Race Weekend Central

NASCAR Mailbox: What Happened to Austin Dillon?

2018 talladega cup zach catanzareti austin dillon

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

As Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick have taken the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series by storm to start the 2018 season, no one is surprised. Two of the best drivers, competing for two of the top organizations in the sport, have simply dominated the first portion of the year, and not much seems to be …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: NASCAR Drivers Only Broadcast Shines

#22: Joey Logano, Team Penske, Ford Fusion Shell Pennzoil and #21: Paul Menard, Wood Brothers Racing, Ford Fusion Motorcraft / Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

Joey Logano leading a quiet race (Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Talladega brings all kinds of unusual instances.  This year, we got drivers in the booth, Darrell Waltrip apparently not being in on a joke and wheelies.  By Talladega standards, it was quirky, but not insane. Before we get into the Alabama adventure, there’s some TV news of note.  On Monday, IMSA and NBC Sports jointly …

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The 10: NASCAR Cup Series Power Rankings after Richmond

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, NC USA Thursday 25 May 2017 Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing, M&M's Red, White & Blue Toyota Camry World Copyright: Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series took to Richmond Raceway for the first Saturday night race of the season. Kyle Busch managed to take advantage of late-race pit stop woes for Martin Truex Jr. to seal the deal, 10 years after the infamous night he spun Dale Earnhardt Jr. Some new faces showed up in …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in NASCAR: Saturday Night Lights

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pennzoil 400 Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, NV USA Friday 2 March 2018 Ryan Blaney, Team Penske, Ford Fusion Menards / Pennzoil World Copyright: Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

The 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season is now one-quarter finished after the third short-track visit of the year to Richmond Raceway, the first short track weekend not to be plagued by weather delays. Kyle Busch put the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry in Victory Lane for the third week in a …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Kyle Busch Overcomes Deep Starting Position for 3rd Straight Win

2018 cup richmond kyle busch zach catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Who’s in the headline To start the season, Kyle Busch couldn’t get over the hump to move from second to first. After three runner-up finishes and a third-place result, he has now reeled off three straight victories. Busch is now tied with Kevin Harvick for the most wins in the series. Joey Logano looked like …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR DraftKings Forecast: Toyota Owners 400

2018 Las Vegas I CUP Denny Hamlin car Rusty Jarrett NKP

Denny Hamlin is at his 'home' track this weekend (credit: Rusty Jarrett NKP)

NASCAR heads to Richmond Raceway this weekend for Saturday night’s Toyota Owners 400. The three-quarter mile track is the third short track on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series schedule. The factors that go into building a winning fantasy team at a short track are much different than those at an intermediate or superspeedway. First, …

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The 10: NASCAR Cup Series Power Rankings After Bristol

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series TicketGuardian 500 ISM Raceway, Phoenix, AZ USA Friday 9 March 2018 Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Camry Skittles Sweet Heat World Copyright: Russell LaBounty NKP

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series made its first stop in “Thunder Valley” for the Food City 500 on Sunday. The race began as the threat of rain continued to loom, and precipitation interfered with the race three times on Sunday, creating what looked like a long day at the Bristol Motor Speedway. After a …

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NASCAR Mailbox: Why Is Ryan Preece So Underrated?

2018 xfinity bristol zach catanzareti ryan preece

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Every few years, an underrated driver appears on the NASCAR radar. Sometimes, they are in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. But this time around, there is a young man who is outperforming just about everyone when he straps behind the wheel of an XFINITY Series racecar. That fellow’s name is Ryan Preece, who Jeff …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Kyle Busch Wins Bristol Two-Day Marathon

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series TicketGuardian 500 ISM Raceway, Phoenix, AZ USA Friday 9 March 2018 Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Camry Skittles Sweet Heat World Copyright: Russell LaBounty NKP

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

Who’s in the headline Kyle Busch is the winningest active driver at Bristol Motor Speedway. He grabbed the win today to make it two in a row in 2018 and two in a row at Bristol. Busch led a race high five times for 117 laps, second only to Kyle Larson. Brad Keselowski won the …

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5 Points To Ponder: The Next NASCAR Most Popular Driver?

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pennzoil 400 Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, NV USA Friday 2 March 2018 Ryan Blaney, Team Penske, Ford Fusion Menards / Pennzoil World Copyright: Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

ONE: Blaney’s win will come For the third time this season, Ryan Blaney led a ton of laps in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series but ultimately did not get the result he would have wanted. While lapping traffic from the race lead at Bristol Motor Speedway, Blaney was caught up in a wreck absolutely …

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Food City 500 Postponed to Monday, Will Resume in Stage 2

2016 NSCS - Bristol Kyle Busch Rain

(Photo: John Harrelson/NKP)

In an ongoing battle with Mother Nature, NASCAR lost … again. Rain forced the postponement of the Food City 500 after 204 of 250 laps needed for an official race (conclusion of the second stage) were run. The event will resume Monday afternoon at 1 p.m. ET on FOX. The start of the race was …

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Ryan Blaney’s Dominant Car Exits Early at Bristol

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor Quik Trip 500 Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, GA USA Friday 23 February 2018 Ryan Blaney, Team Penske, DEX Imaging Ford Fusion World Copyright: Nigel Kinrade NKP

Ryan Blaney (Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

For most of Sunday (Apr. 15), the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway was Ryan Blaney’s to lose. Unfortunately for him, that’s exactly what happened. In a race delayed several times for rain, Blaney’s car was a fixture up front for most of stage one. He led 100 of the first 117 laps and was just …

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