Race Weekend Central

Beyond the Cockpit: Ryan Blaney Bringing Success Back to the Wood Brothers

2016 Las Vegas CUP Ryan Blaney smile Nigel Kinrage NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

The Wood Brothers have been around since 1953, when the iconic No. 21 car first began circling a racetrack. Ever since then, NASCAR’s oldest team has fought through adversity time after time. Since scaling back to a part-time schedule in 2009, five drivers have piloted the red and white Ford. But after Ryan Blaney sped …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in NASCAR: Martinsville Edition

2016 Fontana CUP Jimmie Johnson Superman Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade /NKP)

There’s that old Jim Croce song, covered by many several times over the years, where it talks about not tugging on superman’s cape and where you don’t mess around with Jim. A late restart at California Sunday afternoon allowed for both of those things to happen, in a sense. It pulled the cape of the …

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Did You Notice?… The Wood Brothers’ Sudden Resurgence?

2016 Phoenix I NXS Kyle Busch celebrates Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Did You Notice?… Kyle Busch‘s NASCAR XFINITY Series dominance? Well, sure, you probably have, even if you haven’t actually watched any of the races, since it’s been quite the topic across social media, NASCAR forums and elsewhere. In three 2016 starts, all coming in the last three races, Busch is batting 1,000, relinquishing Victory Lane only …

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The 10: The Great Tie of Arizona

2016 Phoenix I CUP Denny Hamlin pack racing Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Well, this is a first. Sunday’s Good Sam 500(k) marked the second photo finish in four races to start 2016, with Kevin Harvick just edging out Carl Edwards to stay atop the throne as the king of Phoenix International Raceway. Not one to be outdone, our list of Power Rankings voters somehow managed an even …

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The Frontstretch Five: Feel Good Stories So Far In NASCAR 2016

2016 Phoenix I CUP Matt DiBenedetto David Ragan Nigel Knrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Finishes like this one: … and this one: No, they won’t all be like that, but these finishes were pretty spectacular, and the racing through the field hasn’t been too shabby either, with the exception of Daytona. Maybe someday, FOX will see fit to show that part to fans at home… 2. A few new …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not: California Edition

2016 Phoenix I NXS Kyle bUsch bow Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

We were minus the sandstorms and other weird weather phenomenons in Phoenix on Sunday, but NASCAR and its fans got something much better – a thrilling, down to the line, door-banging finish. HOT So now that’s two of the four races so far with extra-close finishes, and that’s a pretty good percentage. I wouldn’t expect …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud – Kevin Harvick Beats His Way to Eighth Career Phoenix Victory

2016 Phoenix I CUP Kevin Harvick team celebration Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Who’s in the headline – There are two things in life that are certain: death and taxes. Closely behind that is Kevin Harvick winning at Phoenix International Raceway. For the eighth time in his career and the sixth time in the last eight races, Harvick was the first car under the checkered flag. What happened – …

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Pace Laps: Young and Hungry Rookies, Mikhail Aleshin Impresses & K&N Pro Series Action

2016 Phoenix I NXS Erik Jones Daniel Suarez Kyle BUsch racing Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Sprint Cup: Young & Hungry – We are starting to witness a pattern in the Sprint Cup Series: The young drivers are here to race. The three men in particular are Austin Dillon, Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney as each of them scored a top-10 result Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway. If Sunday was your first …

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Up to Speed: Rookies Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney Impress at Phoenix

Rookies aren’t supposed to be competing for top fives and wins with the veterans, right? At most, they should barely be running near the top 10. Eh, try again. This year’s class of “super rookies” have already begun to make their mark in NASCAR’s premier division. A mere four races into the season, two young …

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The Big Six: Questions Answered After the 2016 Good Sam 500

2016 Phoenix I CUP Kevin Harvick team celebration Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? Racing at NASCAR’s highest level takes both talent and equipment.  A good driver in a not-so-good car will generally struggle, and that’s something a lot of drivers face every week, even those who race for the sport’s best-funded teams fight their equipment at times. One test of a …

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Friday Faceoff: Will Matt Kenseth Turn it Around?

2016 Las Vegas CUP Matt Kenseth Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade NKP)

Matt Kenseth, who entered the season as a title favorite, has yet to score a top-10 finish through three races.  Is it time for the No. 20 team to hit the panic button, or is the slow start just a bump in the road? Dustin Albino, Contributor: Matt Kenseth has had an opportunity to win …

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The 10: Power Rankings Leaders Find Luck, Dust in Vegas

2016 Las Vegas CUP Kurt Busch pack racing Matthew T Thacker NKP

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker / NKP)

Typically, the phrase “eat my dust” is a joke when it comes to racing. However, on a wild Sunday in Las Vegas, the phrase was all too real. After 400 miles of rainy, dusty, windy madness at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Brad Keselowski and the Blue Deuce rolled back in to Victory Lane for the first …

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