Race Weekend Central

Contenders? Pretenders? Too Early to Tell in NASCAR Cup Playoffs

2021 Darlington Ii Pack Jared C Tilton Getty

(Photo: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

If you checked the storylines leaving Sunday’s (Sept. 5) Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, you likely saw a smattering of NASCAR Cup Series playoff storylines and subsequent questions.  Are Kyle Busch, William Byron and others in jeopardy of falling by the wayside early on after their expedited exits in the postseason opener? What about Denny …

Read more

5 Points to Ponder: Can NASCAR & Hollywood Mix in L.A.?

2021 Darlington Ii Pack Jared C Tilton Getty

(Photo: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

1. NASCAR Racing in L.A. Coliseum? A Hollywood affair? The NASCAR world was caught by surprise with Monday’s (Sept. 6) Labor Day bombshell in The Athletic about a potential 2022 exhibition race in Los Angeles. According to sources in the story, the Busch Clash would be moved from its traditional spot, Daytona International Speedway, to a short …

Read more

Couch Potato Tuesday: Darlington Brings a Somewhat Normal Cup Broadcast With Extras

Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson battle in the closing laps of the 2021 Southern 500. (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Darlington Raceway is always an interesting place to watch a NASCAR Cup Series race. Yes, the 2021 Cook Out Southern 500 took over four hours to run, but that’s OK. Sit down and grab some popcorn for the Cup broadcast; the racing here takes a while. It also didn’t seem like there were 11 cautions …

Read more

NASCAR Stat Sheet: Denny Hamlin Delivers Darlington Victory

Denny Hamlin celebrates his win in the 2021 Southern 500 at Darlington. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Darlington Raceway has always been unique. From its humble beginnings, way back in 1950, it had a unique length (1.366 miles) and egg-like shape all its own. Now, on a schedule peppered with wide tracks that allow full throttle cornering, its narrow surface and unforgiving walls are about as different as anything you’ll see in …

Read more

The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 Cook Out Southern 500

Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson battle in the closing laps of the 2021 Southern 500. (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who… should you be talking about after the Cook Out Southern 500? With the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season winding down, many wondered if we would ever talk about a Denny Hamlin victory this year. At times during the summer, his postseason bid was in jeopardy despite leading the points for several months. In the …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington

Denny Hamlin celebrates his win in the 2021 Southern 500 at Darlington. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? Denny Hamlin won the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington on Sunday night (Sept. 5) after narrowly holding off Kyle Larson in the final corner. Larson, Ross Chastain, Martin Truex Jr. and Kevin Harvick rounded out the top-five finishers. RETWEET to congratulate @DennyHamlin on his #Southern500 win at @TooToughToTame! What a final corner …

Read more

Hendrick Motorsports Battered & Beaten at Darlington

Hendrick Motorsports Darlington Southern 500

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series regular season was dominated by Hendrick Motorsports, providing plenty of momentum heading into Sunday night’s (Sept. 5) playoff opener at Darlington Raceway.

But whatever momentum they carried into the postseason was largely wiped away over the course of 500 miles at The Lady in Black — at least for three of the organization’s four drivers.

Denny Hamlin Emerges From Darlington Chaos to Score 1st Win of Season

2021 Darlington Ii Cup Denny Hamlin Burnout Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

More than four hours after the green flag dropped on the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, Denny Hamlin emerged the winner amid from what was essentially a war of attrition between the 16 playoff drivers. Hamlin also survived a last-corner charge from Kyle Larson, who in his words tried to “video game it” in a …

Read more

Friday Faceoff: Can Kurt Busch Win With 23XI?

Kurt Busch walking at road america

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Chris Buescher was disqualified from his second-place finish in the NASCAR Cup Series at Daytona International Speedway for a post-race infraction due to an unapproved track bar mount. Does the punishment fit the crime? Josh Roller: Not enough information was shared by NASCAR to determine whether or not a disqualification was appropriate or not. What made …

Read more

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 …

Read more

The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 Coke Zero Sugar 400

Ryan Preece at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, March 2019. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who… should you be talking about after the Coke Zero Sugar 400? For the second week in a row, Ryan Blaney didn’t dominate a race. He merely placed himself in the right spot to pounce on a late restart.  Then, when carnage erupted behind him, the Team Penske driver capitalized with a win. Blaney’s third …

Read more