Race Weekend Central

Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in NASCAR: Rainy Nights Edition

2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Texas

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Sometimes the rain taketh away and sometimes it giveth. Carl Edwards was glad to be on the good side of that precipitation equation in what turned out to be a Sunday night race at Texas Motor Speedway following rain and a slow-drying track. With his victory, Edwards has joined Jimmie Johnson to make up two of …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Carl Edwards Saves Best for Last to Win at Texas

2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Texas

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Who’s in the headline – While Carl Edwards will garner most of the headlines for the weekend, it was Mother Nature who took most of the attention. The race was delayed by five-and-a-half hours due to track drying efforts that seemed to make progress at a snail’s pace. Once the race began, the sun had …

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Did You Notice? … NASCAR Silly Season Isn’t All That Silly?

Did You Notice? … That with Ryan Newman‘s signing Monday, the veteran reaching a contract extension with Richard Childress Racing 2016 has become the quietest Silly Season in the modern era? Other than a retiring Tony Stewart, whose replacement (Clint Bowyer) was announced late last season, it’s possible we won’t have a single change among any of the major programs for …

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5 Points to Ponder: Ryan Newman’s Contract Extension Cements Role At RCR

2016 Indianapolis Cup Ryan Newman Brett Moist NKP

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

ONE: Talladega Looms Large If you watched the race broadcast this past Sunday, you couldn’t have failed to miss the fact that a number of the Chasers had trouble during the race. Specifically: Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, Austin Dillon and Chase Elliott. It was a theme that was hammered home all day long …

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Ryan Newman Re-signs with Richard Childress Racing

2016 Indianapolis Cup Ryan Newman Brett Moist NKP

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series veteran Ryan Newman will return to Richard Childress Racing in 2017, shutting down rumors he would not return to the seat of the No. 31 Chevrolet. Newman, 38, has signed a multiyear deal with the organization and the team’s longtime sponsor, Caterpillar. “Ryan’s consistency on the track has been a benefit …

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Double Take: Yes, There Is Life Outside of the Chase

2016 Indianapolis Cup Ryan Blaney Brett Moist NKP

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

Much of the conversation in NASCAR right now is focused on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chase field, and rightfully so. After all, one of those 16 drivers will end the season with the series championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway. But hey, look, there are still 24 other drivers who will take the green flag in Sunday’s race …

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Friday Faceoff: How Far Is Too Far?

2016 Kentucky CUP Tony Stewart helmet Russell LaBounty NKP

(Photo: Russell Labounty/NKP)

After last weekend’s race at Richmond International Raceway, one thing on everyone’s mind was the on-track spat between Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman that continued in verbal sparring afterward.  Did either driver go too far with their actions or words? Clayton Caldwell, Contributor: I respect the passion from both drivers and I understand why Ryan Newman …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: NBCSN Charges Into Chase Coverage

If you’ve read Couch Potato Tuesday in recent years, then you know that I’m not exactly a fan of this time of year when it comes to race broadcasts.  The Chase focus drives me up the wall.  The Chase completely takes precedence over the race.  Everything is couched in the Chase.  This year, its worse …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2016 Federated Auto Parts 400

2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Richmond

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? While Chip Ganassi Racing’s Kyle Larson was getting plenty of airtime for some bold moves late in the race and a recent hot streak, Jamie McMurray was quietly getting a top-10 finish of his own (he wound up seventh) and in doing so, made them one of three multi-car organizations …

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Denny Hamlin Out-Runs Chaos to Win Richmond

2106 Sonoma CUP DEnny Hamlin nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

When cars are crashing around the checkered flag, you know it’s been a wild night of racing. For Denny Hamlin, most of the chaos in Saturday night’s Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway happened in his mirror, as the pole-sitter drove to victory at his home track. Leading 189 laps, Hamlin held off …

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4 Burning Questions: Will a Must-Winner Steal the Spotlight in Richmond?

2016 Richmond I CUP Kasey Kahne racing Matthew T Thacker NKP

Matthew T Thacker NKP

What Must-Win Driver Will Win on Saturday Night? While there are 13 NASCAR drivers who are locked into the Chase and can let it ride Saturday night at Richmond International Raceway, there are even more who enter with their seasons on the line. These men and women cannot count on points and have no mathematical chance of Chase …

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5 Points To Ponder: Was Cole Custer, John Hunter Nemechek Aggression Too Much?

2016 Atlanta CWTS Cole Custer Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

ONE: A Look At Those Locked In With Darlington in the books, the Chase field for the Sprint Cup Series has gotten substantially clearer. Of the 16 Chase spots, 12 have been tentatively filled by race winners who have clinched finishing the regular season in the top 30. These 12 drivers include, by order of …

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