Race Weekend Central

Did You Notice?: Winless NASCAR Drivers Seeking Talladega Breakthrough

David Ragan celebrates his victory at Talladega Superspeedway with Front Row Motorsports in 2013. (Photo: Nigel Kinrade Autostock)

Photo: Nigel Kinrade Autostock

Did You Notice? … Talladega Superspeedway has always been labeled the best track for winless NASCAR drivers to pull an upset? The 2.66-mile oval has a history of pulling off one-hit wonders, from Richard Brickhouse winning his first and only NASCAR Cup Series race there in 1969 to Ron Bouchard pulling off this three-wide thriller in …

Read more

The Underdog House: Daniel Suarez Plays Best NASCAR Cinderella Card at Las Vegas

2021 Cup Las Vegas Daniel Suarez (Credit: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Top Dog: Daniel Suarez Heading into Sunday’s South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Sept. 26), Daniel Suarez had a little extra motivation for the race. He hosted around 200 people for his fan group Daniel’s Amigos, a venture started in 2019, opening a new opportunity for Latino fans to hop on board Suarez’s …

Read more

Daily Fantasy NASCAR DraftKings Forecast: 2021 Federated Auto Parts 400

Joey Logano, a frequent fantasy NASCAR DraftKings pick, walks through the Indianapolis Motor Speedway garage in 2021. (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The NASCAR Cup Series Round of 16 holds its second race Saturday night (Sept. 11) at Richmond Raceway. Let’s get your daily fantasy NASCAR DraftKings rosters ready for the 2021 Federated Auto Parts 400! This race marks the second time drivers will face the 0.75-mile racetrack this season. Back in April, Alex Bowman snagged his …

Read more

Kurt Busch Loses 4 Pit Crew Members for Richmond Due to COVID Protocols

Kurt Busch at 2021 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway Gearwrench car NASCAR Cup NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

NASCAR Cup playoff driver Kurt Busch will be without all but one of his regular pit crew members Saturday night (Sept. 11) at Richmond Raceway due to COVID-19 contact tracing protocols. Busch’s No. 1 team will be without front tire changer Cory Baldwin, tire carrier Jeremy Kimbrough, rear tire changer Steve Price and jackman Josh …

Read more

4 Burning Questions: What’s Up With CGR & Spire?

2021 Darlington II Cup Corey LaJoie Ross Chastain racing NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened at Darlington Raceway? Last weekend, the NASCAR playoffs began with a bang at Darlington Raceway, where… Oh, forget that nonsense! It’s time for some hard-nosed, no-frills, godforsaken FOOTBALL. Football on Thursday! Football on Friday! Football on Saturday! Football on Sunday! Football on Monday! Football in high school! Football in college! Football between all …

Read more

Friday Faceoff: Whose Darlington Disaster Will Be Hardest to Overcome?

Alex Bowman purple No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports car at Darlington with damage on left rear, fall NASCAR Cup playoff race, NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Plenty of NASCAR Cup Series playoff drivers ran into trouble at Darlington Raceway. Who has the least to worry about, and who has one foot out the door? Luken Glover: Any chance at a Cinderella story was likely demolished as soon as it started for Michael McDowell. Unless he pulls off a Daytona International Speedway-like …

Read more

Did You Notice?: Major U.S. Markets Without a NASCAR Cup Race

Brett Moffitt celebrates his win at Iowa Speedway in 2018. (Photo: NKP)

Brett Moffitt celebrating his Iowa win (Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Did You Notice? … How many major markets don’t have a NASCAR Cup Series race within reasonable driving distance? The recent focus on a potential exhibition race at the L.A. Coliseum has people buzzing about potential changes to the 2022 schedule and beyond. The sport has been more flexible than ever to adjust both locations and …

Read more

Couch Potato Tuesday: Darlington Brings a Somewhat Normal Cup Broadcast With Extras

Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson battle in the closing laps of the 2021 Southern 500. (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Darlington Raceway is always an interesting place to watch a NASCAR Cup Series race. Yes, the 2021 Cook Out Southern 500 took over four hours to run, but that’s OK. Sit down and grab some popcorn for the Cup broadcast; the racing here takes a while. It also didn’t seem like there were 11 cautions …

Read more

NASCAR Stat Sheet: Denny Hamlin Delivers Darlington Victory

Denny Hamlin celebrates his win in the 2021 Southern 500 at Darlington. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Darlington Raceway has always been unique. From its humble beginnings, way back in 1950, it had a unique length (1.366 miles) and egg-like shape all its own. Now, on a schedule peppered with wide tracks that allow full throttle cornering, its narrow surface and unforgiving walls are about as different as anything you’ll see in …

Read more

The Underdog House: Ryan Preece Begins 2022 Audition at the Lady in Black

Ryan Preece produced an impressive 12th-place finish in the 2021 Southern 500. (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Top Dog: Ryan Preece What’s the best medicine when you find out you will be job searching for 2022? Most drivers would tell you that getting back on track is their preference. For Ryan Preece, that was likely the case at the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway (Sept. 5). Days after learning his …

Read more

NASCAR Stat Sheet: Ryan Blaney Is the Hero of the Coke Zero 400

Kevin Harvick and Ryan Blaney at Road America, July 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Races at Daytona and Talladega are always about surviving first and making a move for the win second. A driver can’t win without dodging the inevitable late race carnage. Ryan Blaney did both in textbook fashion on Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway, and it resulted in his second consecutive win. It’s a new position …

Read more

Up to Speed: Why This Year’s Cup Series Playoffs Will Be Different for Ryan Blaney

Ryan Blaney walks around Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Tex. (Photo: NKP)

#12: Ryan Blaney, Team Penske, Ford Mustang BodyArmor

Has anybody in NASCAR had a better two weeks than Ryan Blaney?  For the first time in his career, Blaney has won back-to-back Cup Series races.  The first win came at Michigan International Speedway on Aug. 22.  Then, he and the No. 12 team followed up that victory with a win at Daytona International Speedway …

Read more