Race Weekend Central

5 Points to Ponder: Another Winless Streak Falls

Kurt Busch

[Photo: Zach Catanzareti]

ONE: The Outlaw Back in Victory Lane Kurt Busch took his 28th career victory Monday in the rain-delayed Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400, leading 32 laps before taking his third career victory at the Tricky Triangle. It was Busch’s first trophy earned there in nine years, a key moment in a season that had been quietly building …

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

2016 Charlotte I Cup Martin Truex Jr Confetti Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty / NKP)

The best day in auto racing gave us two differently distinct types of races, but the final results brought about similar feelings. There was awe in how a rookie could save so much fuel, snookering several top-notch IndyCar teams and competitors down the stretch. The awe we felt with Martin Truex, Jr. reaching Victory Lane was connected to dominance; …

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The Frontstretch 5: Drivers Who Need a Good Night In The Coca-Cola 600

2016 Fontana Cup Kasey Kahne Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

Roush Fenway Racing (Plus 1) RFR has left little doubt they’re turning things around in 2016; why not continue that in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600?  Once one of NASCAR’s biggest power players, RFR has fallen from grace in recent years and the last couple of seasons have been defined by struggle.  It makes this team’s turnaround …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud – Joey Logano Makes Late-Race Pass to Claim First All-Star Victory

2016 Charlotte All Star Cup Joey Logano Champagne John Harrelson Nkp

Who’s in the headline – The No. 22 of Joey Logano was festooned with a myriad of pictures from the 50 years of Team Penske. On a full moon Saturday night, the collective spirits of all of the drivers who have piloted a car for “The Captain” rode along with Logano as he navigated the …

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Kasey Kahne, Others Penalized After Dover

2016 Dover I Cup Kasey Kahne Racing Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Wednesday was a busy day for NASCAR penalties. The biggest penalty was levied to the No. 5 team of Kasey Kahne, who received a P3 penalty for illegal truck arms found following the race weekend at Dover. Crew chief Keith Rodden was fined $25,000 and the team lost both 15 drivers and owners points. Kahne …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: A Monstrous Matt Kenseth Comeback

2016 Dover I Cup Matt Kenseth Jason Ratcliff Trophy Matthew T Thacker Nkp

Who’s in the headline – The 2016 season has been anything but stellar for Matt Kenseth. After a near miss at Daytona he’s only managed one top 5 finish before Sunday, and that as a fourth last weekend at Kansas. Sunday Kenseth was in the mix but didn’t look like he’d be in contention for …

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Friday Faceoff: Should Excessive Burnouts Put Teams on the Hot Seat?

2016 Kansas I Cup Kevin Harvick Racing Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

Three races into his return, Tony Stewart is making up some ground on 30th in points, the Chase cut-off for a driver with a win.  How likely does that win look for Stewart in the next 15 races? Clayton Caldwell, Contributor: I hate to say it, but not very likely. I think Stewart-Haas Racing/Hendrick Motorsports …

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Breaking a Sweat: Top NASCAR Drivers on the Hot Seat

2016 Fontana Cup Kasey Kahne Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

There’s a few indisputable truths about the 2016 Sprint Cup Series season. Perhaps the most important, cloaked within a playoff system that rewards trips to Victory Lane, is the lack of winners dotting the current Chase for the championship. Just six drivers have earned a first-place trophy through the first 11 races, the lowest number through this stretch …

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Dale Earnhardt Jr., ‘Amelia’ Lost in Early Talladega Tussle

2016 Talladega Dale Earnhardt Jr Wreck Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Amelia’s return was short-lived. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was running 10th on lap 50 of Sunday’s Geico 500 at Talladega Superspeedway when he lost control of his machine off of Turn 2. The six-time Talladega winner crashed into the outside wall, taking Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kasey Kahne and Matt DiBenedetto with him. Driving ‘Amelia’, a car nicknamed …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2016 Toyota Owners 400

2016 Richmond I Cup Kurt Busch Pack Racing Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker / NKP)

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? Some days just don’t go as planned.  It just seems like if you’re Kasey Kahne, that would be more or less every day. The No. 5 team and he have had more than their fair share of bad luck over the last couple of seasons, often having finishes …

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Kasey Kahne Grabs ‘Encouraging’ Fourth-Place Effort at Richmond

2016 Phoenix I Cup Kasey Kahne Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Returning to the sight of his first Sprint Cup Series win back in 2005, Richmond International Raceway seemed to bring out the best in Kasey Kahne on Sunday afternoon. Grabbing a much-needed fourth-place finish in the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond, Kahne was excited to be back racing in the front of the field. “We …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud – Kyle Busch’s Late Push Snatches Victory in Texas

Who’s in the headline – The early leader in 2016 Cup season is Joe Gibbs Racing. The organization started the season with Denny Hamlin‘s win at Daytona and now has back-to-back wins with Kyle Busch. Busch’s recent success, coupled with his impressive consistency over the first seven races (six finishes of fourth or better) has him …

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