Race Weekend Central

The Underdog House: Inside Career-Best Days For Cody Ware, BJ McLeod & Landon Cassill

Landon Cassill looks out at the racetrack at Richmond Raceway in 2022. (Photo: NKP)

#77: Landon Cassill, Spire Motorsports, Voyager: Crypto for All Chevrolet Camaro

Yes, you read that right. Landon Cassill was the top underdog at Daytona International Speedway, scoring a fourth-place finish to tie his career best.

New Era Draws David Ragan Back Home to Atlanta

David Ragan, NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

For David Ragan, not to mention his family, Atlanta Motor Speedway has and will likely always be a special place.  The veteran driver not only piloted legends and bandolero cars around the Hampton, Ga. Track’s ¼-mile “Thunder Ring,” but Ragan’s father, Ken directs the Legends racing program at AMS.  So when it came to picking …

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The Underdog House: David Ragan, Michael McDowell Pay the Price For Good Daytona Performances

2022 Daytona I Cup Michael McDowell David Ragan wreck Brad Keselowski NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

With several underdogs looking to capitalize on a golden opportunity in the 2022 Daytona 500, it was the defending champion who led the way once the checkered flag waved on the 64th Great American Race.

Michael McDowell proved just how special Daytona could be last year, reminding fans anyone in the field has a shot to take home the Harley J. Earl Trophy. The reigning winner started his effort to become only the second back-to-back 500 champion this century from the sixth position. He endured to earn a top-10 finish, winding up seventh for his best result since Circuit of the Americas last May.

The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2022 Daytona 500

Austin Cindric wins the 2022 Daytona 500. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Many drivers go a lifetime without winning NASCAR’s biggest race, but it took Austin Cindric just eight starts to put that notch on his belt. Cindric powered to the front on the final restart and blocked his way to the win as chaos erupted behind him.

Out With the Old, In With the New: 2021-2022 NASCAR Silly Season Recap

Next Gen Car Testing Daytona, Spire Motorsports Corey Lajoie, JTG Daugherty Ricky Stenhouse Jr., TrackHouse Racing Ross Chastain and Daniel Saurez, Hendrick Motorsports Dale Earnhardt Jr., Petty GMS Racing Erik Jones, Hendrick Motorsports William Byron, Kaulig Racing Justin Haley and Daniel Hemric NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

If you have watched football for a short duration, it probably did not take you long to realize that the wristband quarterbacks wear carry a portable playbook. This helps the quarterback have access to plays rather than having to memorize a plethora of them. Why am I talking about NFL wristbands? Because as a new …

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David Ragan Running Daytona 500, Other Races for RWR

2019 Homestead Cup David Ragan Jeff Burton Phil Allaway

(Photo: Phil Allaway)

David Ragan returns to the NASCAR Cup Series yet again in the Daytona 500 in 2022, this time with Rick Ware Racing, RWR announced Jan. 12. Ragan will drive RWR’s No. 15 in the season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway. Since retiring from full-time competition after the 2019 season, Ragan has competed in the Daytona …

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Martinsville Next Gen Test Featuring Manufacturer-Built Cars

2019 Martinsville MENCS Racing NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The new NASCAR Next Gen returns to the track on March 30-31 at Martinsville Speedway for its next test session. However, this session will be different from others. Three cars will appear at the test session, the most NASCAR has held for its evaluation of the new car. Each car will be manufacturer-specific, according to …

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Up to Speed: The Pressure to Win in NASCAR 2021 is Already On

NASCAR Cup Series

#21: Matt DiBenedetto, Wood Brothers Racing, Ford Mustang Motorcraft/Quick Lane

Raise your hand if you thought that, two races into the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, the two race winners would be Michael McDowell and Christopher Bell.  If you made that prediction a few weeks ago, a fellow race fan might have assumed that you’d spent too much time around the gasoline fumes on pit …

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Thursday End in Heartbreak as 4 Drivers Fail to Qualify for Daytona 500

Ty Dillon Misses Daytona 500 in Duel I in 2021 Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

It was a tale of two Bluegreen Vacations Duels at Daytona International Speedway. Duel one was a calm, caution-free affair. Duel two featured two cautions and included three of the four open teams being involved in those cautions. It resulted in both drivers that were already locked into the field racing their way into the …

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Austin Dillon Nabs 2nd Daytona Duel Win, Kaz Grala Qualifies for 500

2021 Daytona I Duel II Dillon winner 2 NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Austin Dillon won on a crossover move in NASCAR overtime to win the second Bluegreen Vacations Duel at Daytona International Speedway to set the field for Sunday’s (Feb. 14) Daytona 500. He bested Bubba Wallace, who debuted a fast No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota. Dillon is seeking his second Daytona 500 victory. He will start …

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