Race Weekend Central

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway

Bubba Wallace lead a pack cars in the 2021 Yellawood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? Bubba Wallace won the weather-shortened YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Monday (Oct. 4) after rain halted the race, 117 laps into the 188-lap event. Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Kurt Busch and Christopher Bell rounded out the top five finishers. FIRST WIN for @BubbaWallace! Taking that hardware home from @Talladega! #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/VbefdK4h5X — …

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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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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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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the Bristol Night Race

Kyle Larson leads the pack in the 2021 Bristol Bass Pro Shops Night Race. (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Kyle Larson took the lead away from Kevin Harvick in the closing laps and held on to win at Bristol Motor Speedway Saturday (Sept. 18). Lapped traffic was a factor all night, allowing cars in second place to close in on the leader. Such was the case near the end of the race; Larson went to the bottom and then back up the track, squeezing Harvick a bit. The No. 5 of Hendrick Motorsports then slid up in front of Harvick, preventing the No. 4 from getting another run on Larson.

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol

Kyle Larson Bristol 2021 NASCAR

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? Kyle Larson won the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol on Saturday night (Sept. 18) after a wildly chaotic final few laps, both for the win and the final playoff spot. Kevin Harvick, William Byron, Ryan Blaney and Alex Bowman rounded out the top-five finishers. A burnout for the books. ?@KyleLarsonRacin | …

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Bristol Elimination Race Sends 4 Playoff Drivers Packing

2021 Bristol II Cup Aric Almirola crash NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Kyle Larson’s Saturday (Sept. 18) night consisted of burning his tires down on the frontstretch at Bristol Motor Speedway. For 11 of his fellow competitors, it was time to move on to the next round of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. For Aric Almirola, Kurt Busch, Michael McDowell and Tyler Reddick, it was time to …

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Friday Faceoff: Candy Eggs, Easter Bunnies & NASCAR Racing?

Alex Bowman at 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Michigan race

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Kurt Busch and Alex Bowman are tied for the final playoff position above the cutoff heading to Bristol Motor Speedway. Who has the better odds of claiming the 12th slot? Luken Glover: Kurt Busch has a whopping six wins in Thunder Valley, including five top 10s in the last seven races at Bristol. In 10 starts …

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Frontstretch 5: Best Clutch Performances in NASCAR Playoff History

Martinsville Jeff Gordon Team Victory  2015 Cup Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff, Frontstretch)

Four unlucky drivers’ fates will be sealed after this coming Saturday’s (Sept. 18) Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, as the NASCAR Cup Series playoff field will be reduced from 16 to 12 competitors. Alex Bowman, Tyler Reddick, William Byron and Michael McDowell all enter Bristol underneath the cutoff line, and …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Richmond Brings Self-Reflection to NBCSN

2021 Richmond II Cup Martin Truex Jr. pack racing NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Richmond races for the Cup Series have not necessarily been the most competitive in recent years. Honestly, they’ve been Joe Gibbs Racing benefits. Saturday night’s race was no different, despite 21 lead changes. Naturally, given that Saturday was Sept. 11, the anniversary of the terrorist attacks was front and center. Countdown to Green had a …

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Up to Speed: The Hendrick Motorsports Playoff Battle Begins Early

Hendrick Motorsports battles for position at Homestead-Miami Speedway. (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Earlier in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, Hendrick Motorsports looked like the team to beat as all four of its drivers had won a race by Memorial Day.  Kyle Larson was particularly impressive, winning three races in a row plus the non-points All-Star race.  But William Byron, Alex Bowman and Chase Elliott all had their …

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