Race Weekend Central

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 We’ve had just one new winner in the last nine races as Cinderellas have been replaced by the typical …

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Did You Notice?: Team Penske Instability On the Rise with Brad Keselowski’s Departure

Roger Penske at Indianapolis Motor Speedway 2020 (Photo: IndyCar Media)

Roger Penske (Photo by: Joe Skibinski, courtesy of IndyCar Media)

Did You Notice?… Team Penske has gone from 2021 championship contender to a team that’s struggling to keep up? A slow unraveling at Ford’s top organization this season has taken place since news broke Brad Keselowski would be leaving the team in 2022 to become an owner/driver at Roush Fenway Racing. When that story broke, on …

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Dropping the Hammer: Road America’s 65-Year Cup Series Drought Ends

NASCAR at Road America

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

After decades of waiting, Road America’s time has arrived. The four-mile road course in Elkhart Lake, Wis., will finally be graced by the presence of the top racing circuit in North America: the NASCAR Cup Series. Sunday, July 4’s inaugural … Hold on. *touches ear* We’re just receiving some new information into the newsroom. Sunday …

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Ryan Blaney’s Crew Chief Todd Gordon To Retire at Season’s End

Todd Gordon sits on top of the pit box at Road America (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season will be the last call for Todd Gordon, championship-winning crew chief for Joey Logano and current crew chief for Ryan Blaney. Gordon announced on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio’s The Morning Drive that he would step off the pit box for good at the end of the 2021 season. ICYMI: @Team_Penske Crew …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: NBC Sports Gets Back in Gear in Nashville

Chase Elliott leads a pack of cars at Nashville Superspeedway, June 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

This past weekend saw the first major race weekend at Nashville Superspeedway since 2011. You probably saw the various clips posted by NASCAR, FOX Sports and NBC Sports of Pastor Joe Nelms and his invocation that gave thanks to, among other things, Roush and Yates getting together, R07 engines (from Chevrolet) and his “smokin’ hot …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Ally 400 at Nashville

Kyle Larson holds up the Ally 400 trophy at Nashville Superspeedway. (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? Kyle Larson won the Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway on Sunday (June 20) after another incredible performance for his third consecutive points-race win (fourth counting the All-Star Race).  Ross Chastain, William Byron, Aric Almirola and Kevin Harvick rounded out the top-five finishers. Charlotte: Kyle LarsonSonoma: Kyle Larson All-Star Race: Kyle Larson@NashvilleSuperS: Kyle Larson@KyleLarsonRacin …

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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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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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Fire on Fridays: Here’s Who Should Replace Brad Keselowski in the No. 2

Brad Keselowski stands by his No. 2 Team Penske Ford at Kansas Speedway (May 2021). (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Brad Keselowski‘s foray into NASCAR Cup Series ownership seems to be a done deal, depending on who you ask. And aside from the question of where Keselowski would fit in at Roush Fenway Racing — new car? Replacing an existing driver? — there’s also the case of his current ride, Team Penske’s No. 2. Which …

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Did Ryan Blaney Confirm Brad Keselowski to Become Car Owner?

Brad Keselowski NASCAR Phoenix 2021

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The report that Brad Keselowski will be part-owner for Roush Fenway Racing starting next season may have just been confirmed by current Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney. During a media availability session after practice Friday (May 28) at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Blaney was asked if he knew anything about Keselowski’s plans. ”I didn’t hear anything …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: FOX Sports 1 Handles the Texas Rain While Andy Lally Shines

Kyle Larson leads a pack of cars in the Echopark Texas Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas, May 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

I’ll fully admit that when NASCAR announced that there was going to be a race weekend at Circuit of the Americas this year, I was very intrigued. I wanted to get some kind of a comparison of speed between NASCAR Cup cars and some of the other series that race there.  If you’re wondering, Tyler …

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Zach’s Turn: Why Did NASCAR Allow Such Dangerous Conditions at COTA?

NASCAR Wet

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

By now, everyone knows how miserably wet the NASCAR Cup Series’ inaugural event at Circuit of the Americas was. The looming question, though, is why NASCAR allowed Sunday’s (May 23) EchoPark Texas Grand Prix to be marred by such treacherous conditions. Before we delve into the calamity that took place around the 20-turn course, a …

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