Race Weekend Central

Did You Notice? … Big Names Still Seeking First NASCAR Road Course Win

2016 Pocono I CUP Matt Kenseth Jason Ratcliff Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Did You Notice? … That for many on the Sprint Cup circuit road course racing has become an acquired skill. Sure, the quality of competition has gone up significantly in recent years; months of testing and resources are benchmarked to help series regulars at both Sonoma and Watkins Glen. We’ve seen old road course ringers like Boris Said and Ron …

Read more

The Frontstretch 5: Drivers Who Need a Good Night In The Coca-Cola 600

2016 Fontana CUP KAsey Kahne Brett Moist NKP

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

Roush Fenway Racing (Plus 1) RFR has left little doubt they’re turning things around in 2016; why not continue that in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600?  Once one of NASCAR’s biggest power players, RFR has fallen from grace in recent years and the last couple of seasons have been defined by struggle.  It makes this team’s turnaround …

Read more

Beyond the Cockpit: Ryan Newman Looking to End RCR’s Dry Streak

2016 Charlotte All Star CUP Ryan Newman car NIgel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Growing up driving Quarter Midgets, Modifieds and USAC, Ryan Newman has been around racing his entire adult life. When he made the move to NASCAR in 2000, he was given the nickname “Rocket Man” for a good reason. Being paired with racing legends such as Roger Penske, Tony Stewart and Richard Childress, Newman hasn’t disappointed when …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: A Monstrous Matt Kenseth Comeback

2016 Dover I CUP Matt Kenseth Jason Ratcliff trophy Matthew T Thacker NKP

Who’s in the headline – The 2016 season has been anything but stellar for Matt Kenseth. After a near miss at Daytona he’s only managed one top 5 finish before Sunday, and that as a fourth last weekend at Kansas. Sunday Kenseth was in the mix but didn’t look like he’d be in contention for …

Read more

Breaking a Sweat: Top NASCAR Drivers on the Hot Seat

2016 Fontana CUP KAsey Kahne Brett Moist NKP

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

There’s a few indisputable truths about the 2016 Sprint Cup Series season. Perhaps the most important, cloaked within a playoff system that rewards trips to Victory Lane, is the lack of winners dotting the current Chase for the championship. Just six drivers have earned a first-place trophy through the first 11 races, the lowest number through this stretch …

Read more

Inside Texas Motor Speedway’s Parity Streak

2014 Texas II CUP  Jimmie Johnson guns CIA

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2014)

If you could sum up all of the changes that NASCAR has made to the cars, the series, the rules in the last 15 years in one word, it would be parity. It’s no fun to see one driver dominate the win column like Jeff Gordon did in the 1990s. It’s no fun to see …

Read more

NASCAR 101: 5 Drivers Who Won with Movie or TV Show Sponsors

2016 Las Vegas CUP Jimmie Johnson Chad Knaus Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade NKP)

What’s your favorite movie? Do you like comedies, dramas, sitcoms, chick flicks? OK, not that it really matters; all movies are great. But, have you ever noticed how often a movie-sponsored racecar goes to Victory Lane in NASCAR? Whenever one is entered in the field it seems like there’s a good chance it’ll cross the finish line …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud – Kevin Harvick Beats His Way to Eighth Career Phoenix Victory

2016 Phoenix I CUP Kevin Harvick team celebration Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Who’s in the headline – There are two things in life that are certain: death and taxes. Closely behind that is Kevin Harvick winning at Phoenix International Raceway. For the eighth time in his career and the sixth time in the last eight races, Harvick was the first car under the checkered flag. What happened – …

Read more

Martin Truex, Jr. Receives Another Warning from NASCAR

2016 Las Vegas CUP Martin Truex Jr Cole Pearn Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Third time’s the charm didn’t hold true for Martin Truex, Jr. and Furniture Row Racing. NASCAR penalized three teams and suspended one crew member on Wednesday for infractions that occurred during last weekend’s Sprint Cup and XFINITY events at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The No. 19 and 78 teams of Carl Edwards and Truex were …

Read more

Four Burning Questions: Who Will Extend 2016 Top-10 Streaks in Las Vegas?

Kobalt 400

(Photo: Getty Images)

HOW WILL RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING FARE IN VEGAS? Whether we were heading to Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend or not, Richard Childress Racing was always bound to have a solid run. Following the first two races of the 2016 Sprint Cup Series season at Daytona and Atlanta, Austin Dillon has a ninth and 11th while …

Read more

NASCAR CEO Brian France, Multiple Drivers Endorse Presidential Candidate Donald Trump

2014 Daytona Sprint Cup Brian France Press Conference Credit Phil Allaway

(Photo: Phil Allaway, Frontstretch)

Making an appearance prior to Super Tuesday, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump walked the across a stage at Valdosta State University in Georgia attempting to sway voters to support the real estate mogul. Adding a NASCAR presence to his campaign, Trump was endorsed by NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France. Citing that France’s “leadership and strength are …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud – Jimmie Johnson Wins Folds of Honor 500 at Atlanta

Who’s in the headline – After the debut of the 2016 low downforce package it is Jimmie Johnson standing in victory lane at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Johnson’s crew chief made a call to pit when the final fuel window opened. His driver stretched out an advantage over Kevin Harvick, the dominant car of the day, …

Read more