Race Weekend Central

5 Points to Ponder: The Sharp End of the 2017 NASCAR Season

2017 Indianapolis CUP Kyle Busch pack racing Russell LaBounty NKP

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

ONE: 12 to go We’re exactly two thirds of the way through the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series schedule. 24 races are in the books leaving just 12 to go before we crown a 2017 champion. Two unique tracks, Darlington Raceway and Richmond International Raceway, await us next before the playoffs begin. Given that for many drivers, …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not In NASCAR: No Beating Around the Busch Edition

2017 Texas I CUP Erik Jones Russell LABounty NKP

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

The way Kyle Busch has been going this season, it’s not really hard to believe that he pulled of his second triple header career win week at Bristol. While it can be a bit frustrating and less interesting when he is dominating the Truck and XFINITY series races he enters, the question from here on out …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Kyle Busch Busts Out Broom for Second National Tour Series Sweep at Bristol

2017 Bristol II NXS Kyle Busch celebrates LEsley Ann Miller NKP

(Photo: Lesley Ann Miller / NKP)

Who’s in the headline – There have been multiple two-race sweeps in NASCAR history, but there have only been a pair of three-race sweeps. Both of them were accomplished by Kyle Busch and the second was this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway. Busch won the first stage, led the second most laps, including 93 of …

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Friday Faceoff: Who’s Sandbagging Who?

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pure Michigan 400 Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, MI USA Sunday 13 August 2017 Brad Keselowski, Team Penske, Miller Lite Ford Fusion World Copyright: Rusty Jarrett NKP

(Photo: Rusty Jarrett/NKP)

Last weekend at Michigan International Speedway, Brad Keselowski had some harsh words for the factory Toyota teams, accusing them of sandbagging after NASCAR floated the possibility of taking equipment from teams for comparison tests to avoid changes from the sanctioning body to increase parity.  Is there any merit to Keselowski’s argument, and does it signal …

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Friday Faceoff: How Much Is Left in Jimmie Johnson’s Tank?

2017 Dover I CUP Jimmie Johnson Rick Hendrick Logan Whitton NKP

(Photo: Logan Whitton/NKP)

19-year-old William Byron was named to replace Kasey Kahne at Hendrick Motorsports in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 2018. Are teams rushing youngsters through the ranks too fast in an effort not to lose them to another team, or are drivers more prepared at a younger age than in the past? Bryan Gable: William …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR Forecast Powered by DraftKings: Pure Michigan 400 Preview

2017 Watkins Glen CUP Martin Truex Jr woohoo Rusty Jarrett NKP

(Photo: Rusty Jarrett / NKP)

The DraftKings daily fantasy NASCAR game heads to the midwest this weekend for the Pure Michigan 400. The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will make its second stop at Michigan International Speedway this Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. After a few one-day shows, we’re back to a traditional schedule this week. Cars hit the track …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in NASCAR: Easy On The Gas Edition

2017 Watkins Glen CUP Martin Truex Jr Cole Pearn celebrating Rusty Jarrett NKP

(Photo: Rusty Jarrett/NKP)

It’s not often that a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race turns into a fuel mileage affair, but that was case on Sunday at Watkins Glen. The difficult thing about fuel mileage races for these drivers is that they have spent their entire careers being told and trying to figure out how to go as …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2017 I Love NY 355 at The Glen

keselowski v busch

(Photo: John K Harrelson/ NKP)

Who… gets the shoutout of the race? The Toyota machines of Martin Truex Jr. and Daniel Suarez are leading the headlines after Watkins Glen International, and it’s for a good reason. But fellow Toyota driver Matt Kenseth got lost in the shuffle, finishing second when the checkered flag flew, a career-best finish on a road course in his 17-year Monster …

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Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Day Ends Early in Watkins Glen

2017 cup watkins glen zach catanzareti dale earnhardt jr.

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

The bad luck for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in his farewell season just won’t turn around. Bringing his No. 88 AXALTA Chevrolet to the garage after 22 in the I Love New York 355 due to an internal issue, he was unable to rejoin the race, finishing 36th in his final scheduled road course race of his …

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5 Points to Ponder: Joe Gibbs Racing Back on Top

2017 Talladega I CUP Kyle Busch John K Harrelson NKP

(Photo: John K. Harrelson/NKP)

ONE: “Finally, eh?” – Kyle Busch breaks his Pocono drought as Toyota triumph Those were the words Kyle Busch spoke to his team after winning the Overtons 400 at Pocono and it sums everything up so well. It took Busch 26 starts at the Tricky Triangle to bag a victory and this one, his first …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 22 Down, One to Go as Kyle Busch Knocks Pocono Off of Winless List

2017 cup pocono zach catanzareti kyle busch

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Who’s in the headline – There are 23 racetracks on the Cup schedule. After Kyle Busch’s win at Pocono Raceway this weekend, he has a points-paying victory at every track on the current schedule except for Charlotte Motor Speedway. It had been 36 races since Busch won a Cup race but the much-maligned slump is finally …

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Up to Speed: Pointing Toward the NASCAR Playoffs

2017 cup pocono zach catanzareti joey logano

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

The second half of July has shaken up the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoff field.  Going into New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the 16-driver grid consisted of 10 postseason-eligible winners.  That left six spots open for drivers to get in on points. Two of those racers, Chase Elliott and Jamie McMurray, stood 89 and 74 points …

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