Race Weekend Central

Did You Notice?: NASCAR Diversity Takes Giant Leap Forward During COVID-19 Pandemic

2020 Bristol Arca Hailie Deegan Face Arca

(Photo: ARCA Racing)

Did You Notice? … How far NASCAR diversity has come in just a few short months? Flash back to April 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic was in full swing, and the viability of single-car teams (think: Richard Petty Motorsports / Bubba Wallace and Gaunt Brothers Racing / Daniel Suarez) was in doubt. Kyle Larson had just been …

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The Frontstretch 5: Active Texas Records That (Probably, Maybe) Won’t Fall This Weekend

2015 Texas I Cup Jimmie Johnson Six Guns Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

As the NASCAR Cup Series heads to Texas Motor Speedway for the second time in 2020, there are some numbers to consider. There are plenty of stats that are important to consider for each and every race, and also some that stand out. Here are a few (one a dubious honor) Texas records for active …

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Power Rankings: Someone Woke Up Joey Logano Edition

2020 Kansas Ii Cup Joey Logano Celebrates Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season has been a weird one for Joey Logano. He managed to win two of the first four races this season, but those were also his only top-10 finishes, too. Sliced Bread has been either very good or very average all season.  As he often does, Logano managed to irritate …

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Up to Speed: Chip Ganassi Racing Wastes Its 2020 Potential

2020 Kansas Ii Cup Matt Kenseth Matt Dibenedetto Racing Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Back in the spring of 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic began to heat up, Chip Ganassi Racing had a mess on its hands.  While participating in an iRacing event on Easter Sunday, Kyle Larson uttered a racial slur over what he thought was a private communication line.  Unfortunately for him, the line wasn’t private.  Within …

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Joey Logano Punches Championship 4 Ticket, Wins at Kansas

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

While 2020’s victory lane might have been dominated by Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano became the first driver to punch his ticket to the Championship 4. In Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway, Logano beat Harvick off pit road during an exchange of stops with 45 laps to go. He made the …

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Power Rankings: Ridiculous ROVAL Edition

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Last week, King Richard Petty caused a bit of a ruckus calling dirt racing “unprofessional.” Do you know what is really unprofessional? Having turn 1 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL contribute to the outcome of the NASCAR playoffs. Speaking of unprofessional, how about racing on a wet track not because of rain but because …

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Friday Faceoff: Where Will Ty Dillon Drive in 2021?

2019 Phoenix I Cup Ty Dillon Richard Childress Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Is it better for the sport if the playoff drivers win the playoff races? Luken Glover: Yes and no. I look at someone like Jimmie Johnson, who would set the racing world on fire if he were to win one of the last NASCAR Cup Series five races. However, playoff drivers winning playoff races have …

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Power Rankings: ‘Dega Dominos Edition

2020 Talladega playoff Cup Chase Elliott leads in pack racing Photo NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

You can’t win the clichés during the fourth race of the 10-race playoff schedule, but you can sure lose the cliché battle at Talladega Superspeedway. Unfortunately, drivers pushed the rules envelope on Sunday (Oct. 4), causing NASCAR to actually make a ruling on their beloved “Yellow Line Rule.” For those new to NASCAR, a driver …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2020 YellaWood 500

2020 Talladega Ii Cup Brendan Gaughan Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who… should you be talking about after the race? Denny Hamlin made a hang-at-the-back and avoid trouble strategy work on Sunday (Oct. 4), winning at Talladega Superspeedway with a last-lap pass. That’s after staying out of the fray for much of the day and working his way into position through multiple final shootouts. A bad …

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Denny Hamlin Claims Controversial Talladega Superspeedway Win

2020 Talladega Ii Denny Hamlin Burnout Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

After four-plus hours of NASCAR Cup Series racing, more than 58 lead changes, and two red flags, Denny Hamlin emerged with a controversial victory in the YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday (Oct. 4).  With the race having already gone into overtime, William Byron and Matt DiBenedetto made contact while racing for the lead. …

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Frontstretch Podcast: Mediocre Vegas, 2021 Schedule & Ross Chastain Chats Moving to NASCAR Cup

Nascar Xfinity Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Subscribe: iTunes In this week’s edition of the Frontstretch Podcast, Dustin Albino and Mike Neff discuss the lackluster racing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway from last weekend, which saw Kurt Busch hold on for the victory after catching a timely caution during a cycle of green flag pit stops. With the win, Busch advances to the Round of 8, stealing …

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NASCAR Mailbox: What Could Be the Main Cause for Better Performance After Elimination from Playoffs?

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Have you ever noticed that many drivers who do not make the playoffs or are eliminated in the playoffs start performing better later in the season when it may not matter as much? That is definitely the case with several drivers, and it’s not just this season. This has been the case for the last …

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