Race Weekend Central

Erik Jones Re-Signs With Richard Petty Motorsports for 2022

2021 Texas Cup All-Star Race Erik Jones close up NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Erik Jones has struck a deal with Richard Petty Motorsports to return to the Chevrolet-based team another year, meaning he will drive the Next Gen car for the team in 2022, Jones announced Aug. 22. Jones was signed by RPM for the 2021 season after Christopher Bell replaced him at Joe Gibbs Racing. The former …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR DraftKings Forecast: 2021 FireKeepers Casino 400

Kevin Harvick at New Hampshire NASCAR Cup race, NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The NASCAR Cup Series head to the Irish Hills of Michigan this week for the next-to-last race in the regular season. Let’s get your daily fantasy NASCAR DraftKings lineups set for Sunday’s (Aug. 22) race at Michigan International Speedway. The summer stretch of road races is done and it’s time for Cup teams to head …

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The Underdog House: AJ Allmendinger, Erik Jones Highlight Indy Surprises

2021 Indy road Indianapolis Cup Erik Jones car NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Setting Ask anyone in the racing community what one of the most surreal moments is in the world of motorsports and many will likely tell you about the time they entered Gasoline Alley at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. IMS is one of the most historic and iconic tracks not only in America but also the …

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The Underdog House: Michael McDowell Leads Sluggish NASCAR Underdog Return After Olympic Break

2019 Talladega MENCS Michael McDowell Face NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Setting For a brief moment, I was wondering if it was either August or February when NASCAR returned to the track. After a two-week layoff for the Olympics, drivers and teams returned to Watkins Glen International in New York as the grind for the season’s remainder commenced. Watching the Olympics made me entertain the …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR DraftKings Forecast: 2021 Go Bowling at the Glen

Chase Elliott 2021

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

After taking two weeks off for the Olympics, the NASCAR Cup Series returns to racing this weekend at Watkins Glen International. Let’s prep your daily fantasy NASCAR DraftKings lineups for Sunday’s (Aug. 8) 2021 Go Bowling at the Glen, airing at 3 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network. Watkins Glen is one of my favorite …

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Fire on Fridays: NASCAR Silly Season Dominoes Left to Fall

2021 Charlotte I Cup Ryan Newman Denny Hamlin NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

This NASCAR Cup Series silly season has already been a wild one. From Brad Keselowski buying into Roush Fenway Racing to Trackhouse Racing Team purchasing Chip Ganassi Racing’s Cup program, there hasn’t been a silly season that’s shaken up the garage this much in quite a while. And it’s not over yet. There’s still a …

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Erik Jones Returning to Xfinity at Watkins Glen

Erik Jones stands next to his car before the 2021 spring Darlington Cup race Photo: NKP

Erik Jones (Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Erik Jones will return to the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Jordan Anderson Racing, the team announced Aug. 2. Jones will pilot the No. 31 Bommarito Automotive Group Chevrolet at Watkins Glen International on Aug. 7. “Total respect to the entire No. 31 team and everyone at the Bommarito Automotive Group, and Chevrolet for what they have …

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The Underdog House: Silly Season Scoop on NASCAR Underdogs

Erik Jones, part of 2021 Silly Season conversation, prepares to race the No. 43 Richard P

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Setting: Silly Season It has been two weeks since the NASCAR Cup Series last graced the track at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 18. The two-week break has allowed many drivers, teams and organizations to catch their breath as the grind to the playoffs returns Aug. 8 at Watkins Glen. Only four races …

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The Underdog House: Erik Jones Finds His Groove at the Magic Mile

2021 Loudon Cup Erik Jones NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Setting After the NASCAR Cup Series race Sunday (July 18) at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, only four races remain in the regular season. The Magic Mile presented a fairly comparable evaluation for title-contending teams to gauge their championship setup at Phoenix Raceway. For underdogs, it was another opportunity to go out and prove their …

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The Underdog House: Bubba Wallace Top Dog of the Ring in Atlanta

2021-Cup-Atlanta-II-Bubba-Wallace-NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Setting Atlanta Motor Speedway has become iconic in its own way. No, it doesn’t hold the prestige of a Daytona 500. It doesn’t test the same amount of endurance as the Coca-Cola 600 does. Kissing the bricks is not seen there. And it doesn’t serve hot dogs as good as Martinsville Speedway’s. The place …

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Up to Speed: A Final Moment of Teamwork for Chip Ganassi Racing

2021 Darlington I Cup Kurt Busch Ross Chastain Chip Ganassi Racing (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Kurt Busch scored what could be the final win for Chip Ganassi Racing on Sunday (July 11) at Atlanta Motor Speedway.  Less than two weeks ago, Ganassi announced that he was selling his NASCAR team to Trackhouse Racing effective the end of 2021.  Trackhouse, in turn, confirmed that its team would field two cars in …

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Zach’s Turn: Stop Trying to Predict NASCAR’s Next Gen Era

2022 Next Gen cars Chevrolet Ford Toyota Jared C Tilton Getty

(Photo: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images via NASCAR Media)

The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season is over halfway complete, which means the Next Gen car is closer to its competitive debut than ever. That doesn’t mean we are any closer to knowing what NASCAR will look like past 2021, though. The top tier of stock-car racing is about to undergo a massive shift in …

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