Race Weekend Central

Frontstretch Podcast: Ryan Newman Relives Top 10 Run at Kentucky

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

In this week’s edition of the Frontstretch Podcast, Dustin Albino and Mike Neff discuss a long, hot weekend of racing at Kentucky Speedway, which saw Kurt Busch oust his brother Kyle Busch for his first victory with Chip Ganassi Racing. What did we think of the Kentucky race? The finish was spectacular, as was Clint Bowyer‘s sixth-place run, which …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in NASCAR: Photo Finish

2019 Kentucky Mencs Kurt Busch Victory Celebration Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

All three NASCAR national series were at Kentucky Speedway last weekend, and it was a bit of a mixed bag. The Gander Outdoors Truck Series was a wreckfest with plenty of drama, with trucks wrecking and running out of fuel, hats flying while tempers flared, and a rookie driver getting his first win. The Xfinity …

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Beside the Rising Tide: Feels Like the First Time 

Justin Haley poses with his trophy after winning the summer NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona, July 2019. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Rather unexpectedly, NASCAR’s top three touring divisions have welcomed some first-time winning drivers and teams lately.  On Thursday night (July 11) at Kentucky Speedway, Tyler Ankrum drove his David Gilliland-owned Toyota to victory, a first for both the rookie driver and the team. It was only Ankrum’s 12th start in the Truck Series, as he …

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Xfinity Breakdown: Tale of 2 Races Ends With Cole Custer Writing Final Chapter

2019 Kentucky Nxs Cole Custer Victory Celebration Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Alsco 300 began in the daylight and ended with the Kentucky Speedway lights illuminating the summer skies, and the difference was more than just aesthetic. While the sun was out, it appeared to be another occasion when Christopher Bell would simply be too much for the field. Twice before (at Atlanta and Iowa), Bell …

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Stars & Stories Make NASCAR’s 2nd-Tier Tour a Must-Watch

2019 Phoenix I Nxs Cole Custer Pack Racing Nkp

(Photo: NKP)

There’s a great rivalry brewing in the NASCAR garage, one filled with stars from various backgrounds competing for different manufacturers and each bringing their own personality and flavor to the championship chase. Here’s the thing, though – it isn’t in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. NASCAR’s best young rivalry is growing in the Xfinity …

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Christopher Bell, Cole Custer lead Xfinity practices at Kentucky

2019 Kentucky Nxs Christopher Bell Car Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Just like most of the season, Christopher Bell and Cole Custer were the class of the field as they led the two practice sessions at Kentucky Motor Speedway under humid and partly cloudy skies. In the first practice, Bell was the quickest with a lap of 177.549 mph. John Hunter Nemechek was second, followed by …

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Truckin’ Thursdays: Carl Edwards, Ben Kennedy Highlight Memorable Kentucky Moments

2015 Camping World Truck Kentucky

(Nigel Kinrade Photography)

2003: Carl Edwards Scores 1st Career Win Today, many NASCAR fans will remember Carl Edwards for various reasons, whether they were a longtime fan or completely caught off guard by his sudden exit from the sport. But in 2003, no one really knew who he was aside from maybe MB Motorsports, the team that gave …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in NASCAR: Fourth of July Fiasco

2019 Daytona Mencs Pack Racing Cars Christian Koelle

(Photo: Christian Koelle)

The final July 4 Weekend held at Daytona International Speedway did not go as planned for NASCAR. But sometimes that’s what happens. Rain delayed the start of Friday’s Xfinity Series event, the Circle K Firecracker 250 Powered by Coca-Cola, for about three hours, starting after 10 p.m. local time when the green flag finally waved. …

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NASCAR 101: Top Average Finish By Xfinity Drivers at Daytona & Talladega

2019 Atlanta Nxs Tyler Reddick Nkp

(Photo: NKP)

Here’s the cool thing about this weekend’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Daytona International Speedway: no Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers. For a while, that would have been a rarity in NASCAR, something to shock. There was a period of time in NASCAR’s secondary series when an Xfinity regular winning a race in their …

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NASCAR Mailbox: Who’s On the Hot Seat Right Now?

2019 Atlanta Cup Erik Jones Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Last week, NASCAR President Steve Phelps announced that 2021 would not feature any major shakeups in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series schedule like many were anticipating. It is also the same season that the Gen-7 Cup car will roll out and debut, which makes me question why they would not shake up the schedule. …

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5 Points To Ponder: 2019 NASCAR Stewart-Haas Racing Slump Digs New Low

#41: Daniel Suarez, Stewart Haas Racing, Ford Mustang Haas Automation And #10: Aric Almirola, Stewart Haas Racing, Ford Mustang Smithfield

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

ONE: Hendrick Motorsports Breaks Through. Will It Last? Alex Bowman wasn’t the only one celebrating from the Hendrick Motorsports camp at Chicagoland Speedway. The driver of the No. 88 Chevrolet scored his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victory Sunday (June 30), but he was one of four HMS drivers to finish inside the top …

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Up to Speed: Who’s on the Hot Seat at Stewart-Haas Racing?

2019 Chicagoland Nxs Cole Custer Stewart Haas Racing Car Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Saturday’s Xfinity Series race at Chicagoland Speedway ended with a familiar face in victory lane.  Cole Custer rolled to his fourth win in the first 15 races of 2019.  Along with Christopher Bell and Tyler Reddick, Custer has dominated the Xfinity Series this season and is one of the championship favorites.  And, just like Bell …

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