Race Weekend Central

Couch Potato Tuesday: Are FOX’s Poor NASCAR Ratings Fixable With Better Coverage?

2016 Richmond I Cup Regan Smith Carl Edwards Jimmie Johnson Racing Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty / NKP)

Welcome back.  Sunday had a great finish, eh?  Not too often that someone executes the bump n’ run on their own teammate.  I’ll fully admit that I was surprised that Carl Edwards was willing to do it. Also, there was a bit of an uproar surrounding Samantha Busch cussing at the finish after the aforementioned …

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Sprint Cup Qualifying Rained Out, Kevin Harvick on Pole

Kevin Harvock waits to climb into his No. 4 Jimmy Johns Chevrolet at Michigan International Speedway

Due to inclement weather throughout Friday at Richmond International Raceway, qualifying for the Sprint Cup Series has been cancelled, putting Kevin Harvick on pole for Sunday. Leading the way in the one and only Friday practice session, Harvick will in return led the field to green per the rulebook for the Toyota Owners 400. “We …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in NASCAR: Richmond Edition

2016 Bristol I Cup Carl Edwards Checkered Flag Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

This one goes to out to your inner gymnast, the lover of the underdogs and the days and the days of heat and last chance races after what took place during the Sprint Cup race at Bristol on Sunday and the Xfinity race Saturday. HOT Someone other than Kyle Busch won a NASCAR race for …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud – Carl Edwards Lays Down a Colossal Beat Down at Bristol

2016 Bristol I Cup Carl Edwards Woohoo John Harrelson Nkp

Who’s in the headline – It was pointed out last week, and it was reinforced this weekend, that Joe Gibbs Racing is right at the top of the board in the Cup series. It was Carl Edwards turn this weekend as he dominated the race. Edwards led 276 laps en route to capturing his first …

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Double Take: Practice Speed Doesn’t Guarantee Race Success

2016 Texas I Cup Pack Racing Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

As Tom Bowles noticed last week, it’s much easier for drivers to overcome a poor qualifying effort this season. With the new low-downforce package making passing easier and drivers able to manipulate the air on cars in front, racers like Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick have been able to start mid-pack and come away with …

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5 Points to Ponder: Pantomime Villains Past and Present

2015 Bristol Ii Cup Joey Logano Trophy Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Villain to win at Bristol? My tip for this weekend’s win is the current pantomime villain of the NASCAR circuit: Joey Logano. It’s a role the Connecticut native spoke about early this season in a USA Today Interview. “Some of the fans look at me as a villain or not a nice guy for some …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not: Bristol Edition

2016 Texas I Cup Martin Truex Jr Kyle Busch Racing John Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John Harrelson/NKP)

For a while on Saturday night, the waiting was the hardest part for anyone interested in the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway. But the once the raindrops stopped falling on heads, cars, pit boxes, etc., it turned into a fairly entertaining race for those of us who managed to stay up until …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud – Kyle Busch Returns to Championship Form, Conquers Martinsville

Kyle Busch Victory Lane Trophy And Confetti Martinsville 2016 Cup Mike Neff

Who’s in the headline – Kyle Busch went from winless at Martinsville to a two-time winner in one weekend. He dominated the race, leading 352 of the race’s 500 laps. It was the most by a race winner at the short track since Bobby Hamilton won the event in 1998. Busch chose the inside line for …

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The Big Six: Questions Answered After the 2016 STP 500

Kyle Busch Burnout Martinsville 2016 Cup Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? AJ Allmendinger put on a heck of a show in his late-race bid for the runner-up spot, but it was Kyle Larson who took full advantage of the real estate battle, squeezing through to finish third at a track where he’s struggled mightily in the past. Larson missed this race …

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Logano Nabs Third Straight Martinsville Pole

2016 Phoenix I Cup Joey Logano Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

Skies were cloudy at Martinsville Speedway, but the rain stayed away long enough for sunshine to rain down on young Joey Logano. Logano, still winless this season for Team Penske took the pole for Sunday’s STP 500 in his No. 22 Ford. Logano led all three rounds of qualifying, posting a lap speed of 97.043 MPH to …

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Up To Speed: 2015 Winners Who Are Still Looking for First Win of 2016

2016 Fontana Cup Matt Kenseth Car Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist / NKP)

With this now the third year of the elimination Chase-style format, it’s easy to forget how early we still are in the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Four winners in five races (Jimmie Johnson has managed to notch two victories) means that there are four drivers who are all but locked into the Chase once …

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Four Burning Questions: Who Will Benefit Most from Easter Break?

2016 Fontana Cup Kyle Busch Chase Elliott Racing Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist NKP)

Do the Penalties Fit the Crime for Danica Patrick and Kyle Busch? Despite another thriller of a race to start the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, the week has been littered with penalty talk following Sunday’s Auto Club 400. The weekend of events sparked numerous heat-of-the-moment tangents from Kyle Busch’s in-car radio rant, stating …

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