Race Weekend Central

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Ryan Newman Stretches Tires to Douse Winless Drought in Phoenix

Who’s in the headline – Ryan Newman won the 2013 Brickyard 400 before he was released by Stewart-Haas Racing. He has managed several third-place finishes, but only one runner-up since. In typical Newman fashion, he stayed out on a late-race caution with old tires and managed to hold off Kyle Larson to steal the victory. …

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Up to Speed: Ryan Newman, the Veteran

In November 2000 at Phoenix International Raceway, Ryan Newman made his first start in what is now known as the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.  His engine expired after 176 laps, leading to a 41st-place finish.  Newman was 22 years old when he ran that race. Austin Dillon was eight years old and Kyle Larson …

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4 Burning Questions: Will Phoenix Spell Resurgence for Dale Earnhardt Jr.?

2017 Daytona Cup Zach Catanzareti Dale Earnhardt Jr.

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Will Dale Earnhardt Jr. Return to the Front for Good in Phoenix? Considering it’s Phoenix International Raceway, the historians of the sport will be picking Earnhardt in their fantasy lineups. And there’s good backing to these predictions, as PIR is one of Dale’s best racetracks of the year. In the past seven Phoenix races, the …

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The 10: NASCAR Cup Series Power Rankings After Las Vegas

NASCAR headed west this weekend for a little viva Las Vegas. It’s no secret that any title fight worth the price of admission can be found in the neon glow of the Nevada desert. Martin Truex Jr. took on all challengers and delivered a knockout blow; he’s the first to win all three stages in …

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Joey Logano Dominates Final Stage to Win Boyd Gaming 300

Joey Logano 2017 Xfinity Las Vegas Nigel Kinrade/nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

As the green flag flew on Saturday’s NASCAR XFINITY Series Boyd Gaming 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, hometown racer Kyle Busch took the early advantage on the field. As the laps wore down in Stage No. 1, Kyle Larson had gained the second spot and began to close in on Busch. With ten laps to …

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Double Take: 17 Years in the Blink of an Eye

Rusty Wallace With Sterling Marlin 2004

(Photo: Sheryl Creekmore/NASCAR)

Seventeen years. That’s how long I’ve been a NASCAR fan. I watched a few races as late as 2000, even lived near Daytona International Speedway for a couple of years in the late 1990s, but only when I moved away did I really start to get into the sport that has grown to consume my life. …

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The 10: NASCAR Cup Series Power Rankings After Atlanta

2017 Atlanta Cup Joey Logano Pack Racing Barry Canrrell Nkp

(Photo: Barry Cantrell / NKP)

Following a wild opening weekend, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series moved to Atlanta Motor Speedway for round two. Daytona seemed to create more questions than it answered and many in the sport looked to Sunday’s race to restore order. The Folds Of Honor QuikTrip 500 did feature many of the usual favorites up front, …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not: How Did Harvick NOT Win Edition

2017 Atlanta Cup Brad Keselowski Chase Elliott Racing Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

As is sometimes the case in NASCAR, and really, in any form of auto racing, the driver with the best car doesn’t necessarily win. That was certainly the case in Sunday’s race at Atlanta, where Kevin Harvick had the field covered plus some, only to have a late race mistake cost him a victory. Those …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Brad Keselowski Overcomes Loose Lug Nuts, Takes Advantage of Others Speeding to Win Atlanta

2017 Atlanta Cup Joey Logano Pack Racing Barry Canrrell Nkp

(Photo: Barry Cantrell / NKP)

Who’s in the headline – For most of the race Sunday, it looked like Kevin Harvick would be the the whole story of the QuikTrip Folds of Honor 500. Unfortunately for him, a pit road speeding penalty on Lap 311 put an end to the storybook day for the 2014 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series …

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Up to Speed: Better Finishes Ahead for Stewart-Haas Racing

2017 Atlanta Cup Clint Bowyer Kurt Busch Racing Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew Thacker / NKP)

On a cloudy afternoon at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Stewart-Haas Racing came up empty handed when the checkered flag flew. But those clouds were not without a silver lining for the four-car organization. Just over one week ago, Kurt Busch and the No. 41 team were in the spotlight, with the 2004 series champion won the …

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Brad Keselowski Wins, Kevin Harvick Speeds in Atlanta

2016 Chicago Cup Brad Keselowski Helmet Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

Brad Keselowski held off Kyle Larson to win Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The win, his 22nd in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, gives Ford a second win to start the 2017 season. “You never know, that’s how these races are,” Keselowski said. “We had a lot of adversity …

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