @TooToughToTame! What a final corner …

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Frontstretch 2-Minute Drill: Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington

The NASCAR Cup Series races the Track Too Tough To Tame in the 2019 version of Darlington Raceway's Southern 500. (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs zoom into action on Sunday (Sept. 5) both under the sun and under the lights at Darlington Raceway. A 6 p.m. ET start will encompass the entire evening for the Cook Out Southern 500. The “Lady in Black” hosts its second race of the year and the first race …

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Friday Faceoff: Can Kurt Busch Win With 23XI?

Kurt Busch walking at road america

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Chris Buescher was disqualified from his second-place finish in the NASCAR Cup Series at Daytona International Speedway for a post-race infraction due to an unapproved track bar mount. Does the punishment fit the crime? Josh Roller: Not enough information was shared by NASCAR to determine whether or not a disqualification was appropriate or not. What made …

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4 Burning Questions: Who’ll Be Eliminated in Each Cup Playoff Round?

2021 regular season Cup champion Kyle Larson with trophy

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who will be eliminated in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs’ Round of 16? Michael McDowell has been disappointing in the second half of the regular season. He had a strong start to the season in addition to his Daytona 500 win, but he’s 28th in total points in the past 10 races among all Cup …

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Ryan Blaney Rolls Off From Cup Pole at Darlington

Ryan Blaney

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs begin this weekend at Darlington Raceway and Ryan Blaney is on the pole for Sunday’s (Sept. 5) race. The No. 12 Team Penske pilot is riding the momentum train after winning the past two races at Michigan International Speedway and Daytona International Speedway. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin joins Blaney …

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