Race Weekend Central

Pace Laps: Matt DiBenedetto Impresses at Bristol, Fuel Strategy Dominates IndyCar Series Race at Long Beach and Nico Rosberg Wins Again

2016-Bristol-I-CUP-Matt-DiBenedetto-racing-John-Harrelson-NKP

(Photo: John Harrelson / NKP)

Sprint Cup: Sensational Sixth for DiBenedetto –  Is Bristol Motor Speedway becoming the new place for the underdogs? It might be more so than Daytona and Talladega as Bristol once again opened the curtain for the behind-the-scenes characters to shine on Sunday afternoon. One of the unusual suspects near the front of the field was Matt DiBenedetto. …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2016 Food City 500

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(Photo: Matthew Thacker / NKP)

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? I’ve got a pair of them this week. Well, make it three, because Matt DiBenedetto deserves all the accolades he can get after an impressive performance that Carl Edwards said afterward was probably more difficult for the No. 83 team than the win was for his. There’s more on …

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Best Race of 2016? It’s Bristol, Baby

2016 Bristol Motor Speedway NSCS Matt Kenseth leads pack credit NASCAR via getty images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

What’s been the best NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race of 2016? Easy. It’s Bristol, baby. Sunday’s Food City 500 was wild, unconventional, and by all means a bit strange, but it also played out as arguably the most exciting race of the young 2016 season, despite a dominant performance from Carl Edwards to take the …

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Carl Edwards Dominates Toward Wild Bristol Win

2016-Bristol-I-CUP-Carl-Edwards-car-Amy-Henderson

(Photo: Amy Henderson)

While the race shuffled, spread and scrambled behind him, Carl Edwards drove to victory from the pole at Bristol Motor Speedway, leading 276 of 500 laps in the Food City 500. For Edwards, the win is the first of his 2016 season and fourth at Bristol. “There was so many different things happening out there, …

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The Big Six: Questions Answered After the 2016 Good Sam 500

2016 Phoenix I CUP Kevin Harvick team celebration Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? Racing at NASCAR’s highest level takes both talent and equipment.  A good driver in a not-so-good car will generally struggle, and that’s something a lot of drivers face every week, even those who race for the sport’s best-funded teams fight their equipment at times. One test of a …

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Schulter-Systems to Sponsor Matt DiBenedetto at Phoenix

2015 Matt DiBenedetto Bank of America 500 Charlotte Cup Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

BK Racing has announced a brand new sponsor for Matt DiBenedetto and the No. 83 Toyota. Schluter-Systems, a new sponsor to NASCAR, will be on the car at Phoenix Raceway this weekend. Schluter-Systems is a company that specializes in installation of ceramic and stone tiles. It currently has three offices in North America and over 400 …

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Denny Hamlin Wins in Closest Finish in Daytona 500 History

Daytona International Speedway has never been higher. And during Sunday’s 58th Daytona 500, it’s never been closer as Denny Hamlin gave a last-lap bump to Matt Kenseth in turn 4 before edging Martin Truex, Jr. to the line to win his first Daytona 500. “It’s the pinnacle of my career, for sure,” Hamlin said. “Toyota, it’s …

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BK Racing Rises As Daytona’s Underdog Story

Four years ago, BK Racing came to Daytona as a two-car team that struggled to get out of its own way. It ran a total of nine laps in the Duels (combined), made the race through provisionals and then promptly struggled to hang onto the lead draft. A comedy of errors on pit road and …

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The Big Six: Questions Answered After the 2016 Can-Am Duels at Daytona

Who…gets my shoutout of the race? Duel 1: Sure, he’s running for the team who took the big teams to school in the Daytona 500 in 2011, but Ryan Blaney only has a handful of Cup races under his belt, and he’s been impressive in most of them.  Despite making two pit stops in his …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2016 Sprint Unlimited at Daytona

Who’s in the headline – After being involved in an early caution Denny Hamlin played pit strategy to get to the front of the pack and stretched his fuel to the end of a green-white-checkered finish to take his third Sprint Unlimited victory. The vast majority of cars had damage during the evening but Hamlin’s …

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Friday Faceoff: Did NASCAR Add Too Many Gimmicks?

2015 Martinsville I CUP Tony Stewart racingcredit Amy Henderson

(Photo: Amy Henderson)

NASCAR announced several changes last week, including a caution clock in the Truck Series. Is this going to change anything in terms of what fans see on track and/or for race teams? Clayton Caldwell, Contributor: The caution clock was a gut shot to me when I first heard it. I don’t mind the Chase in …

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David Ragan, Matt DiBenedetto to Drive for BK Racing in 2016

2015 Matt DiBenedetto Bank of America 500 Charlotte Cup Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

Following his first full-time season in NASCAR’s premier division, Matt DiBenedetto will be back with BK Racing in 2016. Returning to the wheel of the No. 83 Toyota Camry, the 24-year-old will be paired with crew chief Gene Nead, who sat atop the pit box for DiBenedetto for eight races last year. Along with the …

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