Race Weekend Central

Friday Faceoff: Is Hendrick Motorsports Finally On The Upswing?

2019 Phoenix I Cup Jimmie Johnson Pack Racing Nkp

(Photo: NKP)

Is Hendrick Motorsports on their way back to the top tier, or was their showing at Texas a one-time thing? Bryan Gable: It is best not to read too much into one race.  Just a few weeks ago, we were talking about how Hendrick Motorsports had zero top fives through the first five races of …

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Frontstretch Podcast: Denny Hamlin On Fire, Jeb Burton Chats Fun Opportunity With JR Motorsports

Nascar Xfinity Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

In a new edition of the Frontstretch Podcast, Dustin Albino and Mike Neff talk about Denny Hamlin‘s recent hot performances, including his victory at Texas Motor Speedway last weekend. Then, the duo discusses a strong performance from the Stewart-Haas Racing organization, seeing Clint Bowyer and Daniel Suarez earn top-five results. But what’s preventing the company to reach Victory …

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NASCAR Mailbox: Should NASCAR Alter Pit Road Penalties in Any Way?

2019 Daytona Clash Cup Joey Logano Pitstop Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Last season, there was much debate about who the best team in NASCAR was. This season, it is safe to say there are two frontrunners, with Joe Gibbs Racing and Team Penske. The two teams have combined to win the first seven races of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season. There have been other …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2019 O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas

2019 Cup Texas Zach Catanzareti Erik Jones

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

The Headline(s): Denny Hamlin overcame a characteristic pair of pit road penalties and missing a pit road approach under green with a stellar late-race pit stop. That got him out front, where he beat Clint Bowyer by more than two seconds. Hamlin scored his second win of 2019 and the 52nd NASCAR national series win …

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Denny Hamlin Surges Ahead, Wins 2019 O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 When Busch Breaks Loose

2019 Cup Texas Denny Hamlin Victory Lane Rick Lunkenheimer

(Photo: Rick Lunkenheimer)

Pit road speeding. Uncontrolled tire. Two pit road penalties couldn’t stop Denny Hamlin from ending Sunday with two Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series wins after the 2019 O’Reilly Auto Parts 500. Hamlin took control after the final pit stops at Texas Motor Speedway and cruised to a 2.7-second victory over Clint Bowyer. The No. 11 …

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Michael McDowell: This Is The Way I’ve Been, It Hasn’t Changed

2019 Las Vegas I Cup Michael Mcdowell Nkp

(Photo: NKP)

2019 marks Michael McDowell‘s 12th season in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, but the wily veteran has been in the headlines more this year than maybe any other. McDowell started the season with a fifth-place run in the Daytona 500 and was a major player in the battle for the win. Since then, McDowell’s …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2019 STP 500

2019 Atlanta Cup Jimmie Johnson Nkp

(Photo: NKP)

Who… should you be talking about after the race? Brad Keselowski was the definition of dominant Sunday (March 24), leading 446 of 500 laps. He beat every car off pit road on every pit stop and got passed for the lead under green only once during his march to the front. Team Penske is quickly making …

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Clint Bowyer Rebounds for Top 10 After Multiple Speeding Penalties

Clint Bowyer 2019 Stp 500

(Photo: Christian Koelle)

Sunday’s (March 24) STP 500 will be remembered as what could have been for Clint Bowyer. The defending winner of the event started 10th and quickly asserted himself in the conversation of quickest cars, finishing seventh in the first stage an eighth in the second. But pit road speeding penalties derailed his potential quest for a …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR FanDuel Forecast: 2019 STP 500

2019 Las Vegas I Cup Daniel Hemric Luke Lambert Nkp

(Photo: NKP)

It’s time for one of the most popular (and my favorite) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series racetrack of the year: the predictably unpredictable paperclip that is Martinsville Speedway. The 2019 STP 500 is the latest FanDuel daily fantasy NASCAR opportunity headed your way. There’s a lot of familiar faces atop the practice charts and 500 …

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Clint Bowyer, Chase Elliott Pace Dual Cup Practices from Martinsville

2019 Daytona Clash Cup Clint Bowyer Car Nkp

(Photo:NKP)

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series took to the sports oldest venue for two practice sessions on Saturday (March 23) afternoon, as Clint Bowyer (19.387 seconds) and Chase Elliott (19.413 seconds) were quickest in the respective 50-minute sessions at Martinsville Speedway. Defending race winners @ClintBowyer and crew chief @BugaMike14 have good reason to feel confident. …

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NASCAR 101: The Cup Series Returns to the Short Tracks

2016 Nascar Martinsville

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

The Paperclip. The World’s Fastest Half-Mile. The Action Track. Three very distinct short tracks, yet some drivers in the 2018 season conquered each track’s challenges. Though the races at Martinsville, Bristol, and Richmond resulted in three different winners, quite a few drivers placed in the top 10 in at least four out of the six …

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Up to Speed: Kurt Busch Impressive at Chip Ganassi Racing

2019 Las Vegas I Cup Kurt Busch Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway belonged to Kyle Busch.  But nobody should overlook the accomplishments of his older brother early in the season. Kurt Busch left Stewart-Haas Racing after a successful five-year run.  He took over driving duties for Chip Ganassi Racing’s No. 1 car, bringing sponsor Monster Energy …

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