Race Weekend Central

Friday Faceoff: When Should NASCAR Unveil the 2021 Schedule?

NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

With the COVID-19 situation constantly evolving, when would it make sense for NASCAR to unveil the 2021 schedule? Mark Kristl: There isn’t a right time.  Nevertheless, NASCAR must announce it at some point, even though there are uncertainties.  If the schedule is set by the Southern 500, why not announce it that weekend to add …

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Power Rankings: Racing Gods Have Spoken Edition

NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Racing Gods sure have a wicked sense of timing. Last week, the racing community lost a great racing promoter in Bob Bahre. This week, NASCAR heads to the track that he was responsible for making happen. Mr. Bahre was so important to New England racing in general and to New Hampshire Motor Speedway in …

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Did You Notice?: 2020 NASCAR Midseason Awards

2020BristolNCSRyanBlaneyFaceNASCARMedia

(Photo: NASCAR Media/Getty Images)

When I was a NASCAR reporter for SI.com, I used to do a midseason segment called “The Bowlesy Awards” that evaluated the NASCAR Cup Series from time to time. We’re bringing them back here in 2020, with a little refresh, as NASCAR midseason awards while taking a closer look at where the sport stands five …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race

NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Headlines: It was the first All-Star race since 1986 that was run outside of Charlotte Motor Speedway. Bill Elliott won at Atlanta that afternoon, and on Wednesday (July 15) it was his son Chase Elliott taking home the checkered flag at Bristol and winning $1 million in the 2020 event. Elliott won the final …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2020 All-Star Race

NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who…should you be talking about after the race? Chase Elliott said after the race he and his team had to hit the reset button after a couple of difficult weeks. If that’s the case, they need to hit it before every race, because it worked. Elliott did everything right, his team did everything right and …

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Aric Almirola, William Byron, Matt DiBenedetto, Clint Bowyer Move on to All-Star Main Event

NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Though the sun was still shining, tempers were still hot during the All-Star Open at Bristol Motor Speedway Wednesday evening (July 15). By the end of the night, four drivers moved on to the main event: Aric Almirola, William Byron, Matt DiBenedetto and Fan Vote winner Clint Bowyer. Instead of matching his successful run in …

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Did You Notice?: That Summertime NASCAR Spark At Stewart-Haas Racing?

2017 Kansas I CUP Tony Stewart Barry Cantrell NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Did You Notice? … How quickly Stewart-Haas Racing has gotten its act together this summer? While Kevin Harvick has been a title contender all season long in the NASCAR Cup Series, his trio of teammates spent the first half of 2020 mired in midpack. Here’s where all four drivers stood through the Martinsville Speedway race June …

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Power Rankings: 4-Wide for the Win Edition

NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The folks at NASCAR got very lucky this weekend with an epic finish that was great enough to get the fans to forget that the first 390 miles were a snoozefest of clean air being king after restarts at Kentucky Speedway. The late, great Dan Gurney used to preach about the best racing coming with …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2020 Quaker State 400 at Kentucky

NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Headline(s): A relatively tame race ended in a chaotic final two laps, a four-wide battle for the lead and a Cup Series triumph for rookie Cole Custer, as NASCAR concluded its four-race stretch (five, including the ARCA Menards Series) over four days in the Bluegrass State. One of the wildest late-lap battles for the …

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Did You Notice?: NASCAR PPP Loans a Reminder of Potential COVID-19 Catastrophe

2019 Phoenix I CUP Ty Dillon Richard Childress NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Did You Notice? … The number of NASCAR teams approved for a loan under the federal government’s Paycheck Protection Program? The NASCAR PPP loans numbered in the millions and involved one-third of the teams on the NASCAR Cup Series circuit. For now, let’s focus on the Cup programs alone. Richard Childress Racing: $5-$10 million (2 teams) Chip …

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Power Rankings: Back Home Again in Rain Delay Mode Edition

NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The folks at NASCAR are really quick to point out that their television partners get to pick the window that the race gets broadcast in. But maybe it’s time for the “experts” on holding a race to have a little talk with the television people. Through most of its history, NASCAR never got a race …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2020 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis

NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Headline(s): Kevin Harvick notched his fourth win of the season and third Brickyard 400 victory on Sunday (July 5) at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, continuing to keep pace with Denny Hamlin as the two dominate the 2020 season. Harvick also successfully defended his status as the winner at the Brickyard after taking the checkered flag …

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