Race Weekend Central

Up to Speed: NASCAR COVID-19 Therapy Came to Darlington

2020DarlingtonNCSRacingNASCARMedia

(Photo: Getty Images/NASCAR Media)

For a few hours on Sunday, May 17, we got to focus on something other than social distancing, rates of infection and toilet paper shortages.  Some stay-at-home orders may still be in place, but the NASCAR COVID-19 quarantine came to an end… and gave millions a break. They got to watch a race. After a …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2020 The Real Heroes 400 at Darlington

2020 Darlington NCSRacing NASCARMedia(2)

(Photo: Getty Images/NASCAR Media)

The Headline(s): The last time the NASCAR Cup Series raced at Darlington outside of Labor Day weekend, Kevin Harvick drove to victory lane in 2014. Six years later, Harvick did it again, leading 159 laps to score a convincing victory in The Real Heroes 400. It’s Harvick’s first win of 2020, 50th career Cup win …

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Entry List: Toyota 500K

2019 Darlington NCS Denny Hamlin Racing NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

After their May 17 return from suspending on-track action due to COVID-19, the NASCAR Cup Series remains at Darlington Raceway for its second event on Wednesday (May 20). Since 39 cars are entered, all will race, barring any last-minute changes. As was previously announced, Gray Gaulding will compete in the No. 27 car for Rick …

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Ryan Newman, NASCAR’s Miracle Man

2020 Daytona NCS Ryan Newman Accident NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Everyone feared the worst following this year’s Daytona 500. Ryan Newman, leading the Great American Race in the NASCAR Cup Series with just a couple hundred yards to go, got turned into the outside wall, flipped and then was clipped by Corey LaJoie, sending the No. 6 Ford airborne across the finish line. For what …

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Stock Car Scoop: Darlington Entry List, BJ McLeod Motorsports Debut, Vettel out at Ferrari

2019 cup pack racing at Darlington sign cars blurry NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The entry list for the Darlington 400 has been announced and there were some surprising names on the entry list. Who are the 40 drivers entered? We will tell you on Stock Car Scoop with Bryan Nolen Frontstretch’s new podcast focused on the motorsports news of the week also takes a closer look at BJ …

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Turn Back the Clock: 2014 NASCAR Season, Kevin Harvick Stands Tall

Kevin Harvick raises the Sprint Cup trophy after winning the 2014 title at Homestead Miami Speedway

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

2014 was a time for change, heated moments and odd occurrences. After the NASCAR world reeled from a controversy that left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth, several changes were made. At Richmond Raceway in 2013, the final race of the regular season, Michael Waltrip Racing allegedly attempted to manipulate the final few laps in …

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Beside the Rising Tide: Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing, Baby

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500 Darlington Raceway, Darlington, SC USA Sunday 3 September 2017 Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing, American Ethanol Chevrolet SS Joey Logano, Team Penske, Shell Pennzoil Ford Fusion World Copyright: Matthew T. Thacker NKP

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

Back in the late 1960s Marvin Gaye, backed by Tammi Terrell, scored an AM radio hit with a song entitled, Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing, Baby. In the same era, one of the big cola companies had a marketing campaign using the same tag line.  Say what you will about this invitational NASCAR iRacing …

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NASCAR Contradictions on Full Display With May 17 Return Looming

2019 Darlington MENCS Racing NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Be it in Brasstown, N.C. Thursday night (April 30) or Lancaster, S.C. on Friday (May 1), live racing trickled back this weekend to locations throughout the southeast. For me, where Virginia is still under a stay-at-home order through June 10, there’s not much for a motorsports writer here to do but long for racing to …

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NASCAR Makes Safety, Competition Changes After Ryan Newman Crash Investigation

2020 Daytona NCS Ryan Newman Accident CCK

(Photo: Christian Koelle)

After a lengthy investigation following a horrific last-lap crash in the 2020 Daytona 500 (Feb. 17) involving driver Ryan Newman, NASCAR has decided to make several safety enhancements and competition changes, per a May 1 announcement. Newman suffered a brain bruise after being spun out of the last turn on the final lap of the …

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Matt Kenseth & Ryan Newman Return, Brett Moffitt Updates Progress on Broken Femurs

2019 Texas GOTS Brett Moffitt NKP

In this week’s edition of the Frontstretch Podcast, Dustin Albino and Mike Neff discuss Ryan Newman returning to NASCAR after many feared the worst post-Daytona 500. Chip Ganassi Racing gave Matt Kenseth the nod for the No. 42 car, bypassing Ross Chastain. Now that NASCAR has granted Kenseth a waiver to be playoff eligible, Albino and Neff discuss what …

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Ryan Newman, Matt Kenseth Granted Cup Playoff Waivers

2014 Kansas NSCS Ryan Newman Matt Kenseth Face NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

NASCAR Cup Series drivers Ryan Newman and Matt Kenseth have been granted playoff waivers for the 2020 season, according to announcements Tuesday (April 28) afternoon. Newman missed three races this season after suffering a violent crash at Daytona International Speedway but was cleared to race this week once NASCAR returns. Kenseth did not race in …

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Ryan Newman Cleared by NASCAR to Resume Driving Duties

NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Ryan Newman has been medically cleared to return to NASCAR competition, the sanctioning body announced Monday.  Newman has been sidelined since suffering serious injuries in a frightening crash on the final lap of the Daytona 500 on Feb. 17. His No. 6 Ford Mustang was leading off the fourth turn with the finish line in …

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