Race Weekend Central

The 12: NASCAR’s Top Up-and-Coming Drivers

2019 Texas GOTS Tyler Ankrum NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

After the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series took a back seat to enjoy the off week, all focus turned to stars of the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series as they navigated the twists and turns of Road America and Canadian Tire Motorsports Park. With the added attention, many competitors in …

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Beside the Rising Ride: Man at the Top 2

2019 Phoenix I CUP Ricky Stenhouse Jr NKP

(Photo: NKP)

The Peter principle is a longtime cautionary career warning. It states that within a hierarchy, men or women will tend to rise to their level of incompetence. Thus, a hotshot entry level management new hire might do a bang-up job drawing notice and praise from his superiors. As such, he gets a promotion further up …

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Eyes on Xfinity: Cole Custer Believes He’s Ready for Cup

NASCAR Xfinity Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

At the beginning of 2019, many people were wondering when Cole Custer was going to break out for Stewart-Haas Racing. Through the opening five months of the NASCAR Xfinity Series season, he’s done just that. Custer, 21, is in his third full-time season in the Xfinity Series with SHR. In the first two seasons, he …

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Xfinity Breakdown: Now For Something Completely Different at Iowa

NASCAR Xfinity Series U.S. Cellular 250

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Christopher Bell was doing it again on Saturday afternoon in the U.S. Cellular 250. Winner of the previous two NASCAR Xfinity Series events at Iowa Speedway, Bell led more than 230 laps, made no mistakes and generally looked unbeatable when he was out in front in clean air. His chief rival this season, Cole Custer, …

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Christopher Bell, Cole Custer Lead Iowa Xfinity Practices

2019 Loudon NXS Cole Custer Christopher Bell Big Three Car Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Two of the NASCAR Xfinity Series “Big 3” led the two practice sessions at Iowa Speedway on Friday (July 26), and the third member wasn’t far behind. Christopher Bell and Cole Custer led the two practice sessions. In the first practice, Bell led the field with a speed of 129.646 miles per hour. In the …

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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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Cole Custer Earns NASCAR Xfinity Series Pole at New Hampshire

2018 xfinity dover zach catanzareti cole custer

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

On a hot and steamy day in Loudon, N.H., Cole Custer won the pole for Saturday afternoon’s (July 20) ROXOR 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. It’s Custer’s 11th career Xfinity pole and fifth this year. “I didn’t know it was going to a pole lap, honestly,” Custer said after qualifying. “I thought I could’ve …

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Christopher Bell, Justin Haley lead NASCAR Xfinity Practice at New Hampshire Motor Speedway

2018 xfinity new hampshire zach catanzareti joe gibbs racing ryan preece

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Christopher Bell and Justin Haley led two NASCAR Xfinity Series practice sessions Friday, July 20 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Both drivers enter qualifying in strong position to win the pole for the 2019 ROXOR 200 in Loudon, N.H. Bell was the quickest in opening practice with a lap of 128.087 mph. The defending race …

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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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Beside the Rising Tide: Feels Like the First Time 

Justin Haley poses with his trophy after winning the summer NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona, July 2019. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Rather unexpectedly, NASCAR’s top three touring divisions have welcomed some first-time winning drivers and teams lately.  On Thursday night (July 11) at Kentucky Speedway, Tyler Ankrum drove his David Gilliland-owned Toyota to victory, a first for both the rookie driver and the team. It was only Ankrum’s 12th start in the Truck Series, as he …

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Pace Laps: Kentucky Speedway Shakes Up Each of NASCAR’s Top-3 Series

2019 Kentucky NXS Cole Custer Victory Lane Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Kurt Busch Wins the Battle of the Brothers It was a battle between brothers to close out the night’s Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway. When a flat tire and spin from Bubba Wallace brought out the caution at lap 262, the field prepared for overtime. Joey Logano and Kyle …

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Xfinity Breakdown: Tale of 2 Races Ends With Cole Custer Writing Final Chapter

2019 Kentucky NXS Cole Custer Victory Celebration Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Alsco 300 began in the daylight and ended with the Kentucky Speedway lights illuminating the summer skies, and the difference was more than just aesthetic. While the sun was out, it appeared to be another occasion when Christopher Bell would simply be too much for the field. Twice before (at Atlanta and Iowa), Bell …

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