Race Weekend Central

Frontstretch Podcast: Landon Cassill Enjoying Time at StarCom, Open to Full-Time Xfinity Return

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

In this week’s edition of the Frontstretch Podcast, Dustin Albino and Mike Neff discuss an entertaining weekend of racing at both Michigan International Speedway and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Kevin Harvick picked up his second win of the season, both coming in the past four races. Meanwhile, it’s Denny Hamlin who’s the hottest driver in the Monster Energy NASCAR …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in NASCAR: Take Us Out to the Ballgame?

2019 Michigan Mencs Kevin Harvick Car Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

On the sports calendar, August means the start of college football season, an excessive amount of golf on TV, and the hunt for baseball’s playoff positions winding down. NASCAR’s Gander Outdoors Truck Series solidified its playoff field with the regular season finale this weekend at Michigan International Speedway, Austin Cindric is looking like a possible …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2019 Consumers Energy 400

2019 Michigan Mencs Kevin Harvick Victory Celebration Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Headline(s): Last week at Watkins Glen International, Chase Elliott repeated as the defending Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series winner at the road course. This week at Michigan International Speedway? Kevin Harvick, who won the 2018 edition of this race, scored his second 2019 win in four weeks in what turned into a fuel mileage …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2019 Consumers Energy 400

2019 Phoenix I Cup Chris Buescher Nkp

(Photo: NKP)

Who… should you be talking about after the race? Once again, Kevin Harvick showed why he’s called The Closer, getting it done when it counted to win the Consumers Energy 400 at Michigan International Speedway for the second year in a row in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. This time, Harvick had enough speed …

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Up to Speed: Long Runs or Restarts?

Mencs Mis2 Start 081119

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

NASCAR competition at Michigan International Speedway revolves around two elements: long runs and restarts. Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race was no exception.  Long green-flag runs at the beginning and end of the race shuffled positions at a racetrack where passing has been notoriously difficult.  The middle offered a series of short runs broken …

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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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