Race Weekend Central

The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 Season Finale 500

Larson

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who … should you be talking about after the Season Finale 500? A year ago, Kyle Larson watched the NASCAR Cup Series finale on TV and wondered what might have been. Now, a little older and a lot wiser after he chose to learn from a mistake that saw him banned for most of 2020 …

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Denny Hamlin: Agent of Chaos

Denny Hamlin at Championship Media Day

(Photo by Sean Gardner/Sean Gardner for NASCAR Media)

PHOENIX — If you’re just now joining the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season in progress, the last time we saw Denny Hamlin he was having a … moment. It came Sunday (Oct. 31) at Martinsville Speedway, where Hamlin secured a spot in this weekend’s Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway. He did so after being spun …

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2-Headed Monster: Should NASCAR Step In & Stop Disrespectful Racing?

John Hunter Nemechek NASCAR Martinsville

(Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)

This past weekend’s races at Martinsville Speedway brought up some conversation about drivers’ respect for others. Truck Series veteran Matt Crafton was particularly brash about his thoughts, saying the only way to handle the lack of respect is to “punch someone in the mouth.” With Crafton’s mentality being an old-school approach, many suggested that NASCAR …

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NASCAR Mailbox: Where’s the Respect in the Truck Series?

2021-Martinsville-II-Trucks-Todd-Gilliland-John-Hunter-Nemechek-pack-racing-Brian-Lawdermilk-Getty

(Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)

The Truck race on Saturday (Oct. 30) was a you-know-what show. Why has the respect gone down considerably in recent years? – Dan I., Knoxville, Iowa The Camping World Truck Series has been trending this way for a couple years and especially in recent weeks. But it seems to have come to a boiling point …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Martinsville Brings Brisk Action & Denny Hamlin’s Dirty Mouth to NBC

Martinsville

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Martinsville is a wacky weekend these days. NASCAR moving the race weekend to be the second-to-last of the season basically creates a scenario that breeds ridiculousness. Saturday’s Camping World Truck Series race is what you get when drivers go crazy.  We’ll cover that craziness later this week. Crikey. Sunday was not that ridiculous. That said, …

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NASCAR Stat Sheet: Martinsville Top-Dog Alex Bowman Sizzles, Denny Hamlin Left Feeling Burnt

Alex Bowman at 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Michigan race

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

It was only five years ago but my how the landscape of NASCAR has changed. It has arguably changed more for no single individual than it has for Alex Bowman.

Zach’s Turn: Denny Hamlin’s Anger May Finally Fuel Championship Run

Denny Hamlin Alex Bowman 2021

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Denny Hamlin‘s hunt for a NASCAR Cup Series championship has been fruitless so far. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a more recent viewer, you know Hamlin hasn’t won the title because it becomes a storyline every November. Statistically, he never came closer than 2010 when he finished runner-up to Jimmie Johnson in a public …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Martinsville NASCAR Playoff Race

#48: Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro Ally celebrates winning the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville.

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? Alex Bowman won the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Sunday (Oct. 31) after bumping Denny Hamlin out of the way and surviving an overtime restart. Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr. and William Byron rounded out the top-five finishers. RETWEET to congratulate @Alex_Bowman on his WIN at @MartinsvilleSwy! #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/qNd6DVbKpO — NASCAR on …

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Stock Car Scoop: Will Halloween Chaos at Martinsville Carry Into Phoenix?

Denny Hamlin is spun by Alex Bowman in turn 3 during Martinsville Speedway's Xfinity 500. (Photo: Getty Images)

(Photo: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

The NASCAR Cup Series’ penultimate race of the 2021 season at Martinsville Speedway concluded with Alex Bowman spinning Denny Hamlin to win his fourth race of the year. The Xfinity 500 saw four drivers eliminated on Sunday (Oct. 31) as the field was set for the Championship 4 finale at Phoenix Raceway. The Frontstretch podcast …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 Xfinity 500

Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin talk on pit road before the 2021 Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway. (Photo: Getty Images)

(Photo: Logan Riely/Getty Images)

Who … should you be talking about after the Xfinity 500? 2021 has been a breakout year for Alex Bowman. The 28-year-old posted three early wins and advanced to the Round of 12 in this year’s playoffs before stumbling a bit. At Martinsville Speedway, he put an exclamation point on the deal after a late-race …

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Up to Speed: Denny Hamlin Needs to Let it Go

Denny Hamlin scratches his head on pit road at Charlotte Motor Speedway. (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Denny Hamlin doesn’t have to be happy.  He doesn’t have to like getting spun by Alex Bowman in the closing laps at Martinsville Speedway.  He doesn’t have to celebrate missing out on a potential win during a 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season where he has enjoyed plenty of strong runs, but few victories. No, Hamlin …

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