Race Weekend Central

Jimmie Johnson Breaks Through for Bristol Win

2017 Texas I Cup Jimmie Johnson Helmet Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty NKP)

Kyle Larson and Martin Truex Jr. may have led the most laps at Monday’s Food City 500, but it was Jimmie Johnson’s day again in 2017. Breaking through the tight battle in the top five, Johnson beat Clint Bowyer to the line to win the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. The win is …

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5 Points to Ponder: NASCAR Seven Races Into 2017

2016 Indianapolis Cup Danica Patrick Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

ONE: Toyota’s Tough Start Toyota, coming off its first NASCAR Cup manufacturer’s title, has tumbled out of the gate in 2017. Just two drivers – Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch – sit inside the top 10 in points, and only Truex has earned a victory thus far this season. Joe Gibbs Racing in particular has …

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The 10: NASCAR Cup Series Power Rankings After Texas

2017 Texas I Cup Jimmie Johnson Burnout Lagan Whitton Nkp

(Photo: Lagan Whitton / NKP)

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series two-stepped into the wide open spaces of Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday. Or, shall we say, the wider open spaces. The track was repaved since the tour last visited the 1.5-mile quad-oval, and, among other enhancements, the racing surface in Turns 1 and 2 was widened by about 20 …

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4 Burning Questions: Keselowski, Harvick & Truex, Who Wins Texas First?

2016 Texas I Cup Martn Truex Jr Racing Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Keselowski, Harvick, Truex: Who Wins Texas Motor Speedway First? These guys may have kicked some arse at Texas in the past, but they hope a re-profiling will change their winless luck around. For Sunday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts 500, there are three specific drivers who shockingly haven’t scored a win at the 1.5-mile track yet. First …

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Daily Fantasy Forecast: O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 Preview

2016 Loudon I Cup Jimmie Johnson Helmet Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

The seventh stop on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series circuit comes Sunday in Fort Worth. The green flag rolls off after 1:30 p.m. ET at Texas Motor Speedway for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500. MENCS teams hit the track Friday at noon ET for practice and then 6:15 p.m. ET for Coors Light Pole …

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The 10: NASCAR Cup Series Power Rankings After Martinsville

2017 Martinsville Cup Zach Catanzareti Brad Keselowski

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series teams rolled into Martinsville Speedway last weekend for the first short track race of 2017. As is always the case, a field of pristine, hand built cars started the race. Then, their drivers promptly beat against, leaned on and slammed into each other until nearly all of them looked …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Brad Keselowski Survives Beating, Banging and Trading Paint to Win Martinsville

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Who’s in the headline – Rusty Wallace won at Martinsville Speedway six times drivng for Roger Penske. He last won a grandfather clock for Penske in 2004. Since then, it had been an agonizing drought for Team Penske. Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski have both come very close in Southern Virginia, but failed to seal …

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The 10: NASCAR Cup Series Power Rankings After Fontana

2017 Fontana Nxs Kyle Larson Woohoo Rusty Jarrett Nkp

(Photo: Rusty Jarrett / NKP)

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series went Hollywood this weekend for its annual visit to Fontana, CA. The stars were were out and the red carpet dazzled with NASCAR’s best. But it was California’s own Kyle Larson who stole the show. Larson stuck to his script and delivered an award-winning performance. The Chip Ganassi Racing …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in NASCAR: Second Chance Edition

2017 Las Vegas Cup Clint Bowyer Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

We saw a lot of Kyle Larson and Martin Truex, Jr. up front during Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at California’s Auto Club Speedway. But what we had not seen this year, and only once before, was Larson finishing up front. Larson’s second career victory put to rest a series of oh-so-close second-place finishes to …

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The 10: NASCAR Cup Series Power Rankings After Phoenix

2016 Michigan International Speedway Nscs Kyle Larson Celebrating Photo Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series made its second stop on the early season edition of “#NASCARGoesWest” this week. Phoenix International Raceway hosted the Camping World 500, the fourth race of 2017. While Lady Luck is known for hanging out in Las Vegas, it seems that Ryan Newman still had a bit of good fortune …

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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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No Penalties for Joey Logano or Kyle Busch after Las Vegas

In the days since Joey Logano and Kyle Busch came to blows on pit lane at Las Vegas, everyone in the NASCAR realm waited with baited breath to see if the parties involved would be subject to fines or penalties from NASCAR. Instead, what we got were small infractions and no mention of the Logano-Busch incident. …

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