Race Weekend Central

5 Points to Ponder: 2021 NASCAR Manufacturer Parity Among Ford, Chevy & Toyota

All three NASCAR manufacturers (Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota) battle at Kansas Speedway. (Photo: NKP) Ryan Blaney, Martin Truex Jr, Chase Elliott

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

1: NASCAR manufacturer parity … At the top 12 races into the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, it’s clear three organizations have separated from the rest of the pack. Joe Gibbs Racing (with Darlington Raceway winner Martin Truex Jr.), Team Penske and Hendrick Motorsports are the sport’s new Big 3, sweeping 10 of the top …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Goodyear 400 at Darlington

Martin Truex Jr. celebrates in victory lane with trophy after Goodyear 400 throwback Darlington weekend 2021 spring Cup Chris Graythen/Getty

(Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images via NASCAR Media)

What happened? Martin Truex Jr. won the Goodyear 400 at Darlington on Sunday (May 9) after leading 248 of 293 laps for his third win of the 2021 season. Kyle Larson, Kyle Busch, William Byron and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top-five finishers at NASCAR’s Throwback Weekend. One of the best burner-outers in the game …

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Stock Car Scoop: Kansas Preview

2020 Kansas playoff Cup race, Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch lead the pack coming off a turn, Photo NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The NASCAR Cup Series is heading to Kansas Speedway for the first of two races at the mile-and-a-half track this year and Stewart-Haas Racing enters the weekend with momentum on its side. Can it continue its strong run? Frontstretch’s Adam Cheek and Bryan Nolen discuss this and more. Sign up for Stock Car Scoop on …

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NASCAR Mailbox: How Important Is Kansas for Stewart-Haas Racing?

Nascar Cup Series

#41: Cole Custer, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford Mustang HaasTooling.com, #14: Chase Briscoe, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford Mustang Rush Truck Centers

Where does Brad Keselowski line up in the pantheon of superspeedway racers all-time? – Uriah O., Rochester Hills, Michigan He’s on the Mount Rushmore for me, that’s for sure. I never was able to see Dale Earnhardt Sr. work his Talladega Superspeedway and Daytona International Speedway magic (10 and three wins, respectively), but I’ve seen …

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Frontstretch 5: NASCAR Cup Drivers Who Can Rejuvenate Sluggish Seasons With Talladega Win

2020 Talladega playoff Cup Chase Elliott leads in pack racing Photo NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Talladega Superspeedway race weekend is upon us at last, which means fast racing, daring passes, big crashes and exhilarating down-to-the-wire finishes. While most race fans are eager to see what will unfold this weekend (April 24-25), most NASCAR Cup Series drivers and teams will carry plenty of dread with them instead. Due to the high-risk …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond

Alex Bowman

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? Alex Bowman won the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway on Sunday (April 18) following an impressive late-race restart where he lined up in third place. Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, Christopher Bell and Martin Truex Jr. rounded out the top-five finishers. Let the party begin! ? Retweet to congratulate @Alex_Bowman on a huge …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 Toyota Owners 400

Aric Almirola on pit road before racing at Phoenix Raceway in 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who … should you be talking about after the race? The last time a Hendrick Motorsports car visited victory lane at Richmond Raceway, it was the fall race in 2008, and Jimmie Johnson took the checkers in the No. 48 en route to his third consecutive NASCAR Cup Series title. The No. 48 was the …

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Did You Notice? 7 NASCAR Drivers on the Hot Seat 7 Weeks Into 2021

Matt DiBenedetto stands next to car before 2021 spring Las Vegas Cup race NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Did You Notice? … Crazy enough, the 2021 NASCAR season is already two months old headed to Saturday night’s (April 10) race at Martinsville Speedway. The sport’s top three series are all at least 20% through their regular season schedules; the Camping World Truck Series is a third of the way there. It’s a large …

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NASCAR 101: 2020 Playoff Drivers on the Outside Looking In

Aric Almirola Pit Boss car at 2021 spring Phoenix Cup race Photo NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Although we are just seven races into the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series campaign, the playoffs are already coming into focus. By winning a race, seven drivers have already locked themselves into the postseason if there are no more than 16 winners in the regular season of course. Three of those seven did not make the …

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Friday Faceoff: Biggest Surprises & Disappointments So Far

Daniel Suarez races at 2021 spring Las Vegas Cup race with Camping World on the hood Photo NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

In the NASCAR Cup Series, who has been the biggest surprise of the year to this point? Biggest disappointment? Luken Glover: After his performance at the Bristol Motor Speedway dirt race, Daniel Suarez has definitely been one of the biggest surprises this year. With everything the new Trackhouse Racing Team faces this season, Suarez is …

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NASCAR Mailbox: Was Bristol Dirt a Success?

Bristol dirt track in 2021, overhead view, Jared C Tilton/Getty Images

(Photo: Jared C Tilton/Getty Images via NASCAR Media)

Should this past weekend at Bristol be considered a success given all that went into it and what they had to overcome with the rain? – Hazel B., Austin, Texas Talk about a loaded question … so much to unpack with this race and so little time to do it. First, let me lay out …

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Did You Notice?: NASCAR Team Orders Creeping Into 2021

2021 Trucks Atlanta Kyle Busch, No. 51 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota, Burnout (Credit: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Did You Notice? … The way in which teammates helped each other out at Atlanta Motor Speedway last weekend (March 20-21)? The most obvious example came in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, where Kyle Busch twice slowed down in the final laps of a stage to let John Hunter Nemechek pass by and win. In …

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