Race Weekend Central

Friday Faceoff: What Does the Future Look Like for Justin Haley?

2019 Daytona I NXS Justin Haley NKP

(Photo: NKP)

Justin Haley joined Kevin Harvick, Jamie McMurray and Trevor Bayne as modern-era drivers to win in their first three starts in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Which of those drivers’ career will Haley’s most likely resemble? Adam Cheek: Jamie McMurray. He has enough talent to not be a relative bust like Bayne, but he’s …

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Frontstretch Podcast: Biggest Upset in NASCAR History?

2019 Daytona MENCS Justin Haley Cup Victory Lane Christian Koelle

(Photo: Christian Koelle)

In this week’s edition of the Frontstretch Podcast, Dustin Albino and Mike Neff discuss a wild and entertaining weekend of racing at Daytona International Speedway, which saw Justin Haley pick up his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victory in stunning fashion. Is it the biggest upset in NASCAR history? Probably. But by running 27th and missing the melee …

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Odds & Ends Around the Track: My Old Kentucky Home Edition

2019DaytonaMENCSJustinHaleyCarChristianKoelle

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Last Sunday was almost a big day for me, because after that big crash, I almost finished in the top 10 at Daytona International Speedway while sitting on my couch. Thank you, NASCAR, for never having a Firecracker 400 at the World Center of Racing ever again until you learn from Big Bill France and …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: NBC Deals With Rain in Daytona … Again

2019 Daytona MENCS 3 Wide Car Christian Koelle

(Photo: Christian Koelle)

Daytona International Speedway in July. Good cripes. I covered six consecutive years’ worth of July weekends there for Frontstretch (2010-2015). In that time, three of the Cup races were affected by rain. The 2010 race started over two hours late and ended at 12:50 a.m. The 2014 race, like this past weekend’s race, was postponed …

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Pace Laps: Daytona Provides Pair of Surprise Winners

Ross Chastain Daytona watermeln

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Upset Winner Leaves NASCAR Fans Irate Last July, Justin Haley left Daytona International Speedway feeling like the track might have owed him one. His thrilling last-lap pass of Kyle Larson in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race was disallowed when officials determined he dipped below the yellow line. A potential win …

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Xfinity Breakdown: Kaulig Racing Finds Very Different Daytona Race to Its Liking

2019 Daytona NXS Ross Chastain Victory Lane Christian Koelle

(Photo: Christian Koelle)

What a difference a few months can make. The NASCAR Xfinity Series season opener in Daytona was one of the dullest superspeedway races in recent memory, notable mostly for Michael Annett breaking his long streak of career futility. Anyone who tried stepping out of line immediately got shuffled back, meaning that long, tedious single-file parades …

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Ross Chastain Leads Kaulig Racing 1-2 Finish to Win Circle K Firecracker 250

2019 Daytona NXS Ross Chastain Victory Lane Christian Koelle

(Photo: Christian Koelle)

Ross Chastain was determined to give Kaulig Racing owner Matt Kaulig his first NASCAR Xfinity Series win. Throughout the 2019 Circle K Firecracker 250, Chastain wheeled his No. 16 Chevrolet wide across every lane in the race. His aggressive driving was noticeable. Update: He won. https://t.co/morjduEBdZ — Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) July 6, 2019   That …

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Tyler Reddick Wins Xfinity Pole at Daytona

2019 Iowa I NXS Tyler Reddick NKP

Tyler Reddick won the pole for tonight’s Circle K Firecracker 250 at Daytona International Speedway. Reddick, who also won the pole for the February race at Daytona, claimed the top spot with a speed of 187.743 mph. The other two members of this season’s Xfinity Series Big Three will have to do some work in …

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Beyond the Cockpit: Justin Haley Building Up Kaulig Racing

2019 Phoenix I NXS Justin Haley NKP

(Photo: NKP)

For the 2019 season, Kaulig Racing signed Justin Haley to a two-year deal in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Driving the No. 11 Chevrolet, the 20-year-old from Winamac, Ind., is currently in 10th place in the point standings. He has one top-five finish and 11 top 10s. Before final practice began for the Chicagoland Speedway Xfinity …

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Did You Notice?: Daytona’s Diversity & NASCAR’s Playoff Grid That Actually Works

2018 Daytona MENCS Field Car NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Did You Notice? … Daytona International Speedway has had a different winner for its Coke Zero 400 summer race every year this decade? Three of those were first-timers, while a fourth, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., earned his second career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victory. COKE ZERO 400 WINNERS SINCE 2010 2010: Kevin Harvick 2011: David Ragan* 2012: Tony Stewart …

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Ross Chastain Driving Premium’s No. 27, Snags Xchange of America Sponsorship for Daytona

2019 Gateway NGOTS Ross Chastain Trucks Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Ross Chastain will be behind the wheel of Premium Motorsports’ No. 27 machine for the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway, with Xchange of America backing the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series car. Chastain finished 26th in the team’s No. 15 last week at Chicagoland Speedway, and Daytona International Speedway will mark just …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in NASCAR: Midwestern Mayhem

2019 Chicagoland MENCS Alex Bowman Victory Celebration NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series headed to Joliet, Illinois this weekend, which houses a track calling itself Chicagoland Speedway, despite being about 45 minutes to an hour from downtown Chicago. The start of the Camping World 400 was delayed for several hours due to rain, and high winds blew the covers off several cars, …

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