Race Weekend Central

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 …

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The Underdog House: Bubba Wallace Nets Daytona Runner-Up in Game of Survival

2021 Pocono I Cup Bubba Wallace Steve Phelps laugh James Gilbert Getty

(Photo: James Gilbert/Getty Images via NASCAR Media)

Top Dog: Bubba Wallace With the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway (Aug. 28) playing host to the regular season finale, everyone knew that anything could happen. Look no further than Michael McDowell opening the year for the underdogs in a strong way by winning the prestigious Daytona 500. With 15 drivers eligible …

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Dropping the Hammer: Michael McDowell Uncertain of 2022 Plans Despite Daytona Win

Michael McDowell and Bubba Wallace (Credit: NKP)

Michael McDowell raced with Bubba Wallace in 2021. Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

It’s mid-August and Michael McDowell doesn’t yet know his plans for the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season. But that’s typical for McDowell. Every season he’s competed in the Cup Series, including his time with Front Row Motorsports which began in 2018,  McDowell has been on a year-to-year deal. But in previous years, McDowell wasn’t the …

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NASCAR Stat Sheet: AJ Allmendinger Ahead of the Curb In Indy Win

AJ Allmendinger celebrates his win in the NASCAR Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, August 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kirade Photography)

AJ Allmendinger may be competing for the championship in the NASCAR Xfinity Series but he still occasionally finds time to dabble in the sport’s top level. After Sunday’s (Aug. 15) NASCAR Cup Series race on the Indianapolis road course, he’s quite glad to have participated in that one. Allmendinger picked up his second career win, …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: The Curbs Ruin NBC’s Day In Indianapolis

Kyle Busch races in the NASCAR Cup Sereies at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, August 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

In recent years, races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway have been a mixed affair. The Indianapolis 500 has generally been very competitive in recent years.  I’ve enjoyed the races, recent television coverage from NBC and I think most race fans would agree. For NASCAR, it’s been a downward trajectory since the repave in 2008. The 2008 …

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The Underdog House: AJ Allmendinger, Erik Jones Highlight Indy Surprises

2021 Indy road Indianapolis Cup Erik Jones car NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Setting Ask anyone in the racing community what one of the most surreal moments is in the world of motorsports and many will likely tell you about the time they entered Gasoline Alley at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. IMS is one of the most historic and iconic tracks not only in America but also the …

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Indianapolis Road Course Turn 6 Curbs Cause 2 Wrecks

2021 Indy road Indianapolis Cup Joey Logano pack racing NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

SPEEDWAY, Ind. — As the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course hit less than 10 laps to go in its scheduled distance, a debris caution wiped away Hendrick Motorsports’ dominance up front. Who knew it was also about to wipe away half the field, causing millions in sheet metal …

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The Underdog House: Michael McDowell Leads Sluggish NASCAR Underdog Return After Olympic Break

2019 Talladega Mencs Michael Mcdowell Face Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Setting For a brief moment, I was wondering if it was either August or February when NASCAR returned to the track. After a two-week layoff for the Olympics, drivers and teams returned to Watkins Glen International in New York as the grind for the season’s remainder commenced. Watching the Olympics made me entertain the …

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The Underdog House: Silly Season Scoop on NASCAR Underdogs

Erik Jones, part of 2021 Silly Season conversation, prepares to race the No. 43 Richard P

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Setting: Silly Season It has been two weeks since the NASCAR Cup Series last graced the track at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 18. The two-week break has allowed many drivers, teams and organizations to catch their breath as the grind to the playoffs returns Aug. 8 at Watkins Glen. Only four races …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR DraftKings Forecast: 2021 Quaker State 400 at Atlanta

Kyle Larson leads the pack of drivers for your NASCAR DraftKings roster at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the second time this season, the first year the racetrack has hosted two Cup events since 2010. Let’s get your daily fantasy NASCAR DraftKings rosters ready for the Quaker State 400, airing on Sunday, July 11 at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network. Atlanta …

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Did You Notice?: 6 NASCAR Storylines to Follow With 6 Regular Season Races Left

Kyle Larson races teammate William Byron in the 2021 Pennzoil 400 Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Did You Notice? … There’s six races left in the NASCAR Cup Series regular season? After some incredible parity, with 10 different winners in the first 11 races, the 2021 playoff battle has mostly sorted itself out. We’ve had just one new winner in the last nine races as Cinderellas have been replaced by the typical …

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The Underdog House: Erik Jones Leads Underdogs on Independence Day at Road America

Erik Jones stands next to his car before the 2021 spring Darlington Cup race Photo: NKP

Erik Jones (Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Setting For the first time in 65 years, the NASCAR Cup Series took the green flag at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. The four-mile track hosted the fourth road course race of the season as the playoff stretch begins to heat up. Additionally, the Jockey Made in America 250 hosted practice and qualifying …

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