Race Weekend Central

2-Headed Monster: Should NASCAR Step In & Stop Disrespectful Racing?

John Hunter Nemechek NASCAR Martinsville

(Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)

This past weekend’s races at Martinsville Speedway brought up some conversation about drivers’ respect for others. Truck Series veteran Matt Crafton was particularly brash about his thoughts, saying the only way to handle the lack of respect is to “punch someone in the mouth.” With Crafton’s mentality being an old-school approach, many suggested that NASCAR …

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End of an Era Awaits Team Penske & Brad Keselowski

Brad Keselowski

(Nigel Kinrade Photography)

This Sunday (Nov. 7) at Phoenix Raceway, all eyes will be focused on the Championship 4, a final quartet of title-contending NASCAR Cup Series stars with a chance to secure the sport’s biggest prize. Brad Keselowski won’t be one of them, which means his lengthy tenure at Team Penske will come to a quiet end …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Martinsville NASCAR Playoff Race

#48: Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro Ally celebrates winning the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville.

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? Alex Bowman won the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Sunday (Oct. 31) after bumping Denny Hamlin out of the way and surviving an overtime restart. Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr. and William Byron rounded out the top-five finishers. RETWEET to congratulate @Alex_Bowman on his WIN at @MartinsvilleSwy! #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/qNd6DVbKpO — NASCAR on …

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Frontstretch 2-Minute Drill: Xfinity 500 at Martinsville

2019 Martinsville Mencs Racing Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The penultimate race of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway is upon us, and pretty much everything is still up in the air. Kyle Larson has won three straight races, including sweeping both events in the Round of 8 thus far at Texas Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway. He’s led a combined 386 …

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Did You Notice?: What’s Next for Ford’s NASCAR Future After Rocky 2021 Playoffs?

Ford drivers Ryan Blaney and Austin Cindric chat on pit road at Kansas Speedway. (Photo: NKP)

#12: Ryan Blaney, Team Penske, Ford Mustang Menards/Moen and #33: Austin Cindric, Team Penske, Ford Mustang MoneyLion

Did You Notice? … The way Ford has struggled during the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs? As I first pointed out at CBS Sports, they’ve gone 0-for-8 and sit outside Championship 4 position for the first time in the history of the format, implemented in 2014. That could change this weekend at Martinsville Speedway if any …

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Adam Stevens Among Suspended Crew Members After Kansas Penalties

Christopher Bell Adam Stevens Kansas

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Christopher Bell‘s crew chief Adam Stevens has been suspended for one Cup Series event after failing post-race inspection following the Hollywood Casino 400 last weekend (Oct. 24) at Kansas Speedway. The No. 20 team was found to have two lug nuts loose during the inspection, resulting in the suspension of Stevens for the upcoming race …

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Up to Speed: A Good Bad Day for Kyle Busch at Kansas

Kyle Busch at 2021 NASCAR Cup Series race on Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Kyle Busch’s rocky path through the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs took another unexpected turn at Kansas Speedway. Entering Sunday’s (Oct. 24) race, Busch was on the playoff bubble, just eight points above the cut line. It was a slim margin, but not necessarily a reason to panic. Once among his worst tracks, Busch had finished …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 Hollywood Casino 400

Ricky Hendrick pilots the No. 5 in a NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/ Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who … should you be talking about after the race? Another week, another Kyle Larson win. Larson’s Kansas Speedway victory in the Hollywood Casino 400 was his ninth NASCAR Cup Series win of 2021 and third in a row. He’s on a roll at the best possible time, with the title race just two weeks …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Kansas NASCAR Playoff Race

Kyle Larson and No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports crew points up in victory lane, Sean Gardner/Getty

(Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

What happened? Kyle Larson won the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on Sunday (Oct. 24) for his third consecutive victory. Chase Elliott, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top-five finishers. You earned it today, @KyleLarsonRacin! Retweet to congratulate the @TeamHendrick driver on an impressive win at @kansasspeedway! pic.twitter.com/stXuaHpqu7 — NASCAR …

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Frontstretch 2-Minute Drill: Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas

#2: Brad Keselowski, Team Penske, Ford Mustang Verizon 5G and #24: William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro Axalta pack racing Kansas spring 2021 Cup race NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Just three races remain in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season. First among them is Sunday (Oct. 24) afternoon’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway, where 40 drivers settle in for 267 laps on the 1.5-mile yellow brick road. Even after last week’s likely-calm race at Texas Motor Speedway devolved into chaos in the final …

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Did You Notice?: NASCAR Rivalries Not Named Harvick-Elliott & Remembering 550 HP

2021 Daytona Road Cup Tyler Reddick William Byron Racing Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Did You Notice? … Kevin Harvick and Chase Elliott isn’t the only rivalry to heat up in the final few weeks? Some other drivers butting heads have flown under the radar a bit with these two taking up so much air in the room. Here’s three other sets of people in the NASCAR community to keep …

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5 Points to Ponder: Despite Trouble at Texas, Denny Hamlin Showed Championship Form

Denny Hamlin waits for a NASCAR race at Charlotte to begin. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

1. Denny Hamlin showing championship potential We’ve seen it time and again: Denny Hamlin makes the playoffs only to fall flat in the season’s most critical moments. But fast forward to the 2021 season and we’ve seen the No. 11 team strike first in the Round of 16 and the Round of 12, winning at …

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