Race Weekend Central

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Martin Truex Jr. Claims Second NASCAR Crown Jewel of 2016

2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Darlington

(Courtesy: NKP / Nigel Kinrade)

Who’s in the headline: For the first time in his career, Martin Truex, Jr. has won multiple races in a single season. Kevin Harvick was the dominant car for the vast majority of Sunday night’s Southern 500, but pit road miscues put him behind in the final laps and he was unable to overcome the handicap. Truex, now …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2016 Bojangles Southern 500

2016 Darlington Raceway Martin Truex Jr NSCS photo credit NASCAR via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? In the “where did he come from” department, the best finish in the Hendrick Motorsports stable came from Kasey Kahne.  Kahne has been strong at Darlington in the past, so his seventh-place run shouldn’t be a surprise. But given the season Kahne’s had and how he took the stealth approach, the …

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Daily NASCAR Fantasy: Drafting Your Darlington Lineup

2016 darlington cup jeffrey earnhardt zach catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to Darlington Raceway on September 4th for the Bojangles’ Southern 500. It’s another throwback weekend at the track “Too Tough to Tame” and nearly every team will be gunning to get its retro scheme into victory lane. Here are a few suggestions to keep in mind when constructing your …

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Kasey Kahne Frustrated, Not Giving up on 2016 Season

2016 Indianapolis CUP Kasey Kahne helmet Russell LaBounty NKP

(Photo: Russell LaBounty / NKP)

When Kasey Kahne hopped over to Hendrick Motorsports at the beginning of the 2012 season, it was supposed to be a career-defining change. However, the last five seasons have been anything but perfect. Kahne, 36, is in currently his 13th full-time season. Statically, 2016 has been one of his worst seasons with few answers. Through 22 …

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Daily NASCAR Fantasy: Drafting Your Pocono Lineup

2016 Loudon I CUP Kurt Busch close Nigel kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to Pocono Raceway on July 31st for the Pennsylvania 400. Kurt Busch made his way to victory lane at the “Tricky Triangle” back in June and will look to complete the sweep on Sunday. Joe Gibbs Racing and Team Penske have combined to win 14 out of the 20 …

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Rodney Childers Suspended Due to Lugnut Issue

2016 Pocono I CUP Kevin Harvick and Rodney Childers Anthony Lumbis Sr.

(Credit: Anthony Lumbis, Sr.)

On Wednesday morning, NASCAR released the weekly penalty report.  Once again, NASCAR has come down hard on a contending team due to lugnuts. Kevin Harvick‘s No. 4 Jimmy John’s Chevrolet was found to have loose lugnuts after the finish of Sunday’s Crown Royal Presents the Combat Wounded Coalition 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  As …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in NASCAR: Pocono Edition

2016 Indianapolis CUP Kyle busch burnout Matthew T Thacker NKP

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

We know it was hot Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with in-car temperatures regularly between 110 and 115, and track temperatures in the 130-degree range. But the temperature wasn’t the only indicator of who was hot, or not, at the famed 2.5-mile oval. HOT No matter what the temperature was, no driver was as hot …

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Daily NASCAR Fantasy: Drafting Your Indianapolis Lineup

tony stewart

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to Indianapolis Motor Speedway Sunday, July 24th for the Combat Wounded Coalition 400. This Sunday, one of the greatest of all time returns to the world’s most famous racetrack. Jeff Gordon returns to action as he fills in for Dale Earnhardt Jr for the next two races. Junior is …

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Double Take: 22 Hendrick Drivers Played Part in Getting to 1,000 Top 5s

2016 Loudon I CUP Chase Elliott Jimmie Johnson Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

You may have heard that Hendrick Motorsports is just one top 5 away from 1,000 in the Sprint Cup. Just take a moment and let that sink in: Hendrick Motorsports has placed a driver in the top 12.5 percent of the field on 999 occasions. Its most-accomplished driver, Jeff Gordon, has only raced 797 races in …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Matt Kenseth New Hampshire Win Tainted By Failed Inspection?

2016 Loudon I CUP MattKneseth woohoo Matthew T Thacker NKP

Who’s in the headline: The old adage of only having to lead one lap seems to be the way Matt Kenseth does business. It rang true again this weekend as Kenseth started 18th and took over 250 laps to get to the point. Once there, he endured three restarts over the final 31 circuits and strolled to victory in a …

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Did You Notice? … Hendrick Motorsports’ Rough Road?

2016 Charlotte All Star CUP Rick Hendrick Nigel Kinrade NKP

How Did Hendrick Do in Comparison to Kyle Busch? (Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Did You Notice? … The struggles of Hendrick Motorsports this season getting more pronounced? The team’s night at Kentucky Speedway ended with none of HMS’ four cars in serious contention; Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was the best of the bunch in 13th place. For the second straight week, the entire four-car fleet ran outside the top 10, the …

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Daily NASCAR Fantasy: Drafting Your Kentucky Lineup (Quaker State 400)

2016 Pocono I CUP Kyle Busch Russell LaBounty NKP

(Photo: Russell Labounty/NKP)

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to Kentucky Speedway Saturday, July 9th for the Quaker State 400. The speedway underwent an extensive face lift following the 2015 race last July, which includes a newly paved surface, steeper corners and added SAFER barrier. Kentucky Speedway was added to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule back in …

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