Race Weekend Central

The Frontstretch 5: Winless Drivers Who Could Squeeze One In Before the Playoffs

2019 Daytona I Cup Erik Jones Nkp

(Photo: NKP)

Summer in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series has been a diverse one in terms of winners. The last nine races have featured nine different faces in victory lane, which is great for the sport, sponsors and fans. But there are plenty of drivers without wins so far this season (and for some, ever). With …

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NASCAR 101: Longest Cup Streaks Without a Pole

2019 Loudon Mencs Brad Keselowski Pole Award Getty Images Nascar Media

(Photo: Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Entering the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, Brad Keselowski had 14 poles to his credit — by no means a deplorable number. However, it came with a caveat. In 2018, Keselowski won no poles, and his last one before then came at the second Michigan International Speedway race of the season in 2017. …

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The Frontstretch 5: Largest NASCAR Cup Victory Margins of 2019 To Date

2019 Loudon Mencs Martin Truex, Jr Face Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What makes a good race? That question was posed last week in this column, and one thing our staff agreed on was that a close finish is one thing that makes a race memorable. Everyone remembers the 2003 Southern 500 because the finish was the closest in the Cup Series to date. And as we …

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5 Points to Ponder: NASCAR’s Rookie Driver Disappearing Act and Cleaning Up the Playoff Bubble

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

ONE: Can Kevin Harvick’s Win Kickstart Stewart-Haas Racing? There’s no doubt Kevin Harvick’s Sunday victory (July 21) at New Hampshire Motor Speedway lifts a monkey off the back of Stewart-Haas Racing. After eight Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victories in 2018, a career high, it took Harvick 20 races to win his first. If nothing …

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Up to Speed: Erik Jones Survives Chaotic New Hampshire Race

2019 Loudon Mencs Erik Jones Car Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Erik Jones ran one of his best races of the season on Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.  The final results will show that Jones started fourth, placed second in the first stage and came home third, equaling his best finish of 2019. But really, that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Jones had to …

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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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Clint Bowyer Not Worried About Making Playoffs

2019 Michigan I Cup Clint Bowyer Helmet Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Clint Bowyer‘s 2019 season has been a tale of two tapes — either really good or awful, much of which has been out of his control. Regardless, the veteran driver isn’t worried about making the playoffs. Bowyer, 40, started the season for Stewart-Haas Racing inconsistently. The No. 14 team had just one top-10 finish through …

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Clint Bowyer: ‘We Needed A Solid Finish’

2019 Kentucky Mencs Clint Bowyer Car Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The month of June was one of Clint Bowyer‘s worst months of racing in recent memory. Heading into the Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway, the No. 14 team had three finishes of 34th or worse in the past four races. That changed on Saturday night (July 13). The race didn’t start pretty for Bowyer. …

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Frontstretch Podcast: Biggest Upset in NASCAR History?

2019 Daytona Mencs Justin Haley Cup Victory Lane Christian Koelle

(Photo: Christian Koelle)

In this week’s edition of the Frontstretch Podcast, Dustin Albino and Mike Neff discuss a wild and entertaining weekend of racing at Daytona International Speedway, which saw Justin Haley pick up his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victory in stunning fashion. Is it the biggest upset in NASCAR history? Probably. But by running 27th and missing the melee …

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5 Points To Ponder: A NASCAR Weather Solution To Prevent Future Chaos

2019 Daytona Iwsc Rain Phil Allaway

(Photo: Phil Allaway)

ONE: A NASCAR Weather Solution To Prevent Future Chaos It’s Tuesday, July 9, two days after the 2019 Coke Zero Sugar 400, and Justin Haley’s win still seems like a dream. Time to wake up. The unthinkable for a Spire Motorsports team that hasn’t even finished on the lead lap in its existence happened on a …

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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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Pace Laps: Daytona Provides Pair of Surprise Winners

Ross Chastain Daytona Watermeln

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Upset Winner Leaves NASCAR Fans Irate Last July, Justin Haley left Daytona International Speedway feeling like the track might have owed him one. His thrilling last-lap pass of Kyle Larson in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race was disallowed when officials determined he dipped below the yellow line. A potential win …

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