Race Weekend Central

Friday Faceoff: Who’s the Top NASCAR Rookie For 2017?

2016 Xfinity Iowa

(Photo: Russell LaBounty / NKP)

Carl Edwards pulled off a move that shocked the racing community, announcing he’ll step away from NASCAR competition full-time.  If Edwards has really hung ’em up for good, what is his legacy in the sport?  Is he a future Hall of Famer? Amy Henderson, Senior Editor: I think he goes down as one of the …

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Friday Faceoff: What’s on NASCAR’s Horizon?

Nascar Champions Portraits

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

NASCAR announced Monster Energy as the new entitlement sponsor in its premier series, replacing Sprint.  Will Monster be a good fit for the series moving forward? Mark Howell, Senior Writer: Based on Monster’s (pardon the pun) track record in motorsports, the affiliation with NASCAR’s premier series will be a successful one. Based on sight of …

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Ty Dillon Moves to Germain Racing for 2017

2016 Chicago Nxs Ty Dillon Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Ty Dillon has found a home for his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rookie season in 2017. The driver, younger brother of current Cup Series regular Austin Dillon, will pilot Germain Racing’s No. 13 in the series beginning in 2017, the team announced in a press release Monday, Nov. 28. Dillon will replace Casey Mears, who …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not: NASCAR Championship Edition

2016 Indianapolis Cup Jimmie Johnson Hat Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

The final race of the season ended with the kind of drama that NASCAR could only hope for when it devised the Chase system, and especially this current Chase system. There was no ceremonial ride around for 267 laps for the champion as there had been at times when the championship was all but won …

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The Underdog House: Putting A Wrap On 2016

2016 Charlotte All Star Showdown Cup Michael Mcdowell Casey Mears Racing Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Think Small It’s hard to believe the 2016 season is over—it seems like just yesterday that it began, full of promise and hope.  For some of the teams on this page, it’s been, by all counts, a good season—one of accomplishment and improvement.  For others it’s been a struggle, financial or performance, often both as …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Sudden Shift Hands Johnson Record-Tying Title

Jimmie Johnson

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Who’s in the headline – The elite level of NASCAR has increased by 50%. There are many gauges to judge the greats but championships are a huge differentiator. Jimmie Johnson took advantage of circumstances that fell his way, led the final three laps, and notched his seventh career title. Johnson shares the headline with Tony …

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NASCAR Penalizes Nearly Two Dozen Teams in Texas

2016 Cup Texas Joey Logano Car Rick Lunkenheimer

(Photo: Rick Lunkenheimer)

On Wednesday, NASCAR released the weekly penalty report stemming from Texas.  Compared to recent weeks, this one was quite the doozy. In the Sprint Cup Series, Joey Logano‘s No. 22 Ford that finished second Sunday night was found to have one loose lugnut.  As a result, the No. 22 has been hit with a P2 …

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NASCAR Mailbox: Tommy Baldwin Racing Rumors Surface

2016 Pocono Cup Regan Smith Zach Catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

The charter system in NASCAR’s premier division is forcing owners to examine the way they operate. With the charters in place, several owners are re-evaluating their programs for 2017. Obviously owners take a long look at their teams at this point every year, but charters have changed the significance. Given only 36 teams can have a …

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Friday Faceoff: Does NASCAR Need a Shakeup at the Top?

2016 Kentucky Cup Ty Dillon Helmet Logan Whitton Nkp

(Photo: Logan Whitton/NKP)

Austin Wayne Self is the second driver to feature Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on his truck. Should NASCAR make a rule about drivers using sponsorless entries to support a political campaign? If so, would it violate freedom of speech? Amy Henderson, Senior Editor: It isn’t a First Amendment violation.  NASCAR isn’t a government entity, …

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The Frontstretch 5: Questions You Should Be Asking After Charlotte

Joey Logano Ryan Sieg Xfinity Charlotte 2016 Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

1. Is there a new player in the game? If Hendrick Motorsports has truly turned things around, this turning point couldn’t come at a better time for the organization … or a worse time for the rest of the field. HMS has found some impressive speed over the last few weeks and was dominant at …

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Beside The Rising Tide: Oh Brother, Where Art Thou

2016 Chicago Nxs Ty Dillon Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Given that I’ve vocally opposed the Chase format in the Cup Series, it should come as no surprise I’m not a big fan of it oozing down to XFINITY and Trucks. Sunday evening gave those few fans paying attention yet another lesson in the rule of unintended consequences stemming from the new championship format. I haven’t …

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2-Headed Monster: Who is in More Trouble This Weekend – Ty Dillon or Erik Jones?

2016 Chicago Nxs Ty Dillon Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

It’s doubtful that anybody would have predicted this two races go: Erik Jones and Ty Dillon both sitting outside the cut line in the first round of the inaugural NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase. Down the stretch? Perhaps. But as strong as those teams have run, to see them in trouble just two races in is surprising. …

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