Race Weekend Central

5 Points to Ponder: Penske’s Power Move

2016 Daytona Ii Cup Roger Penske Champagne Logan Whitton Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

ONE: Penske’s Power Move I think it’s fair to say that no-one — outside those directly involved — had any sense that we were going to have such a seismic announcement on the future of open wheel racing in the United States yesterday. The news, in case you missed it, was that after 74 years …

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Kurt Busch to Return to Chip Ganassi Racing in 2020

2019 Roval Mencs Kurt Busch Car Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Kurt Busch will return as the driver of the No. 1 Chevrolet for Chip Ganassi Racing in 2020, announced at Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday (Nov. 2). Primary sponsor and outgoing NASCAR Cup Series title sponsor Monster Energy will also remain the primary sponsor. Both Busch and Monster Energy announced it is a multi-year extension. …

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Oscar Mayer Extends with Roush Fenway, Ryan Newman

2019 Las Vegas Mencs Ryan Newman Car Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Oscar Mayer has renewed its sponsorship with Roush Fenway Racing and Ryan Newman‘s No. 6 team, the team announced Wednesday, Oct. 30. The deal will run through the 2021 season for what’s being described as “multiple races” each season, beginning with the TicketGuardian 500k spring race at ISM Raceway on March 8, 2020. Oscar  Mayer …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in NASCAR: Please Staple, Don’t Paper Clip

2019martinsvillemencsmartintruexjrcarcck

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Martinsville Speedway is the oldest track on the NASCAR circuit, but lately the tracks uniqueness has been entirely flattened by awful racing throughout the pack, marked by an inability to pass and one driver pulverizing the rest of the field. In this case, a snoozer of a race resulted in a Joe Gibbs Racing driver …

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NASCAR 101: Related Drivers in NASCAR

2016 Fontana Nxs Ty Dillon Austin Dillon Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

This column was all set. Perfect, even — the idea, that is. It was timely, fitting, whatever. Then Carson Ware dropped off the Gander Outdoors Truck Series entry list for this weekend at Martinsville Speedway. But you know what? Screw it. Doing it anyway. In the event that Ware returns to the entry list (until …

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The 12: NASCAR Power Rankings Hollywood Casino 400 Edition

2019 Dover Mencs Denny Hamlin Face Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Denny Hamlin may be having his best year yet. After picking up another victory last weekend at Kansas Speedway, Hamlin has the second-most wins of any driver this season and currently sits third on the playoff grid. Often regarded as the best active driver to not win a championship, can Hamlin finally erase his “bridesmaid” …

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Frontstretch Podcast: Chaos in Talladega, Austin Cindric Previews Round of 8

Nascar Xfinity Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

In this week’s edition of the Frontstretch Podcast, Dustin Albino and Mike Neff discuss a chaotic weekend of racing at Talladega Superspeedway that saw Ryan Blaney clinch his spot into the Round of 8. Much like the Gander Outdoors Truck Series race on Saturday (Oct. 12), when Johnny Sauter got penalized for forcing Riley Herbst below the yellow line …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2019 1000Bulbs.com 500 at Talladega

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(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Headline(s): Having survived three big ones on Monday afternoon (Oct. 14) after an uneventful first stage Sunday, Ryan Blaney bested Ryan Newman by less than a foot coming to the line to score a season-saving victory that locked the No. 12 team into the Round of 8. It wasn’t without controversy, however, as Blaney …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR FanDuel Forecast: 1000Bulbs.com 500

2019 Daytona I Cup Ricky Stenhouse Jr Nkp

Good luck this week filling out your daily fantasy lineup this week for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway — you’re going to need all the luck you can get. Talladega is always one of the biggest unknowns on the Cup schedule, as the 2.66-mile superspeedway is known for producing rare …

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NASCAR Mailbox: Will Retirements Increase in the Next 1-2 Years?

2019 Pocono Mencs Jimmie Johnson Face Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

With many aging veterans in NASCAR right now, the dreaded retirement topic is starting to come to the surface. While many are still extremely competitive, there are still some persistent rumors that a few of the sport’s superstars are hanging it up in the next year or two. Who do you think will be hanging …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in NASCAR: A Delaware Drive

2019 Dover Mencs Racing Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

At this point of the NASCAR season, there aren’t really any surprises. The majority of the top-tier rides that are changing hands have been announced, and most of the action can be pretty accurately determined beforehand. The same group of drivers will be up front, while no one can pass anyone else on the track. …

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5 Points to Ponder: Chevrolet Making a Late Push After Dismal 2019

2019 Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Playoffs Chevrolet Drivers Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

ONE: Don’t Look Now, But Here Comes Chevrolet Chase Elliott’s comeback wasn’t the only big moment for the Bowtie Brigade Sunday (Sept. 29) at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s ROVAL in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Two of its bubble drivers, William Byron and Alex Bowman, made it through after rollercoaster first-round performances. In Bowman’s case, …

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