Race Weekend Central

Contenders Set to Emerge in NASCAR’s Round of 8

NASCAR Kyle Larson

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Just past the halfway point of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, the focus of the postseason is finally shifting. The first two rounds are all about who falls out. Now comes the time to focus on those who managed to advance. It’s a mixture of drivers you would expect and a few who might …

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Did You Notice?: 4 NASCAR Winless Drivers With 4 Races Left in 2021

Greg Zipadelli and Kevin Harvick at 2019 Michigan NASCAR Cup race, NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Did You Notice? … With four races left, there’s a handful of NASCAR drivers who won a race in 2020 that have yet to win in 2021? Just three are in the Cup Series, where a wave of parity and some upsets have produced 16 winners in the first 33 races, the most at this point …

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Zach’s Turn: Time to Start Holding Kevin Harvick Accountable

Chase Elliott with damage to the No. 9 car during the 2021 Bank of America ROVAL400. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Kevin Harvick is one of an elite few at the top of his era in the NASCAR Cup Series, but nothing on Harvick’s resume absolves the 2014 champion of accountability. Why, then, are we so quick to dismiss his wrongdoings over the years? Sure, this column is inspired by the events that took place Sunday …

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5 Points to Ponder: Feuds, Second Chances and the Metaverse

Kevin Harvick ROVAL 2021

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

1. ROVAL win might have been the most impressive yet for Kyle Larson If you picked Kyle Larson to win the Bank of America ROVAL 400 before the weekend, you weren’t exactly going out on much of a limb. Hendrick Motorsports’ brightest currently shining star (yes, sorry Chase Elliott) isn’t just having the best season …

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NASCAR Stat Sheet: Kyle Larson Establishes His Own Road Course Legacy

Kyle Larson does a burnout after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Bank of America ROVAL 400, October 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The memories of Kevin Harvick spinning in a last turn, last ditch effort to make the Championship 4 a year ago were vivid in the minds of Kyle Larson fans. The Hendrick Motorsports driver came into the Round of 12 looking like a lock to advance. That all changed last week at Talladega when Larson …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 NASCAR Charlotte ROVAL

Kyle Larson celebrates his victory in the 2021 bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? Kyle Larson won the Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday (Oct. 10) despite early mechanical issues. Tyler Reddick, Chris Buescher, Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top-five finishers. RETWEET to congratulate @KyleLarsonRacin on his WIN at the @CLTMotorSpdwy ROVAL! "I did not see us winning. Way …

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Up to Speed: Mind Games for Chase Elliott & Kevin Harvick at the ROVAL

2021 Charlotte Road ROVAL Cup Chase Elliott pack racing NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

It is no surprise to see Charlotte Motor Speedway’s ROVAL dish out a healthy dose of chaos.  But for the 2021 playoff race, a day at the ROVAL came with more mind games than usual.  The feud between Chase Elliott and Kevin Harvick that began at Bristol Motor Speedway flared up once again, with Harvick …

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Stock Car Scoop: Did NASCAR Officiating Over Chase Elliott’s Bumper Decide the Round of 8?

2021 Charlotte Road ROVAL Cup Christopher Bell pack racing NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Round of 12 concluded at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s ROVAL Sunday (Oct. 10), a rollercoaster 109-lap race in which nearly every playoff driver faced adversity. However, the biggest controversy coming out of the event was NASCAR’s decision not to black flag Chase Elliott while his rear bumper cover flapped in the wind for multiple laps …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 Bank of America ROVAL 400

Chris Buscher pilot the No. 17 Fastenal Ford in the 2021 Bank of America ROVAL 400. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who … should you be talking about after the race? Is Kyle Larson the most talented driver in the NASCAR Cup Series? He has some stiff competition in that department, but the 2021 season has left little question that Larson is among today’s elite drivers. He learned to close races, and once he did, he …

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Title Fight Between Kevin Harvick & Chase Elliott Ends in a Knockout at the Charlotte ROVAL

Chase Elliott ROVAL 2021 NASCAR

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

After a very obvious disagreement over their respective roles in the finish of the Bristol playoff race last month, neither Chase Elliott nor Kevin Harvick conceded that the spat was over. After another go-round at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL on Sunday (Oct. 10), it might still not be. Contact between the front bumper of …

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Kyle Larson Survives ROVAL Chaos, Wins 7th Race of 2021

Kyle Larson celebrates his victory in the 2021 bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

When the smoke and debris cleared, Kyle Larson emerged victorious after a hectic, chaotic race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL, securing one of the Round of 8’s spots as four drivers were eliminated from playoff competition. Kevin Harvick, Christopher Bell, Alex Bowman and William Byron ended up on the wrong side of the playoff …

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Friday Faceoff: Has Time Run Out for NASCAR’s Damaged Vehicle Policy?

#5: Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro Cincinnati on pit road at Talladega fall NASCAR Cup playoff race 2021

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Kyle Larson wound up crashing during a feverish attempt to record a fast enough lap to avoid being parked by the NASCAR damaged vehicle policy in the NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway. Does the current rule need any tweaking? Josh Roller: I’ve noticed when crews are repairing a car while under the clock, they …

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