Race Weekend Central

5 Points to Ponder: Time to Play in the Dirt

Kyle Larson and Ryan Blaney lead the NASCAR Cup Series action at Atlanta Motor Speedway, March 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

1. Time to Play in the Dirt I cannot wait for this weekend. Cannot. Wait. I’m endlessly fascinated to see what will happen in both races on the Bristol Motor Speedway dirt. Fair to say I’ve not anticipated regular season races quite like these two for some time — a decade or more at least. …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Atlanta Brings Unnecessary Fighting, Long Runs to FOX

Denny hamlin leads the pack in NASCAR Cup Series action at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Atlanta was an interesting weekend. You had a tripleheader of action, but not nearly as much good racing on the track as I would have liked to see. The task here is how FOX can make races enjoyable when they aren’t the most impressive. Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Sunday looked like a Kyle Larson …

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NASCAR Stat Sheet: Is Ryan Blaney the New Rooster?

Ryan Blaney celebrates his win in the NASCAR Cup Series at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Every driver has a unique situation and skill level that makes comparing racers from different eras wildly speculative and a little unfair. But for me, the career trajectory of this week’s winner Ryan Blaney is beginning to mirror that of Ricky Rudd. Think about it: Solid equipment but not universally viewed as elite. He doesn’t …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta

2021 Atlanta I Cup Ryan Blaney Victory Lane Nkp

Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

What happened? Ryan Blaney won the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday (March 21) after passing Kyle Larson with eight laps to go for the victory. Kyle Larson, Alex Bowman, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch rounded out the top-five finishers. RETWEET to congratulate @Blaney on his first win of 2021! …

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Up to Speed: Ryan Blaney Adds to His History of NASCAR Clutch Wins at Atlanta

Ryan Blaney gives the checkered flag to a fan at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Photo NKP

Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

Check off another unique winner for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season.  Ryan Blaney emerged as a surprise victor at Atlanta Motor Speedway, capturing the fifth win of his career in dramatic fashion.  Despite a dominating performance from Kyle Larson, who led 269 of 325 laps, Blaney was the one who took the trophy and …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500

2021 Las Vegas I Cup Chris Buescher Car Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who… should you be talking about after the race? With 20 laps to go, it looked as though Ryan Blaney would have to settle for second in the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 as Kyle Larson looked to have the race well in hand. Blaney had a fast car at Atlanta Motor Speedway and had closed …

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Alex Bowman Quietly Earns 1st Top-5 Finish of Season

Alex Bowman at Atlanta

Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

While all eyes were on Ryan Blaney and Kyle Larson’s battle for the win Sunday (March 21) at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Alex Bowman quietly finished third for his first top-five finish of 2021. It was Bowman’s first top five since the Texas Motor Speedway playoff race last fall. “We kind of struggled on long runs …

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Did You Notice?: NASCAR Track Rotation Not the Worst Idea

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Folds Of Honor Quik Trip 500 Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, Ga Usa Sunday 25 February 2018 Kevin Harvick, Stewart Haas Racing, Jimmy John's Ford Fusion, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Roush Fenway Racing, Ford Ford Fusion, And Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports, Axalta Chevrolet Camaro World Copyright: Barry Cantrell Nkp

(Photo: Barry Cantrell/NKP)

Did You Notice?… Atlanta Motor Speedway is one of a handful of tracks to gain back a second NASCAR date in the modern era after losing it? AMS will run its first NASCAR Cup Series race of 2021 this weekend (March 21) before the sport makes a return trip on July 11. There’s a lot of …

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5 Points to Ponder: Cream Rises, Ford Flounders?

2021 Phoenix I Cup Martin Truex Jr Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

ONE: Truex Restores Natural Cup Series Order Just as we were about to hit the point of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season where Bill Murray’s “Dogs and cats living together! Mass hysteria!” line from Ghostbusters would have applied because none of the races were being won by the drivers you’d expect, Martin Truex Jr. …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Instacart 500 at Phoenix

2021 Phoenix I Cup Martin Truex Jr Victory Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened?  Martin Truex Jr. won the Instacart 500 at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday (March 14) after leading the final 25 laps following a pass on the last restart.  Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski and Chase Elliott rounded out the top-five finishers. RETWEET to congratulate @MartinTruex_Jr on his desert dominance! pic.twitter.com/PMjFeMvw7l — NASCAR (@NASCAR) …

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Team Penske Leads Most Laps, Fails to Win NASCAR Cup Race at Phoenix

2021 Cup Phoenix I Ryan Blaney Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

All three Team Penske cars finished Sunday’s (March 14) race at Phoenix Raceway in the top 10, but it could’ve been so much more for the trio. All three Penske cars began the fifth race of this NASCAR Cup Series season with good starting positions via the metric qualifying system. Brad Keselowski started first, Ryan …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas

2021 Cup Las Vegas I Larson Winner Nkp

Kyle Larson celebrates Las Vegas victory (Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? Kyle Larson won the Pennzoil 400 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday (March 7) after leading a race-high 103 laps in just his fourth start for Hendrick Motorsports (fastest in team history). Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney rounded out the top-five finishers. Burning it down on the …

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