Race Weekend Central

Kevin Harvick’s Crew Chief Suspended, Multiple Teams Penalized After Las Vegas Weekend

Kevin Harvick No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford, Subway colors, 2021 Las Vegas Cup playoff race, NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Kevin Harvick‘s crew chief Rodney Childers has been suspended from this weekend’s event at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday Oct. 3 after two loose lug nuts were found on the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford during post race inspection at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Childers will be replaced by crew chief veteran Greg Zipadelli.  Childers has …

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Greg Zipadelli to Crew Chief for Kevin Harvick at Talladega

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

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Veteran crew chief Greg Zipadelli is listed to return to the top of the pit box at Talladega Superspeedway this Sunday, Oct. 3, for the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford of Kevin Harvick. Zipadelli, who currently serves as the Vice President of Competition for SHR, will replace full-time crew chief Rodney Childers after the former …

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NASCAR Stat Sheet: Hamlin Goes All in for Vegas Win

Denny Hamlin leads a pack of NASCAR race cars in the 2021 South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, September 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Joe Gibbs Racing driver clinches spot in Round of Eight With 30 races in the books, the championship is in sight and we have a good idea who will probably be fighting for it at Phoenix. But it takes so much going right and not just piling up stats. Kyle Larson essentially rolled snake eyes …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After NASCAR Playoffs in Las Vegas

2021 Cup Las Vegas Denny Hamlin, No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, Wins NASCAR Playoffs race (Credit: Meg Oliphant/Getty Images via NASCAR Media)

Photo: Meg Oliphant/Getty Images via NASCAR Media

Who … should you be talking about after the NASCAR Playoffs Race in Las Vegas? Denny Hamlin once again showed Sunday night (Sept. 26) why he was a championship contender one year ago. For only the second time this season, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver earned a NASCAR Cup Series win. It was a fairly …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Las Vegas NASCAR Playoff Race

2021 Cup Las Vegas Pack Racing Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford (Credit: NKP)

Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

What happened? Denny Hamlin won the South Point 400 at Las Vegas on Sunday night (Sept. 26) after leading a race-high 137 laps, including the final 39. Chase Elliott, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Blaney rounded out the top-five finishers. "Vegas Baby!" ? Take a look at @dennyhamlin's final lap to win at …

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Up to Speed: Kyle Busch Beyond 600 Starts

2021 Charlotte Cup Kyle Busch NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Suffice it to say Kyle Busch’s playoffs got off to a rough start.  A crash at Darlington Raceway erased his cushion over the first round cutline.  Busch responded with a top 10 the following week at Richmond Raceway, but a late speeding penalty cost the No. 18 team a shot at victory. The Round of …

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Stock Car Scoop: Round of 12 Preview

2021 Las Vegas I Christopher Bell Alex Bowman racing NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the first race of the Round of 12 on Sunday (Sept. 26). Which track is the ultimate wild-card race and who might be left on the outside looking in when the checkered flag flies at the Charlotte ROVAL? Adam Cheek and Bryan Nolen discuss …

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Fire on Fridays: NASCAR Tires ‘Cutting’ Fantastic Finishes Short

2021 Bristol Ii Cup Aric Almirola Crash Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The big topic coming out of NASCAR’s weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway was the feud between NASCAR Cup Series championship contenders Kevin Harvick and Chase Elliott. But whether Harvick was in the wrong or Elliott was in the wrong doesn’t really matter. Because neither driver was the true culprit of the incident. No, the true …

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Friday Faceoff: Would a Move to Streaming Benefit NASCAR?

Martin Truex Jr leads a pack of NASCAR Cup cars at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Streaming could play a larger role in the next NASCAR TV deal. Would the sport benefit from such a move? Dalton Hopkins: Streaming live races could create a cause and effect that gets rid of NASCAR’s controversial stage racing format. It’s a steep slope, but hear me out. With streaming, there’s the benefit of having no …

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Bristol Scuffle Headlines New Round of NASCAR Playoff Unpredictability

Kevin Harvick fights with Chase Elliott at Bristol Motor Speedway. (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

It’s been a while since the NASCAR Cup Series has had the makings of a big feud, hasn’t it? Let alone the playoffs, it’s been a quiet past couple years as a whole for the Cup Series. In fairness, drivers couldn’t exactly get near one another in 2020 (Noah Gragson and Harrison Burton would beg …

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Frontstretch 5: Feuds That Could Brew Again in NASCAR Playoffs

NASCAR Brad Keselowski Kyle Busch

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

This past weekend’s events at Bristol Motor Speedway brought out the best of moods for spectators and the worst of moods for the drivers. New feuds were born and they all may be something for fans to keep an eye on as these playoffs continue. Chase Elliott and Kevin Harvick’s memorable post-race scrum at Bristol …

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Did You Notice?: Where the Line Is on NASCAR Privacy? What Should Go Public?

Kevin Harvick and Chase Elliott at Bristl

(Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Did You Notice? … The raging debate on NASCAR privacy left over from Bristol Motor Speedway? The post-race altercation between Chase Elliott and Kevin Harvick turned sour when they discovered a quiet place in the garage area was hard to come by. No one disagrees the first part of their argument should have been covered from …

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