Race Weekend Central

Chip Ganassi Labels NASCAR’s Lug Nut Policy “Silly”

With the one-race suspension of team crew chief Chad Johnston, Chip Ganassi, co-owner of Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates said that the “whole lug nut thing is a silly thing” while calling into SiriusXM NASCAR Radio on Wednesday evening. His remarks came hours after NASCAR suspended Johnston, a veteran crew chief, for lug nuts …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not: Michigan Edition

2016 Pocono I Cup Ryan Blaney Jamie Mcmurray Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

This weekend at Pocono was the best of times and the worst of times. Yes, it was the Tale of Two Tracks, except that it was still the same place. But that’s how it goes on some late spring weekends in the eastern Pennsylvania mountains. HOT Kurt Busch became the latest driver to climb the …

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NASCAR Mailbox: Can Kurt Busch Win the Sprint Cup Series Championship?

2016 Nascar Sprint Cup Series, Pocono

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

It’s been nearly 12 years since Kurt Busch won the inaugural Chase for the Sprint Cup. The November afternoon was remarkable for Busch, then 25 years old. After a tire flew off his car heading into pit road, he managed to come back to finish fifth in the season-finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, clinching the title by a mere …

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The 10: Top Teams After the Tricky Triangle

2016 Pocono I Cup Pack Racing Ii Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kingrade/NKP)

After steady rain, brief confusion as to whether Jeff Gordon was back in the No. 24 and a few thousand “sick” days at work, NASCAR and its fans finally got to enjoy 400 miles of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series action at Pocono Raceway. In the end, the trick to the Tricky Triangle proved to be fuel …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Kurt Busch Turns Monster Restart Into Pocono Victory

Kurt Busch

[Photo: Zach Catanzareti]

Who’s in the headline: Kurt Busch, and rightfully so, is the man to watch in the Sprint Cup Series after winning Sunday’s Axalta ‘We Paint Winners’ 400 from Pocono Raceway. Not only does he now have a stop in the 2016 Chase, but Busch also heads into next week’s race at Michigan International Speedway as …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2016 Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400

2016 Charlotte All Star Cup Martin Truex Jr Denny Hamlin Racing Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Who…gets my shoutout of the race? A lot of drivers go on to great careers without winning a race in their rookie seasons, and some of the sport’s best have had rookie campaigns that certainly didn’t hint of any success to come later.  But first-year driver Chase Elliott is looking closer and closer to finding …

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5 Points to Ponder: Another Winless Streak Falls

Kurt Busch

[Photo: Zach Catanzareti]

ONE: The Outlaw Back in Victory Lane Kurt Busch took his 28th career victory Monday in the rain-delayed Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400, leading 32 laps before taking his third career victory at the Tricky Triangle. It was Busch’s first trophy earned there in nine years, a key moment in a season that had been quietly building …

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Kurt Busch Relishes First Triumph of 2016 at Pocono Raceway

Nascar Sprint Cup Series Axalta "we Paint Winners" 400

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Kurt Busch entered Pocono Raceway determined to win at the Tricky Triangle for the first time since 2007. Things are a lot different for the 2004 Cup Series champion since that August day. Busch is no longer driving the Blue Deuce. Instead, he’s walking around with his head held high, showcasing the gradient black and red colors …

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Kurt Busch Grabs First 2016 Win At Pocono

Kurt Busch

[Photo: Zach Catanzareti]

For Kurt Busch, it was a monster restart with 33 laps to go that sealed the deal in winning the Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400 at Pocono Raceway. The No. 41 Monster Energy Chevrolet stormed past Dale Earnhardt, Jr. before taking off in the final 32 laps to win by 1.126 seconds. “It’s an amazing …

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Multiple Crew Chiefs to Miss Pocono Due to Penalties

2016 Charlotte I Cup Martin Truex Jr Jimmie Johnson Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

On Wednesday, NASCAR released their weekly penalty report.  While there no real indications that anything big was coming, the hammer came down fairly strong on a number of teams.  No less than three Sprint Cup teams will be without their crew chiefs on Sunday in Pocono (pending appeals, of course). Brian Pattie, crew chief for …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2016 Coca-Cola 600

2016 Charlotte I Cup Martin Truex Jr Woohoo Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? While Martin Truex, Jr. was busy stealing the show, there were a few drivers who put on quietly impressive performances.  Kurt Busch was impressive all weekend long, leading the way in two of three practice sessions and running inside the top 10 all night long after starting 13th.  …

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Kurt Busch, Martin Truex, Jr. Pace Saturday Sprint Cup Practices

NASCAR Sprint Cup teams had two chances to get it right Saturday with a pair of practice sessions for Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600, NASCAR’s longest race of the season. Kurt Busch paced the morning edition with a top speed of 191.002 mph.  Jimmie Johnson, whose seven Charlotte wins rank as most by a driver in track history, …

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