Race Weekend Central

Fire on Fridays: Who Should Attempt the Memorial Day Double?

2019 Daytona I CUP Kyle Larson NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

John Andretti. Tony Stewart. Robby Gordon. Kurt Busch. These are the only four racers to complete the Memorial Day double. It’s one of the most mentally and physically grueling tasks a racecar driver can take upon themselves. However, it is doable; the past participants prove that. But these days, team owners and sponsors are reluctant …

Read more

5 Points to Ponder: 9 Races Into NASCAR 2019

2016 cup homestead-miami speedway joe gibbs roger penske zach catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

ONE: NASCAR 2019 = 2-Team Tandem At The Top Forget NASCAR’s Big Three. This year, it’s the Big Two (owners, that is) leading the way in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Joe Gibbs Racing and Team Penske have flat out dominated the first nine races of the season. Ryan Blaney (Penske) and Erik Jones …

Read more

Pace Laps: NASCAR Resets After Easter Off Week

2018 talladega team penske cup zach catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Talladega Up Next Easter has become a NASCAR tradition. Or, should we say, a NASCAR vacation. It’s the only weekend from February through November none of the sport’s top three series show up and race. As you’d expect, no racing led to a quiet news week. But business is about …

Read more

The Big 6: Questions Answered After NASCAR’s First 9 Races of 2019

2019 Las Vegas I CUP Kyle Busch NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who… should you be talking about so far? Kyle Busch is certainly making himself the early title favorite for 2019. With a series-leading three wins so far, Busch has a solid 20-point buffer over second place in points and an eye-popping average finish of 3.9.  Busch and teammate Denny Hamlin are the only drivers to finish …

Read more

Daily Fantasy NASCAR FanDuel Forecast: 2019 Toyota Owners 400

2019 Phoenix I CUP Daniel Suarez NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

If last week’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway didn’t do it for you, there’s more short track action on tap this weekend for the drivers of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. The Toyota Owners 400 from Richmond Raceway could offer even more side by side racing than we saw at the Last Great Colosseum, …

Read more

NASCAR 101: 5 Drivers Who Could Make the Transition to NASCAR Broadcasting

Clint Bowyer sits in the garage area at Kentucky Speedway in 2018. (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

If you haven’t figured out by now, longtime driver-turned-broadcaster Darrell Waltrip recently announced his retirement from TV later this season. For 19 years, Waltrip carried the torch as Fox Sports’ lead driver analyst, bringing expertise from the race track and a quirky wit along with him. Despite recent criticism for awkwardness and booth tension, Waltrip …

Read more

Massie’s Minute: NASCAR Owners, Stop Giving Rides to 20-Year-Olds

2019 Atlanta CUP Erik Jones NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

After Joe Gibbs affirmed that he has long term plans in place for both Christopher Bell and Erik Jones, there’s been widespread talk about which Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver at Joe Gibbs Racing Bell will replace. If it’s not going to be Jones on the way out, then who would it be? There’s …

Read more

Friday Faceoff: Is It Time For Bristol To Downsize Its Seating Capacity?

2016 Bristol Motor Speedway NSCS Matt Kenseth leads pack credit NASCAR via getty images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Kyle Larson had another miserable day while his teammate Kurt Busch finished second. What’s wrong in the No. 42 camp? Neff: Racing is cyclical. The No. 42 team is struggling right now. They will be fine and Larson will win at Michigan if not before. Gable: It was pretty surprising that Larson was a non-factor …

Read more

Frontstretch Podcast: Kyle Busch Show Continues, Bristol’s Bad Attendance, Harrison Burton Reflects on Xfinity Debut

NASCAR Xfinity Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

In the latest edition of the Frontstretch Podcast, Dustin Albino and Mike Neff discuss Kyle Busch‘s most recent win at Bristol Motor Speedway, which makes him three-for-eight in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series this season. One of the big questions is what could have happened had Kurt Busch gotten to the rear bumper of the No. 18 …

Read more

Did You Notice?: The 2019 NASCAR Playoffs Are Already Coming Into Focus?

2018 homestead cup zach catanzareti joey logano

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Did You Notice? … The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoff picture is taking shape? It’s hard to believe but we’re already eight races into 2019. If the regular season was just one big race, stage one would be wrapping up sometime during the middle of Saturday night’s showdown at Richmond Raceway. What do we know …

Read more

The Frontstretch 5: Memorable Weather Events in NASCAR

2016 pocono cup chris buescher zach catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Spring has sprung, and with it comes the atmospheric instability that has wreaked havoc on NASCAR’s schedule since the sport’s inception. Rain, snow, wind, thunderstorms and even fog have spawned delays and allowed for some surprising race winners over the years, all courtesy of Mother Nature. 1. The 2001 Winston All-Star Race 2001 was already …

Read more

Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in NASCAR: Routine & Confusing

2019 bristol zach catanzareti cup joey logano

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

There was a mystifying mix of the routine and the head scratching during Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Yeah, Kyle Busch won the Food City 500 and Team Penske, Joe Gibbs Racing and Stewart-Haas Racing took up most of the spots up front, but he was involved in a …

Read more