Race Weekend Central

Up to Speed: Wild & Young Racers Steal the Show at Daytona

2018 Daytona Cup Zach Catanzareti Erik Jones

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

If the Daytona 500 is any indication, the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup season could be one of the wildest in years. Granted, making any predictions about an entire season based only on the first race is a dangerous game.  The Daytona 500 is unlike any other race on the NASCAR schedule, and restrictor plate …

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Paul Menard Scores Top 10 in Wood Brothers Racing Debut

2018 Daytona Cup Bruce Nuttleman Paul Menard

(Photo: Bruce Nuttleman)

In the 2017 Daytona 500, Ryan Blaney came up just shy of winning in the Wood Brothers Racing No. 21. Blaney went on to win at Pocono Raceway and make a deep playoff run. Blaney announced he was moving to Team Penske and Paul Menard would take his spot in the No. 21 for 2018. …

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Ryan Blaney Disappointed in Daytona 500 Finish

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: John K Harrelson / NKP)

Entering Sunday’s Daytona 500, Ryan Blaney was among the favorites driving for Team Penske. By leading a race-high 118 laps, the No. 12 car proved to be the quickest one on track. It all looked like it was going to work out. And then… Lady Luck intervened. Over the final 80 circuits, Blaney led until …

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Are the Can-Am Duels Still Necessary?

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Russell LaBounty / NKP)

The stars of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series duked it out on Thursday night (Feb. 15) in the Can-Am Duels to determine Sunday’s starting lineup for the Daytona 500. Only 40 cars entered the Great American Race this year, so for the first time in a long time, no one was sent home. In the …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2018 Can-Am Duels at Daytona

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Barry Cantrell / NKP)

Who’s in the headline –   The Can-Am Duels at Daytona didn’t have the frenetic activity and tension as the laps wound down but there was still plenty of drama as the races unfolded. When it was all said and done, Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott took the checkered flags first in the Duels and they …

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Darrell Wallace Jr. Pushes Ryan Blaney to Win the First Cam-Am Duel

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Logan Whitton/ NKP)

Alex Bowman started the first Can-Am Duel at Daytona International Speedway on the pole, but was quickly shuffled out on the first lap. The three Team Penske cars maneuvered to the top of the field and claimed the top-three spots, with Brad Keselowski initially leading before Joey Logano took over. Two-time Daytona 500 champion Jimmie …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR DraftKings Forecast: 2018 Daytona 500

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Daytona 500 Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fl Usa Sunday 11 February 2018 Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports, Nationwide Chevrolet Camaro World Copyright: Nigel Kinrade Nkp

Alex Bowman will lead the field at Daytona for the 500(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Daily fantasy NASCAR is back, which is a great reminder that spring is right around the corner. If you live up north like me, the Daytona 500 will shine a bright light on the weekend and help you forget about the foot-and-a-half of snow on the front lawn. The front row was set last Sunday …

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Up to Speed: Will Rising Young NASCAR Stars Contend for the Championship?

2017 Nascar Monster Energy Cup Daytona 500 Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fl Usa Wednesday 22 February 2017 Chase Elliott Ryan Blaney World Copyright: Matthew T. Thacker/nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

After a wave of 2017 retirements, a youth movement has turned into a tsunami, in position to take the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series by storm.  The top division of professional stock car racing is awash with fresh talent, poised to be a major storyline as soon as this Sunday’s Daytona 500. Most of the …

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Penske Perfect: Brad Keselowski Wins Clash with Teammates in Tow

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series The Advance Auto Parts Clash Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fl Usa Sunday 11 February 2018 Brad Keselowski, Team Penske, Miller Lite Ford Fusion World Copyright: Matthew T. Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

NASCAR’s first race of the year at Daytona saw plenty of intense pack racing with drivers adjusting to 2018 ride height rules. But the ending of the non-points Advanced Auto Parts Clash at Daytona proved near perfect for one organization: Team Penske. Brad Keselowski scored the victory, cruising out in front as teammates Ryan Blaney …

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Ryan Blaney, Kyle Busch, William Byron Fastest In 3 Daytona Practices

2017 Road America Nxs William Byron Russell Labounty Nkp

Saturday was the official start of the 2018 NASCAR season. There was one morning practice and two afternoon practice sessions, all for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Work for the Advanced Auto Parts Clash was paired with the opening on-track time for next Sunday’s Daytona 500. In the morning Clash session, the Fords of …

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Frontstretch Podcast: A Fresh Season to Come

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series 2018 Nascar Media Tour Charlotte Convention Center, Charlotte, Nc Usa Tuesday 23 January 2018 Kurt Busch World Copyright: Matthew T. Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

In the first episode of the Frontstretch Podcast in 2018, we discuss all the changes — or lack of which — for the 2018 NASCAR season with Dustin Albino, Zach Catanzareti and Davey Segal. In the last two months and change, the sport has been on the sidelines as the drivers, teams and media “enjoy” …

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Beside the Rising Tide: All the Young Dudes

2016 Kentucky Cup Chase Elliott Logan Whitton Nkp

(Photo: Logan Whitton/NKP)

The season hasn’t even gotten started yet and already, Kyle Busch is feeling aggrieved and voicing his displeasure (doesn’t he know doing so is the sole province of the media?) As usual, the NASCAR Media Tour itself was largely lost in an avalanche of words and predictions concerning the upcoming Super Bowl. Living here in the …

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