Race Weekend Central

NASCAR Nuggets: Cup Drivers Talk Playoffs, New Packages & New Teams

Kyle busch smiling at NASCAR Cup Michigan race, NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Hours before the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, Aug. 28, 20 drivers of the NASCAR Cup Series stopped by the media bullpen to answer a few questions. One by one, Cup drivers stopped by the gates and spoke about the past, present and future of their careers. There were plenty …

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Cup Series Returns to Darlington After Turn 2 Repave

NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington

(Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

When the NASCAR Cup Series begins its playoff run this weekend, it’ll do so at Darlington Raceway. It will be just the third time this year the series has made a return trip to a track this season, following visits to Atlanta Motor Speedway and the regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway. But the 1.366-mile …

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4 Burning Questions: Who’ll Be Eliminated in Each Cup Playoff Round?

2021 regular season Cup champion Kyle Larson with trophy

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who will be eliminated in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs’ Round of 16? Michael McDowell has been disappointing in the second half of the regular season. He had a strong start to the season in addition to his Daytona 500 win, but he’s 28th in total points in the past 10 races among all Cup …

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5 Points to Ponder: Does Momentum Make Ryan Blaney a Championship Contender?

2021 Cup Daytona Ii Ryan Blaney Wins Nkp

Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

1. How much does momentum matter going into the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs? Asking for a friend named Ryan Blaney. (Note: Blaney and I are not actually friends, having spoken exactly once, but he is a likable gent.) The 27-year-old Team Penske wheelman entered the 2021 season never having won more than one race in …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona

Ryan Blaney Celebrating in victory lane after winning 2021 Coke Zero Sugar 400 NASCAR Cup race at Daytona, Jared C Tilton/Getty Images

(Photo: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images via NASCAR Media)

Ryan Blaney won the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona on Saturday night (Aug. 28) in overtime under caution after a last-lap wreck on the backstretch.

Friday Faceoff: Should NASCAR Require COVID-19 Vaccines for Garage Access?

2019 New Hampshire Nxs Bj Mcleod Motorsports Garage Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

With the FDA approving the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, should NASCAR require vaccinations for garage access? Luken Glover: No, it is not needed. Some drivers have voiced that a negative test should be all that is needed, and I agree with that. While I want the virus to be eradicated as much as the next person, it …

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Up to Speed: How Badly Does Denny Hamlin Need a Win?

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

If Denny Hamlin can take any solace from his last two races, it’s that he has been close to victory lane.  During the closing laps of last weekend’s race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, Hamlin had the checkered flag in sight.  The same was true for Sunday’s race at Michigan International Speedway.  But …

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Dropping The Hammer: Chase Elliott & Bubba Wallace, the Faces of NASCAR

Chase Elliott and Bubba Wallace

(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

You don’t need me to tell you this, but Chase Elliott is kind of a big deal within NASCAR. We are currently nine months into Elliott’s reign as the defending NASCAR Cup Series champion. We’re also in our third year with the 25-year-old as NASCAR’s reigning Most Popular Driver. This is no small thing. 2021 …

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NASCAR Mailbox: Should the 2-Week Summer Break Be a Mainstay?

2021 Pocono Kyle Busch pack racing James Gilbert Getty

(Photo: James Gilbert/Getty Images via NASCAR Media)

Similar to how Formula 1 operates, I liked NASCAR’s two-week break this summer for the Olympics. Do you think the break should remain on the schedule moving forward? – Tony L., Dayton, Ohio Absolutely, it should. To beat a dead horse, I’m as big of a “less is more” person when it comes to NASCAR …

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Frontstretch 5: Drivers Who Could Dethrone Chase Elliott on a Road Course

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Defending NASCAR Cup Series champions Chase Elliott and the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports team know how to put a solid road course race together. His seven road course wins rank him third behind eight-time winner Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon’s all-time record of nine. To his delight and the field’s dismay, the first two races …

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5 Points to Ponder: The Rest of the 2021 NASCAR Season

Nascar Cup Series

#5: Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro HendrickCars.com

ONE: Which Hendrick Motorsports is for real? Hendrick Motorsports caught fire this summer, its best performance in the NASCAR Cup Series since Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson were on the roster in 2014. From Dover International Speedway in May to the first Pocono Raceway event the end of June, HMS won six straight races and …

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