Race Weekend Central

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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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Martin Truex Jr. Claims Second NASCAR Crown Jewel of 2016

2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Darlington

(Courtesy: NKP / Nigel Kinrade)

Who’s in the headline: For the first time in his career, Martin Truex, Jr. has won multiple races in a single season. Kevin Harvick was the dominant car for the vast majority of Sunday night’s Southern 500, but pit road miscues put him behind in the final laps and he was unable to overcome the handicap. Truex, now …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not: The First Time Edition

2016 Michigan II CUP Kyle Larson burnout John Harrelson NKP

(Photo: John Harrelson/NKP)

If you never think anything good can happen to you… or maybe if that good thing is close to happening, but you think it might not… or maybe if you’re afraid to take the one chance to make that good thing happen — then all three of NASCAR’s major races this weekend were for you, …

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Tony Stewart Paces Morning Practice in Michigan

2016 Pocono II CUP Tony Stewart helmet John Harrelson NKP

(Photo: John Harrelson / NKP)

Tony Stewart was the lone driver to top 202 mph as the veteran topped an early morning practice in the Irish Hills. Stewart’s 35.622-second circuit around Michigan International Speedway served as the quickest lap in the session by more than a tenth of a second. The one-time Michigan winner will roll off 15th in his …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in NASCAR: Colosseum Marathon Edition

2016-Bristol-II-CUP-Kevin-Harvick-Tony-Stewart-celebration-Rey-Del-Rio-Getty-Images

(Photo: Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)

If you were paying attention to the final weekend of the Olympics in Rio, you might have noticed that the men’s marathon took place on Sunday morning. But for NASCAR fans, and especially for those in attendance at Bristol Saturday and Sunday, the NASCAR marathon took place this weekend as well. It wasn’t quite 26.2 …

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5 Points to Ponder: NASCAR’s Title Sponsor Question Marks

2016-Bristol-II-CUP-Ryan-Blaney-pack-racing-Rainier-Ehrhardt-NASCAR-via-Getty-Images

(Photo: Ranier Ehrhardt / NASCAR via Getty Images)

ONE: Bristol Horror Show About an hour before the race finally resumed, nearly a full day after the green flag initially waved on the proceedings, a great friend of mine texted me asking whether or not a divine power hates NASCAR. Now this friend was a former die-hard, never-miss-a-race NASCAR fan of many years. But …

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Kevin Harvick, Tony Stewart Share Frontstretch Celebration at Bristol

2016 NSCS - Kevin Harvick Tony Stewart Woohoo Bristol Motor Speedway

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

When it came time to celebrate the first victory for Stewart-Haas Racing in the Bass Pro Shops NRA Bristol Night Race, Kevin Harvick had something special in mind. During the cool down lap following the 500-lap event at Bristol Motor Speedway, Harvick stopped alongside team co-owner Tony Stewart with a request – join him on a …

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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 …

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Pace Laps: The Motorsports World Remembers Bryan Clauson

2016 NXS - Joey Logano Watkins Glen 2016 Photo NASCAR via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Sprint Cup: Drivers Honor Bryan Clauson: Though this weekend has seen more fish caught than laps turned for the Sprint Cup Series – who wrapped up their final off-weekend of 2016 – a few drivers spent some special time at one of the premier dirt tracks in the United States. Just three days following the …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud – Last Off Week of the Season Preparing for the 14-Race Run to the Championship

2016 Kentucky CUP Brad Keselowski woohoo Leslie Miller NKP

Credit : Nigel Kinrade Photography

Who’s in the headline – While there are multiple drivers who have run well this season, the brightest spotlight of the year has been on one organization. At this point in the season, Joe Gibbs Racing has been the class of the field for a majority of the races. Between its four teams, it has 10 wins. …

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2-Headed Monster: How Will Erik Jones Fare in His Rookie Season?

2016 Watkins Glen Cup Furniture Row Racing Erik Jones Zach Catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

One of the worst-kept secrets of the season was officially revealed on Sunday when Furniture Row Racing announced that Erik Jones would be moving to Sprint Cup full-time in 2017. Jones, a Joe Gibbs Racing development driver, will move to JGR’s satellite operation in 2017, driving the No. 77 Toyota as a teammate to Martin Truex, Jr. For …

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