Race Weekend Central

NASCAR Stat Sheet: The Field Gets Busch Whacked in Atlanta

Kurt Busch holds the checkered flag after winning the NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, July 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography )

The term “Busch Whacker” first surfaced in NASCAR circles back in the late ’90s, used as a term to describe the Cup Series regulars who stole wins in what was then the Busch (now Xfinity) Series. On Sunday, the racing brothers from Las Vegas gave the term a whole new meaning. Kurt and Kyle Busch …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Quaker State 400 at Atlanta

Kurt Busch celebrates in victory lane at Atlanta Motor Speedway after the Quaker State 400. (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? Kurt Busch won the Quaker State 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday (July 11) after holding off his little brother during an intense final run to the checkered flag. Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Alex Bowman and Ryan Blaney rounded out the top-five finishers. "HELL YEAH WE BEAT KYLE" — @KurtBusch pic.twitter.com/apaHrHgfO6 …

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Up to Speed: A Final Moment of Teamwork for Chip Ganassi Racing

2021 Darlington I Cup Kurt Busch Ross Chastain Chip Ganassi Racing (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Kurt Busch scored what could be the final win for Chip Ganassi Racing on Sunday (July 11) at Atlanta Motor Speedway.  Less than two weeks ago, Ganassi announced that he was selling his NASCAR team to Trackhouse Racing effective the end of 2021.  Trackhouse, in turn, confirmed that its team would field two cars in …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 Quaker State 400

Tyler Reddick waits for the NASCAR Cup Series race at Circuit of the Americas to begin, May 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who … should you be talking about after the Quaker State 400? Kurt Busch has had moments this season where he looked stout but hadn’t been able to put a winning run together.  That ended Sunday (July 11) at Atlanta Motor Speedway where Busch was dominant in the Quaker State 400. He led three times …

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Kyle Busch Takes Issue with Ross Chastain’s Late-Race Moves

Kyle Busch car at Atlanta NASCAR Cup race NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

As Kyle Busch and Kurt Busch sent Atlanta Motor Speedway’s aged surface out with one more thrilling race to the end on Sunday (July 10), both drivers had to carefully navigate lapped traffic, a factor magnified by the absence of a caution flag in the final stage.   Kurt Busch went on to win, and in …

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Kurt Busch Outduels Brother Kyle Busch, Scores 4th Win at Atlanta

2021 Atlanta II Cup Kurt Busch burnout NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Intermittent rain, a hole in the track and a ferocious battle with his younger brother weren’t enough to keep Kurt Busch from victory lane at Atlanta Motor Speedway, as he drove his No. 1 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet to a win in the Quaker State 400 on Sunday (July 11). After track repairs on deteriorated …

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Drivers Continue Sounding Off on Atlanta’s Planned Repave

Kevin Harvick on pit road at Charlotte Motor Speedway (May 2021). (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The specter of Atlanta Motor Speedway’s surface commanded the lion’s share of attention prior to Sunday (July 11) afternoon’s Quaker State 400.   Sunday’s race will be the final event on Atlanta’s current surface before it will be repaved and reconfigured. A day after pointed and profanity-laced criticism from Kyle Busch regarding the planned repave, …

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Frontstretch 2-Minute Drill: Quaker State 400 at Atlanta

William Byron featured in front of Joey Logano and others at Atlanta spring 2021 race NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The NASCAR Cup Series bounces back south for its second 2021 tango with Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Quaker State 400. Sunday (July 11) afternoon’s race will mark the final appearance for NASCAR’s premier series on the current surface before extensive reconfiguring and remodeling begins in the Peach State. Nevertheless, it’ll be Ryan Blaney looking …

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Xfinity Breakdown: Going Out On Top; Kyle Busch Wins No. 102 at Atlanta

2021 Atlanta NXS Kyle Busch checkered flag NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

His NASCAR Xfinity Series career began on May 24, 2003, at Charlotte Motor Speedway. His first victory was at Richmond Raceway on May 14, 2004. But was Kyle Busch’s 102nd victory in his 362nd career start the final time the 2009 Xfinity Series champion competes in NASCAR’s second-tier division? According to Busch, that very well …

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2-Headed Monster: Should Kyle Busch Continue Racing in the Xfinity Series?

2021 Nashville NASCAR Xfinity 100 win Kyle Busch guitar strum victory lane NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Is it over? Kyle Busch has one scheduled more start left in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2021. Busch won his 100th race earlier last month at Nashville Superspeedway and his win at Road America last weekend (July 3) put his total to 101 wins. He has mentioned in the past that once he hit …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Road America Presents Some Issues

Kyle Weatherman and Jeremy Clements race at Road America, July 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Last weekend was an excellent time if you like road racing. NASCAR had the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series at Road America, while INDYCAR was at Mid-Ohio. Finally, you had IMSA at Watkins Glen. I’ll be honest and admit that literally nothing was there from the Sahlen’s Six Hours at the Glen weekend. All but …

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