Race Weekend Central

Hidden Talent: Chase Format Highlights XFINITY Series Woes

2016 Michigan International Speedway Nxs Alex Bowman Erik Jones Field Photo Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

For the 14th time in 2016, the NASCAR XFINITY Series paddock roared to life for a race on Sunday at Iowa Speedway. For the 10th time, that race ended without a series regular in Victory Lane. Sure, Iowa was a little different tale than the usual – Sam Hornish, Jr. earned a redemptive victory in …

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Erik Jones Leads, Groundhog Steals the Show in Opening NXS Practice

2016 Richmond I Nxs Erik Jones Car Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russel LaBounty/NKP)

Typically, when drivers lose track time during a practice session it’s due to rain or a crash. However, in Friday’s NASCAR XFINITY Series practice at Michigan International Speedway, Erik Jones topped a session cut short by a rogue groundhog. Jones’ 192.092-mph circuit early in the session held as the top time in practice for Saturday’s Menards …

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Kyle Larson’s Crew Chief Suspended for Lug Nut Violation

2016 Pocono I Cup Kyle Larson Chad Johnston Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Another lug nut penalty was issued this week following the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Pocono. Chad Johnston, who crew chiefs the No. 42 car of Kyle Larson, was hit with a P3 penalty for failing to have all lug nuts properly installed on the car following the race. He was suspended for the …

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Joe Gibbs Racing Sweeps XFINITY Series Practice Sessions at Pocono

2016 Atlanta Nxs Kyle Busch Car Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty NKP)

For the first time in XFINITY Series history, race cars logged laps on Pocono Raceway. Joe Gibbs Racing led the way, topping the charts in both practice sessions on Thursday. Practice One:  Defending Sprint Cup champion Kyle Busch led the opening practice at 170.171 mph, over a tenth of a second faster than his closest competition, …

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XFINITY Series Regulars Sweep Practice Sessions at Charlotte

2016 Fontana Nxs Ty Dillon Austin Dillon Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

An XFINITY Series regular paced each practice session Thursday in preparation for Saturday’s Hisense 4K TV 300. It was a welcome boost for a division that has dealt with its share of Cup interlopers this season. In practice one, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas took center stage. Erik Jones, a two-time winner this season and the …

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Beyond the Cockpit: Ryan Newman Looking to End RCR’s Dry Streak

2016 Charlotte All Star Cup Ryan Newman Car Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Growing up driving Quarter Midgets, Modifieds and USAC, Ryan Newman has been around racing his entire adult life. When he made the move to NASCAR in 2000, he was given the nickname “Rocket Man” for a good reason. Being paired with racing legends such as Roger Penske, Tony Stewart and Richard Childress, Newman hasn’t disappointed when …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: A Monstrous Matt Kenseth Comeback

2016 Dover I Cup Matt Kenseth Jason Ratcliff Trophy Matthew T Thacker Nkp

Who’s in the headline – The 2016 season has been anything but stellar for Matt Kenseth. After a near miss at Daytona he’s only managed one top 5 finish before Sunday, and that as a fourth last weekend at Kansas. Sunday Kenseth was in the mix but didn’t look like he’d be in contention for …

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10 Teams Warned After Talladega

2016 Talladega I Cup Pack Racing Logan Whitton Nkp

(Photo: Logan Whitton / NKP)

10 teams between the Sprint Cup and XFINITY series were warned for failing pre-race inspection multiple times during the Talladega race weekend, including the No. 48 of Jimmie Johnson. Johnson’s team failed template inspection three times and in addition to his warning he will lose 15 minutes of practice time this weekend at Kansas Speedway. …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Brad Keselowski Drops Malachi Crunch on the Talladega Demo Derby for Second Win of the Season

2016 Talladega I Cup Brad Keselowski Champagne John Harrleson Nkp

(Photo: John Harrleson / NKP)

Who’s in the headline – Brad Keselowski won his first Cup race at Talladega in 2009. While he isn’t mentioned in the same breaths with Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt or Tony Stewart when plate racing prowess is discussed, the bottom line is he won his fourth plate race at Talladega on Sunday. Even though the …

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2-Headed Monster: Heat Races … Are They Worth It?

2016 Richmond I Nxs Erik Jones Car Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russel LaBounty/NKP)

NASCAR is in the midst of a brand-new experiment this season: heat races in the XFINITY Series. NASCAR has used heat races before in the Camping World Truck Series at Eldora, using multiple races to set the starting lineup for the main event, but until 2016 the NXS ran full-length events, lap one to lap …

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Carl Edwards Warned Following Bristol Victory

Nascar Sprint Cup Series Food City 500

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

For the third week in a row, the race-winning team in the Sprint Cup Series received a warning for an infraction that occurred during the weekend. Carl Edwards’ No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing team was warned for failing pre-qualifying inspection twice. The warning was his third of the season and with one more the team will …

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2-Headed Monster: Has Brian Vickers Earned More Races This Season?

Brian Vickers Martinsville Cup 2016 Turn 3 Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

Brian Vickers is somewhat of an enigma. He won the 2003 XFINITY Series championship and was subsequently promoted to the No. 25 team of Hendrick Motorsports. He underperformed in the car, winning just a single race during his three years with HMS – a victory that came at the expense of his teammate Jimmie Johnson, …

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