Race Weekend Central

The Underdog House: Different Track, Same John Hunter Nemechek

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(Photo: NASCAR Media/Getty Images)

Top Dog John Hunter Nemechek stole the show in the first NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington last week. But that was just the beginning for his team at the top of the underdog class. Front Row Motorsports has really taken over the group, with Michael McDowell being the highest such finisher in race No. …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2020 Toyota 500 at Darlington

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(Photo: NASCAR Media/Getty Images)

The Headline(s): After showing long-run speed during a late green-flag run, Denny Hamlin’s pit crew got the No. 11 out front off pit road after a lap 194 caution at Darlington Raceway. Following a brief restart, Hamlin then capitalized when an incident between Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott on lap 200 brought out the 11th …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2020 Toyota 500

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(Photo: NASCAR Media/Getty Images)

Who… should you be talking about after the Toyota 500? Denny Hamlin has been strong at Darlington Raceway, and he had a rocket ship as the laps ticked down in Wednesday’s (May 20) Toyota 500. Thanks to that, even though Hamlin stayed on track when the caution flew with 30 laps remaining, typically a disaster …

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Stock Car Scoop: Ryan Preece on Pole, Xfinity Series PPD, Cup Series Darlington Race Moved Up

Ryan Preece at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, March 2019. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The field is set for the Cup Series race at Darlington on Wednesday, May 20, 2020. Who will start on the front row and how does the inverted field work? We’ll tell you on Stock Car Scoop with Bryan Nolen. Frontstretch’s new podcast focused on the motorsports news of the week also takes a look …

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The Underdog House: John Hunter Nemechek-ed Out At Darlington

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#38: John H. Nemechek, Front Row Motorsports, Ford Mustang Fire Alarm Services

Top Dog John Hunter Nemechek is a rookie, a fact that bears mentioning for two important reasons. First off, you may have forgotten his status since the season started what feels like a decade ago. Secondly, he didn’t look much like a rookie at Darlington Raceway on Sunday afternoon. The Front Row Motorsports driver tamed …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR DraftKings Forecast: The Real Heroes 400

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(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Real racing is back! The NASCAR Cup Series returns from a two-month COVID-19 break for The Real Heroes 400 at Darlington Raceway. The 293-lap race kicks off on Sunday, May 17 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX Sports and also marks the return of daily fantasy NASCAR. Darlington is known as the Track Too Tough …

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The Underdog House: Dillon Makes It a Ty Game in Phoenix

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(Photo: Randy Lanning)

Top Dog Ty Dillon keeps popping up at the top of this list, much in the way that Matt DiBenedetto and Chris Buescher have in recent years. The difference between those drivers and Dillon is that Ty seems to be interested in building a long-term future at his current team. Both are getting better together, …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR Fanduel Forecast: FanShield 500 (Phoenix)

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(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

On the third installment of the West Coast Swing, NASCAR Cup Series teams head to the desert for the FanShield 500 at Phoenix Raceway. Drivers will compete on a 1-mile flat track and attempt to make passes in the turn 1 dogleg. Since this is the first race the drivers will use the new short-track …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR DraftKings Forecast: 2020 FanShield 500

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(Photo: Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images for NASCAR)

It’s time for a duel in the desert as the NASCAR Cup Series makes the trek to Arizona for the FanShield 500 at Phoenix Raceway. Something is definitely different about the cars this week: the rear spoiler. It was reduced from 8 inches to 2.75 inches as part of the new short-track and road course …

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The Underdog House: Lights, Camera, Action (or a Lack Thereof) in Fontana

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Top Dog I’m not good at predicting the future. But last week, I wrote that I anticipated our underdogs faced a tough task if they wanted to steal the spotlight in southern California. Unfortunately, this time my outlook couldn’t have been more accurate. Sunday’s race at Auto Club Speedway was a disappointment for the underfunded …

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The Underdog House: Ty Dillon Leaves Vegas On a Heater

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Top Dog Ty Dillon has been on a roll of late. Granted, underdog teams don’t necessarily see the type of eyebrow-raising streaks that other teams with extensive resources put together in terms of wins and top-five finishes. But Dillon continues to be instrumental in helping the long-time backmarker wind up a little closer to the …

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2020 NASCAR Cup Series Preseason Power Rankings

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(Credit: Christian Koelle, Frontstretch)

For the first time here at Frontstretch, our staff banded together to vote on who it thinks will be the top drivers of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season in a preseason power rankings format. Each participating staff member sent a 30-driver ranking before the beginning of the season, taking into account not only 2019 successes …

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