Race Weekend Central

The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 Pennzoil 400

Kyle Larson races teammate William Byron in the 2021 Pennzoil 400 Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who… should you be talking about after the race? After being out of a NASCAR Cup Series car for nearly a year following a suspension for violating the driver conduct policy, Kyle Larson was repentant and ready to get back on track. It took him all of four weeks to find his groove and win …

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Friday Faceoff: Is William Byron a Championship Contender?

William Byron celebrates in victory lane at Homestead 2021 cup Photo Sean Gardner Getty Images

(Photo: Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Buy or sell: William Byron as a Cup Series Championship 4 contender. Luken Glover: At this moment I am buying it. One of the biggest underlying stories of the preseason was the reunion of William Byron and crew chief Rudy Fugle. Why is that pairing so special? Well, just five years ago, the pair won …

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Did You Notice?: Hendrick Motorsports is the New Face of NASCAR Youth Movement

Alex Bowman talks with Rick Hendrick before 2021 NASCAR Cup Race at Homestead Photo NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Did You Notice?… NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon retired in November 2015 at Homestead-Miami Speedway with a shot at the Cup Series championship. He was 44 years old. Just five years later, William Byron trounced the field at that same track Sunday (Feb. 28) to take Gordon’s former No. 24 car to victory lane at …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? William Byron won the Dixie Vodka 400 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday (Feb. 28) after leading a race-high (and career-high) 102 laps. Tyler Reddick, Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Larson and Kevin Harvick rounded out the top five finishers. An impressive drive in so many ways! Retweet to congratulate @WilliamByron on tonight's win …

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Did You Notice?: A Cautionary Tale on NASCAR Road Courses

Yellow Flag: Caution

(Photo: Frontstretch.com)

Did You Notice? … This year’s NASCAR Cup Series race at the Daytona International Speedway road course ran 12 of its 70 laps under caution? It adds up to 17% of Sunday’s race (Feb. 21), with only one green-flag run lasting more than 10 laps. The eight cautions were more than any road race outside of …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 O’Reilly Auto Parts 253 at the Daytona Road Course

2021 Daytona Rc Cup Bell Victory Lane Nkp

What happened? Christopher Bell won the O’Reilly Auto Parts 253 at the Daytona road course on Sunday (Feb. 21), making it back-to-back first time winners to open the 2021 Cup Series season (the first time since 1950 that has happened). Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, Kurt Busch and Brad Keselowski rounded out the top-five finishers. ? …

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Did You Notice?: Daytona’s Last-Lap Disaster for Team Penske

Nascar Cup Series

#2: Brad Keselowski, Team Penske, Ford Mustang Discount Tire

Did You Notice? … How quickly the last lap of the Daytona 500 fell apart for Team Penske? 2018 NASCAR Cup Series champ Joey Logano crossed the line leading. Brad Keselowski was second, in position to end an 0-for-11 streak at a race he so badly wants knocked off his bucket list. The organization was staring …

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5 Points to Ponder: Lady Luck Deals NASCAR Bad Hand in 2021 Debut

Austin Cindric crashes on the final lap of the 2021 Daytona 500.

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

ONE: Lady Luck Big Player in Disjointed Daytona 500 There were a lot of Valentine’s Day dinners ruined Sunday night (Feb. 14) by the Daytona 500 turned 24 Hours of Daytona Lite. A six-hour rain delay felt entirely preventable, the fourth time in the last 10 NASCAR season openers there’s been a rain delay. At what point …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR DraftKings Forecast: 2021 Daytona 500

Denny Hamlin car on track (Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Well, folks, it’s back again: the Daytona 500. The NASCAR Cup Series 2021 season opener is scheduled to run on Sunday, Feb. 14 at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX. Unfortunately, the usual pomp and circumstance may be limited this year due to COVID-19. But in the world of fantasy NASCAR DraftKings, there’s still a lot …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Busch Clash at Daytona

Nascar Cup Series

#18: Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Camry M&M's

What happened? Kyle Busch won the Busch Clash at the Daytona International Speedway road course on Tuesday (Feb. 9) after Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney collided in the frontstretch chicane while battling for the victory. Busch led just one lap, and he held the top spot for about 300 feet of that lap. Elliott, Joey …

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Kyle Busch Squeaks by for Clash Victory as Leaders Crash

#18: Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Camry M&M's

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Busch Clash provided an exciting start to Speedweeks, as a last-lap pass solidified a win for Kyle Busch. The 2012 Clash winner started from the 16th position and led only one lap en route to his second win in the exhibition event. Following contact between Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney, Busch passed the pair …

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A Tangled Friendship: Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney Lose Opportunity at Clash Win

Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott Collide in the Busch Clash at Daytona, February 9, 2021

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

For the first time ever, the Busch Clash was held on the Daytona International Speedway road course, and it did not disappoint. In a race that saw lockups, spins, a caution for dirt and even a fire, the end delivered in perhaps the most unexpected way. On fresher tires, pole sitter Ryan Blaney passed Chase …

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