Race Weekend Central

Jimmie Johnson, Jamie McMurray Lose Brakes, Wreck Hard At Pocono

2017 pocono cup zach catanzareti jimmie johnson

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

One moment, speeding down the front straightaway Jimmie Johnson was having a normal NASCAR Cup Series day at Pocono Raceway. The next one? “Oh sh*t.” That’s what Johnson said went through his mind as the brakes failed on the No. 48 Chevrolet. With no warning, the pedal went to the floor and the seven-time champ was …

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Daily Fantasy Forecast Powered by DraftKings: Coca-Cola 600 Preview

2017 Fontana CUP Martin Truex Jr NIgel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

This week’s daily fantasy tackles the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series as they head to Charlotte Motor Speedway. One of the sport’s crown jewels, the Coca-Cola 600, will run Sunday night at 6 p.m. Cars hit the track on Thursday at 2 p.m. for first practice; Coors Light Pole Qualifying begins at 7:15. Here are nine drivers to …

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Midseason NASCAR DraftKings Daily Fantasy All-Stars

2017 Kansas I CUP Jimmie Johnson helmet Barry Cantrell NKP

(Photo: Barry Cantrell/NKP)

With the NASCAR DraftKings season on break while the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series holds its All-Star weekend, there’s time for reflection on the season to date. There have been many memorable moments during the young season, both on and off the track. Yet, when it comes to Daily Fantasy Sports, the best performances don’t always …

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The 10: NASCAR Cup Series Power Rankings After Kansas

2017 Kansas I CUP Martin Turex Jr burnout Russell LaBounty NKP

(Photo: Russell LaBounty / NKP)

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series invaded the heartland this weekend to run the Go Bowling 400 at Kansas Speedway. For Martin Truex Jr., the visit finally gave him the win that had so mercilessly eluded the driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota team the prior two years. Truex tore through the …

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The 10: NASCAR Cup Series Power Rankings After Talladega

2017 Talladega I CUP Ricky Stenhouse Jr pack racing MAtthew T Thacker NKP

(Photo Matthew T. Thacker / NKP)

The high banks of Talladega Superspeedway were the site of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series event this past weekend. The GEICO 500 brought much of what we’ve come to expect from the 2.66 mile tri-oval in Alabama. Close action. Different faces at the front of the field. Airborne cars. Enough bent sheet metal to …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not: Feels Like The First Time Edition

2016 Las Vegas CUP Ricky Stenhouse Jr John Harrelson NKP

(Photo: John Harrelson / NKP)

Every time the Cup Series goes to a restrictor plate track, we often hear it will be the typical kind of plate race: close packs, a big wreck or two or three and a down-to-the-wire finish. Well, all in all, that’s not the worst formula I’ve heard for exciting racing and you know, it’s probably no …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Avoids the Big One, Makes Big Last-Lap Pass At Talladega

2017 Talladega I CUP rRicky Stenhouse Jr checkered flag Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Who’s in the headline Restrictor plate racetracks are always the great equalizer. This weekend, Talladega Superspeedway’s parity roulette wheel landed on the name Ricky Stenhouse Jr. It wasn’t a shock Stenhouse was able to make it to Victory Lane Sunday, in large part because he had the fastest car in qualifying by a substantial amount. But …

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The Big 6: Questions After 2017 GEICO 500

2017 Talladega I CUP Ricky Stenhouse Jr woohoo John K Harrelson NKP

(Photo: John Harrelson / NKP)

Who… gets the shoutout of the race? Jamie McMurray. He’s been known throughout his career as a guy who has a knack for winning the big races and excels on restrictor plate tracks. A Daytona 500 win in 2010 and a July victory at the World Center of Racing in 2007, plus two Talladega Superspeedway wins …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in NASCAR: Does Etiquette Matter Edition

2017 Fontana CUP Kyle larson Jamie McMurray Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

This season’s low down force package may have had its best results yet with Sunday afternoon’s race at Richmond. There were multiple grooves early in the race and yes, tires were a big factor, too. So when what turned out to the final caution came out, some teams gambled and stayed out while others took …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not: The Jimmie Johnson is Freaky Fast Edition

2017 Bristol I CUP Jimmie Johnson checkered flag Kohn K harrelson NKP

(Photo: John K. Harrelson/NKP)

It took an extra day and some long-awaited, not-so-rainy weather, but for Jimmie Johnson the winning was worth the wait. Not that Johnson needs to do anything to be considered one of the top three or four NASCAR drivers of all time, but now he is just one win short of matching Cale Yarborough’s 83 …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Darrell Waltrip Violates Scout Law at Martinsville

2016 Martinsville I CUP overhead view Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Martinsville Speedway, oldest track in NASCAR and the one of the slowest.  This weekend, we got a different type of action at Martinsville.  Goodyear, with some help from warmer temperatures, finally came up with something that would lay down rubber on the concrete for what seems like the first time in ever.  As a result, …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Brad Keselowski Survives Beating, Banging and Trading Paint to Win Martinsville

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Who’s in the headline – Rusty Wallace won at Martinsville Speedway six times drivng for Roger Penske. He last won a grandfather clock for Penske in 2004. Since then, it had been an agonizing drought for Team Penske. Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski have both come very close in Southern Virginia, but failed to seal …

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