Race Weekend Central

Up to Speed: Did Kyle Larson Get Saved Again?

#42: Kyle Larson, Chip Ganassi Racing, Chevrolet Camaro Credit One Bank Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Sunday’s race at Dover International Speedway was supposed to be a good one for Kyle Larson.  In nine previous starts at the Monster Mile, he had only finished worse than 11th once.  Larson also looked great in the practice sessions leading up to the race.  It seemed like he was well-prepared to take on the …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Chase Elliott Fires Up the Siren a 2nd Time

2018 Cup Zach Catanzareti Dover Chase Elliott

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Who’s in the headline Chase Elliott lost a heartbreaking race at Dover in the fall of 2017 and blamed himself solely for the loss. Sunday was a complete team effort that vaulted Elliott to Victory Lane and a berth in the Round of 8. Kevin Harvick and Aric Almirola both appeared headed to victory early …

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Aric Almirola Comes Up Short After Leading Late at Dover

2018 Cup Zach Catanzareti Dover Aric Almirola

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Dover International Speedway played devil’s advocate as Aric Almirola appeared to cruise to his second Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. But that’s when the monster tamed the No. 10 team, just moments before the checkered flag would wave. The driver of the No. 10 Ford sat on pit road, staring at race winner Chase Elliott …

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Pace Laps: SHR’s Banner Day Goes Up in Flames

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Stewart-Haas Racing Shoots Itself In The Foot Stewart-Haas Racing put on a clinic for most of Sunday’s (Oct. 7) Gander Outdoors 400 at Dover International Speedway. Kevin Harvick led a race-high 286 laps while Aric Almirola, Clint Bowyer and Kurt Busch were poised to deliver SHR a 1-2-3-4 finish. The …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR FanDuel Forecast: Gander Outdoors 400

#4: Kevin Harvick, Stewart Haas Racing, Ford Fusion Busch Light Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

Kevin Harvick should lead the charge at Dover (Nigel Kinrade Photography)

With four drivers eliminated after last weekend, the Round of 12 for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs begins at Dover International Speedway this weekend. The green flag will wave for the Gander Outdoors 400 at 2:15 p.m. ET this Sunday (Oct. 7) on NBCSN. Here are the rules for FanDuel’s new Daily Fantasy …

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Clint Bowyer Avoids Trouble, Advances With Podium Finish

2018 Charlotte Cup Clint Bowyer Phil Allaway

(Photo: Phil Allaway)

Stewart-Haas Racing’s Clint Bowyer entered Sunday’s Bank of America ROVAL 400 13th in points, four markers behind Ryan Blaney for the final spot in the Round of 12.  Essentially, the plan for Sunday was to keep himself out of trouble and beat everyone around him in the standings. For much of the race, Bowyer was …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR FanDuel Forecast: Bank of America Roval 400

2018 Atlanta Zach Catanzareti Cup Aj Allmendinger

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

This weekend’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race is the last in the sport’s three-week first round of the playoffs. Following Sunday’s (Sept. 30) Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL debut, only 12 of the 16 drivers will transfer to the next round. The green flag flies for the Bank of America ROVAL 400 at 2 p.m. …

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NASCAR Mailbox: Who Will Make the Top 12 Following the ROVAL?

2018 Cup Pocono Zach Catanzareti Jimmie Johnson

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Going into the final race of the first round of the Playoffs at the ROVAL at Charlotte Motor Speedway, there are several drivers right on the cut line who can fall out of the top 12 with one slight mistake. With 14th-place Jimmie Johnson only a handful of points outside looking in, the drivers above …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: What Did Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Return to Racing Do For NBCSN?

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400

(Photo: Robert Laberge/Getty Images)

Richmond Raceway is quite different these days as compared to 15 years ago.  The cars don’t seem quite as fast as they once did there and passing is more difficult.  Races tend to have long green-flag runs.  But, that doesn’t mean you can’t have good racing. Federated Auto Parts 400 Saturday night brought the Monster …

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Up to Speed: Aric Almirola Exceeding Playoff Expectations

Aric Almirola 2018 Mencs Cup Series, Sonoma

(Photo: Danny Peters)

Two races into the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, Aric Almirola’s performance is the biggest positive surprise.  After getting through a chaotic race in Las Vegas unscathed, Almirola earned a fifth-place finish Saturday night at Richmond Raceway.  That finish, coupled with a sixth-place run last week, has lifted Almirola to sixth 0n the …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2018 Federated Auto Parts 400

2018 Kyle Busch Richmond Cup Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? If you filled out a playoff bracket, raise your hand if you had Austin Dillon clearing the Round of 16. Yeah, you’re making that up, put your hand down. While he’s a long way from being a title contender, Dillon did everything he needed to do Saturday night.  …

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Up to Speed: Pressure to Win on Denny Hamlin

2018 Cup Pocono Zach Catanzareti Denny Hamlin

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Denny Hamlin has rarely suffered from a lack of wins in his NASCAR career.  Since 2006, his rookie year in the Cup Series, he has never had a winless season.  Some of those years certainly were not big-win seasons, but Hamlin always found a way to get to Victory Lane at least once. Even in …

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