Race Weekend Central

Up to Speed: Who’s the Biggest Championship Threat at Hendrick Motorsports?

Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports, chats with Kyle Larson at Atlanta Motor Speedway (March 2021). (Photo: NKP)

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

Rick Hendrick will not forget Sunday’s (May 16) race at Dover International Speedway anytime soon.  His quartet of Cup Series drivers conquered Miles the Monster, earning the first 1-2-3-4 finish for the team in its 37-year history.  The sight of the No. 48 Chevrolet rolling into victory lane was certainly a familiar one, but this …

Read more

Daily Fantasy NASCAR DraftKings Forecast: 2021 Drydene 400

Martin Truex Jr and Denny Hamlin race side-by-side in the 2021 Daytona 500, Photo NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The NASCAR Cup Series travels north to Dover International Speedway for Sunday’s (May 16) Drydene 400. Who will tame Miles the Monster and earn a high daily fantasy NASCAR DraftKings score? Keep reading for my top prospects for this weekend’s race. Wait a second; why is Dover called the Monster Mile? Well, oftentimes the track …

Read more

Stock Car Scoop: Can Martin Truex Jr. Make it 4 Wins in 2021?

The NASCAR Cup Series is heading to Dover International Speedway this weekend with Martin Truex Jr. riding a wave of momentum. Can the New Jersey native get to victory lane for the fourth time this season? Frontstretch’s Bryan Nolen and Adam Cheek discuss. Sign up for Stock Car Scoop on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or visit …

Read more

4 Burning Questions: Should NASCAR Limit Cup Organizations to 2 Teams?

Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch talk before 2021 Bristol Motor Speedway dirt race Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Should NASCAR further limit an organization’s car count? Last year, I wrote a column about what my vision for NASCAR would be in 10 years’ time. One of what I feel were one of the more interesting things I wrote about at the time was the idea of NASCAR going to more of a rigid …

Read more

Podcast: Martin Truex Jr. Talks Darlington Dominance, Low Downforce Package

Martin Truex Jr. Darlington 1 2021

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

A huge week on the podcast, as Darlington winner Martin Truex Jr. stops by to discuss his dominant performance, leading 248 of 293 laps at The Track Too Tough To Tame. Truex and Davey Segal chat about his admiration for the lower downforce package, why he thrives with it and whether or not he’s worried …

Read more

Holding a Pretty Wheel: Too Early to Engrave the NASCAR Cup Series Trophy

#19: Martin Truex Jr., Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Camry Bass Pro celebrates his win with grandfather clock

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Martin Truex Jr. certainly put on a show at Darlington last Sunday, leading 248 of 292 laps on the way to his 30th career victory and third of 2021. He’s the only driver with more than one win through 12 races this season. So, with the halfway point of NASCAR’s regular season this weekend at …

Read more

Martin Truex Jr. Looks to Tame Dover, Starts on Cup Pole

Martin Truex Jr. 2021 Darlington 1

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Martin Truex Jr. will lead the way when the NASCAR Cup Series take on Dover International Speedway on Sunday, May 16. Truex earned the pole after dominating at Darlington Raceway last week. Fellow Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin starts alongside Truex on the front row. Hendrick Motorsports teammates William Byron and Kyle Larson make …

Read more

Frontstretch 5: Five Winningest Tracks for Joe Gibbs Racing

Joe Gibbs Racing drivers Christopher Bell and Kyle Busch battle at Kansas Speedway. (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Ever since the team’s inception in 1992, Joe Gibbs Racing has become a monolith of what a successful NASCAR organization looks like. A whopping 190 wins and five Cup owner championships are part of a certain Hall-of-Fame bound legacy established by the will and perseverance of its founder. “Coach” Joe Gibbs continues to preach a …

Read more

NASCAR Stat Sheet: Martin Truex Jr. Makes 19 the New 78 with Darlington Win

2021 Darlington I Cup Martin Truex Jr. Burnout Nkp

Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

While some drivers want to get away from Darlington faster than getting out of Society Hill after a speeding ticket, other drivers are glad they visited for Throwback Weekend. But the stats and radar gun do not lie: Martin Truex Jr. dominated the race at Darlington Raceway while becoming the first driver to reach three …

Read more

5 Points to Ponder: 2021 NASCAR Manufacturer Parity Among Ford, Chevy & Toyota

All three NASCAR manufacturers (Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota) battle at Kansas Speedway. (Photo: NKP) Ryan Blaney, Martin Truex Jr, Chase Elliott

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

1: NASCAR manufacturer parity … At the top 12 races into the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, it’s clear three organizations have separated from the rest of the pack. Joe Gibbs Racing (with Darlington Raceway winner Martin Truex Jr.), Team Penske and Hendrick Motorsports are the sport’s new Big 3, sweeping 10 of the top …

Read more

Couch Potato Tuesday: Darlington Presents Challenges to FOX

Race action in the 2021 Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway, May 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photgraphy)

Throwback weekend is a great time. I’ve never been to Darlington, but I have a standing offer to go and stay with my friend’s parents if I ever go. Had they kept the Southern 500 in early April, I would have taken them up on it. Even with two dates, the schedule doesn’t really work …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Goodyear 400 at Darlington

Martin Truex Jr. celebrates in victory lane with trophy after Goodyear 400 throwback Darlington weekend 2021 spring Cup Chris Graythen/Getty

(Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images via NASCAR Media)

What happened? Martin Truex Jr. won the Goodyear 400 at Darlington on Sunday (May 9) after leading 248 of 293 laps for his third win of the 2021 season. Kyle Larson, Kyle Busch, William Byron and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top-five finishers at NASCAR’s Throwback Weekend. One of the best burner-outers in the game …

Read more