Race Weekend Central

Daily NASCAR Fantasy: Drafting Your Bristol Lineup

2016 Bristol I Cup Carl Edwards Leads Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew Thacker / NKP)

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to Bristol Motor Speedway on August 20th for the Bass Pro Shops, NRA Night Race. “The Last Great Colosseum” is home to some of the best short-track racing on the schedule, and the excitement should continue this Saturday night under the lights. Here are a few suggestions to keep …

Read more

NASCAR Mailbox: Rookies & Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

As the last Sprint Cup off week has come and gone, everything remains the same in the top division. A few rookies are on the cusp of winning, as well as making the Chase for the Sprint Cup. The one and only rookie to make the Chase was Denny Hamlin, one decade ago. This rookie …

Read more

Ryan Blaney Loses Pit Selection at Bristol due to Watkins Glen Warnings

2016 Pocono Ii Cup Ryan Blaney Car John Harrelson Nkp

(Credit: John Harrelson/NKP)

On Wednesday morning, NASCAR issued their weekly penalty report.  Given that last weekend’s races were at Watkins Glen, the list could have been extensive.  However, that was not the case as no graded penalties were issued due to infractions found at Watkins Glen.  Only two teams were given warnings. The team hit hardest in Watkins …

Read more

The Underdog House: Tracking NASCAR’s Small Teams from Pocono to Watkins Glen

2016 Pocono Ii Cup Chris Buescher Champagne Logan Whitton Nkp

(Photo: Logan Whitton/NKP)

Tommy Badwin Racing Regan Smith, No. 7 APC Chevrolet Looking back: Chris Buescher wasn’t the only small-team driver who scored a top finish Monday. Smith’s third-place run ties his organization’s best finish ever and marks TBR’s top finish not on a restrictor-plate track.  Sound strategy played into the team’s hands and Smith walked away with his …

Read more

Daily NASCAR Fantasy: Drafting Your Pocono Lineup

2016 Loudon I Cup Kurt Busch Close Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to Pocono Raceway on July 31st for the Pennsylvania 400. Kurt Busch made his way to victory lane at the “Tricky Triangle” back in June and will look to complete the sweep on Sunday. Joe Gibbs Racing and Team Penske have combined to win 14 out of the 20 …

Read more

The Underdog House: Tracking NASCAR’s Small Teams From Indy to Pocono

2016 Indianapolis Cup Patrick Carpentier Car Logan Whitton Nkp

(Photo: Logan Whitton/NKP)

Indianapolis represented a mixed bag for the small teams this week, with finishes ranging from 14th for rookie Chris Buescher to 40th for Matt DiBenedetto, thanks to an untimely engine expiration.  Indy is a tough track for teams that are a step or two behind the elite teams in both handling and horsepower, and next …

Read more

Matt Kenseth Docked 15 Points Following Loudon Win

2016 Loudon I Cup Mattkneseth Woohoo Matthew T Thacker Nkp

The race-winning team from Loudon was penalized following post-race inspection. Matt Kenseth’s No. 20 team was docked 15 points and crew chief Jason Ratcliff was fined $25,000 for failing laser inspection following the New Hampshire 301. Multiple teams were warned for failing pre-qualifying inspection. The No. 1 of Jamie McMurray, No. 3 of Austin Dillon, …

Read more

The Underdog House: Tracking NASCAR’s Small Teams from Loudon to Indy

2016 Loudon I Cup Michael Annett Reed Sorenson Racing Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

NASCAR has a few tracks that are fairly unique in layout.  Among those are both new Hampshire Motor Speedway and Indianapolis Motor Speedway-a flat one-mile oval with long straights and tight turns – think big Martinsville – and a huge, flat, rectangular behemoth with four separate corners and four straights to match.  These tracks are …

Read more

Daily NASCAR Fantasy: Drafting Your New Hampshire 301 NASCAR Lineup

2016 Kentucky Cup Brad Keselowski Woohoo Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to New Hampshire Motor Speedway Sunday, July 17th for the New Hampshire 301. Maintaining track position and optimizing fuel mileage are just two of the many challenges behind finding success at the “Magic Mile”. The biggest story line going into the New Hampshire 301 this weekend is the surprising …

Read more

Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in NASCAR: New Hampshire Edition

2016 Kentucky Cup Brad Keselowski Helmet Logan Whitton Nkp

(Photo: Logan Whitton/NKP)

Admit it, you thought we were done with the Big One after leaving Daytona, but Kentucky Speedway provided us with another crash that took out a big chunk of the field. It also provided us with a true fuel strategy race that caused plenty of drama without the help of a late caution. You’ve got …

Read more

The Underdog House: Tracking NASCAR’s Small Teams from Kentucky to New Hampshire

2016 Pocono I Cup Ty Dillon Car Anthony Lumbis Sr.

(Photo: Tony Lumbis Sr.)

So… what makes a small team? Yep, I addressed this last week, but again, we’ll give it one more time for those race fans who missed the last edition. I’m frequently asked how I categorize NASCAR’s teams, and I’m sure lots of people have a different definition, but I look at a couple of things …

Read more

Brad Keselowski Beats Carl Edwards for Fuel-Mileage Kentucky Victory

2016 Martinsville I Cup Brad Keselowski Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

Who would’ve thought Saturday night’s Quaker State 400 from Kentucky Speedway would end on fuel mileage? The newly reconfigured speedway brought havoc on many drivers in the early stages of the race. However, it ended with Brad Keselowski coasting to the checkered flag ahead of Carl Edwards following a 68-lap green-flag run. The victory for Keselowski is …

Read more