Race Weekend Central

NASCAR Stat Sheet: Ryan Blaney Carries Momentum to Michigan Win

Ryan Blaney wins the 2021 Firekeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway, August 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Ryan Blaney is in the midst of what may be the best year of his Cup Series career after winning Sunday at Michigan International Speedway. Blaney, whose father Dave made 473 Cup starts but never finished better than third, scored his second win of 2021. It’s the first time that the High Point, NC native …

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Stock Car Scoop: Is Ryan Blaney Becoming a Title Contender?

Ryan Blaney

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series finally returned to oval racing this week, with 40 cars taking to the track at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday (Aug. 22) afternoon and it was Ryan Blaney who held off the field for his second win of the season. Does this win put him in position to be a …

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Up to Speed: How Badly Does Denny Hamlin Need a Win?

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

If Denny Hamlin can take any solace from his last two races, it’s that he has been close to victory lane.  During the closing laps of last weekend’s race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, Hamlin had the checkered flag in sight.  The same was true for Sunday’s race at Michigan International Speedway.  But …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 Firekeepers Casino 400

Kurt Busch looks on at 2021 Cup Circuit of the Americas. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who … should you be talking about after the race? When Ryan Blaney shot to the lead on the final restart, it was easy to think it wouldn’t stick. The final eight laps were the only ones he’d led all day, and he had the dominant Hendrick cars of William Byron and Kyle Larson behind …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan

2021 Michigan Cup Ryan Blaney Trophy Sean Gardner Getty

(Photo: NASCAR via Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

What happened? Ryan Blaney won the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan on Sunday (Aug. 22) after leading the final eight laps, holding off William Byron in the closest finish ever at Michigan. Byron, Kyle Larson, Kurt Busch and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top-five finishers.  Winning is fun. Ryan @Blaney soaked it all in after …

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Ryan Blaney Scores 1st Multi-Win Cup Season With Michigan Win

Ryan Blaney celebrating after winning the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway, 8/22/2021 (Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Ryan Blaney used a late charge on a restart after rain, crashes and more to score the win in Sunday’s (Aug. 22) FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway, his second victory of 2021 and first since Atlanta Motor Speedway in June. Blaney fended off a charge from Hendrick Motorsports teammates William Byron and Kyle …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Verizon 200 at the Brickyard

AJ Allmendinger kisses the bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway after his Verizon 200 win. (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Verizon 200: What happened? AJ Allmendinger won the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard on Sunday (Aug. 15) after a chaotic conclusion to the first NASCAR Cup Series race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott and Matt DiBenedetto rounded out the top-five finishers.  "LET'S GOOOOOO!" @AJDinger and @KauligRacing are …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Go Bowling at The Glen

2021 Cup Watkins Glen Kyle Larson Wins Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? Kyle Larson won the Go Bowling at The Glen on Sunday (Aug. 8) after holding off a hard-charging teammate and leading the final 26 laps of the race. Chase Elliott, Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top-five finishers.  RETWEET to congratulate @KyleLarsonRacin on his WIN at @WGI!#NASCAR pic.twitter.com/BU9OJMLMEQ …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After 2021 Go Bowling at the Glen

Chase Briscoe in the driver's seat of his NASCAR racecar. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who … should you be talking about after the race? Kyle Larson can race on any kind of track in any kind of car (anyone else want to see him try his hand in the IndyCar Series?). Sunday (Aug. 8), he reminded everyone of that, making the tricky road course at Watkins Glen International look like …

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Frontstretch 5: Drivers Who Could Dethrone Chase Elliott on a Road Course

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Defending NASCAR Cup Series champions Chase Elliott and the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports team know how to put a solid road course race together. His seven road course wins rank him third behind eight-time winner Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon’s all-time record of nine. To his delight and the field’s dismay, the first two races …

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Zach’s Turn: Team Penske in Midst of Massive Upheaval

Team Penske Joey Logano Brad Keselowski New Hampshire 2021

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Team Penske has been the beacon of stability in NASCAR for the past eight years. That cohesion was officially upended one week ago when Roger Penske confirmed Brad Keselowski’s departure from Team Penske by announcing Austin Cindric will transition into the No. 2 Ford for the 2022 season. Change is extraordinarily rare at Team Penske, …

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Dropping the Hammer: The Next Gen Car vs. the Internet

NASCAR Next Gen car

(Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

On Monday morning (July 19), NASCAR alerted media members about the state of the Next Gen car. Following a review of data from a June 30 crash test at Talladega Superspeedway, an independent safety panel has given the Cup Series’ new car for 2022 a clean bill of health. According to NBC Sports, NASCAR told …

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