Race Weekend Central

NASCAR 101: Can 2018 Beat 2004 (In Cup Debuts, That Is)?

NASCAR Xfinity Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Daniel Hemric is on his way to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, as Richard Childress Racing announced earlier this week that Hemric will drive the No. 8 for the team in his Cup debut at Richmond Raceway in a little less than a month. There’s a bit to unpack here, some of which has …

Read more

Christopher Bell, Cole Custer Top XFINITY Practices at ISM

2018 Las Vegas I NXS Christopher Bell Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

The NASCAR XFINITY Series regulars rose to the occasion on Friday (March 9) to pace the two practice sessions in advance of Saturday’s DC Solar 200 at ISM Raceway. XFINITY Series rookie Christopher Bell was fastest in the first session, while series sophomore Cole Custer was fastest in the second. Bell, who has won the …

Read more

Couch Potato Tuesday: FOX Needs to Work To Bring the Action

2018 Las Vegas NXS Kyle Larson Car Russell LaBounty NKP

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

Last weekend, Las Vegas Motor Speedway hosted its first-ever tripleheader weekend.  It produced some very different races. Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube Sunday saw another butt kicking.  Kevin Harvick is in the zone.  His start to 2018 seems a lot like how he started 2014.  You probably remember what happened that year. Admittedly, Sunday’s …

Read more

The Underdog House: The Other End Of The Neon NASCAR Garage

Think Small As NASCAR moved to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend, we were treated to a triple-header of the top three national touring series for the third consecutive week. Vegas has the feel of a town where the underdog can rise. Your last dime could turn into millions with a roll of the …

Read more

NASCAR 101: 3 for 3, 3 Races In

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: John K Harrelson / NKP)

The lower series of the NASCAR national series are known for many things, including their unpredictability with regards to entry lists. There are times when it’s tough to predict three-fourths of the list in an XFINITY or Camping World Truck Series race, thanks to a constantly changing driver lineup and even a slew of part-time …

Read more

Cole Custer Crashes Out Early in Atlanta XFINITY Race

2018 atlanta xfinity zach catanzareti cole custer

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Cole Custer’s day in the NASCAR XFINITY Series Rinnai 250 at Atlanta Motor Speedway came to an end shortly after it began Saturday afternoon. Just 12 laps in, contact from John Hunter Nemechek, who made his series debut, sent the driver of the No. 00 Ford hard into the outside wall. The terminal damage relegated …

Read more

Cole Custer to Make Cup Debut at Las Vegas

2018 daytona xfinity zach catanzareti cole custer

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Another up-and-coming driver is getting a shot in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Cole Custer will make his MENCS debut in two weeks at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the Pennzoil 400, piloting the No. 51 Ford for Rick Ware Racing. Haas Automation will sponsor Custer. The Ladera Ranch, Calif., native is guaranteed to …

Read more

NASCAR Mailbox: Will Darrell Wallace Jr. Start to Get More Sponsorship?

2018 daytona cup zach catanzareti darrell wallace jr bubba wallace

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Darrell Wallace Jr. took the NASCAR world by storm this past Sunday. The Alabama native followed up his impressive run in last week’s Can-Am Duel to earn a runner-up finish in the Daytona 500, setting off plenty of mixed emotions for him and his family. After the race, team co-owner and seven-time NASCAR champion Richard …

Read more

Eyes on XFINITY: Keeping Up With a Busy Off-Season

2017 Kansas II NXS Christopher Bell celebrates Matthew T Thacker NKP

(Photo: Matthew Thacker / NKP)

Another off-season has come and gone and the XFINITY Series is set to take to the high banks of Daytona this Saturday. As prestigious as the World Center of Racing is, the race that opens the season doesn’t tell the fans how the season is going to turn out. 2017 was dominated by Joe Gibbs …

Read more

NASCAR Top 10 Storylines 2017: Young Guns

2017 Phoenix NXS William Byron Woohoo Logan Whitton NKP

(Photo: Logan Whitton/NKP)

For many years, NASCAR had a logjam when it came to new talent in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Companies didn’t want to leave established stars for new drivers, especially with an economy as weak as it was. There have been two rookies from the 2008 to 2012 classes (Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski) …

Read more

Ford’s Young Guns to Team Up for CTSC BMW Endurance Challenge

2017 Dover CWTS Chase Briscoe Austin Cindric Matthew T. Thacker NKP

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

On Thursday morning, Ford Performance announced a full court press on the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge’s season opening BMW Endurance Challenge at Daytona.  On Jan. 26, four of Ford Performance’s development drivers will be sharing two Ford Mustang GT4s in the Grand Sport class. Those four drivers are former Brad Keselowski Racing teammates Chase …

Read more

Pace Laps: First-Timers Shine in Homestead Finale In NASCAR’s Top-3 Divisions

2017 NASCAR Monster Cup Series, Homestead

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Proper End to 2017 Championship – The favorites entering the playoffs were the ones battling nose-to-nose for the championship in the final laps Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The way it should have. From the beginning of the season, Kyle Busch (2015 champion) and Martin Truex Jr. (among the quickest cars …

Read more