Race Weekend Central

The Frontstretch 5: Questions You Should Be Asking After Charlotte

Joey Logano Ryan Sieg Xfinity Charlotte 2016 Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

1. Is there a new player in the game? If Hendrick Motorsports has truly turned things around, this turning point couldn’t come at a better time for the organization … or a worse time for the rest of the field. HMS has found some impressive speed over the last few weeks and was dominant at …

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Beside The Rising Tide: Oh Brother, Where Art Thou

2016 Chicago Nxs Ty Dillon Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Given that I’ve vocally opposed the Chase format in the Cup Series, it should come as no surprise I’m not a big fan of it oozing down to XFINITY and Trucks. Sunday evening gave those few fans paying attention yet another lesson in the rule of unintended consequences stemming from the new championship format. I haven’t …

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2-Headed Monster: Who is in More Trouble This Weekend – Ty Dillon or Erik Jones?

2016 Chicago Nxs Ty Dillon Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

It’s doubtful that anybody would have predicted this two races go: Erik Jones and Ty Dillon both sitting outside the cut line in the first round of the inaugural NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase. Down the stretch? Perhaps. But as strong as those teams have run, to see them in trouble just two races in is surprising. …

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Daniel Suarez Tames Monster Mile with 2nd XFINITY Win

2016 Richmond I Nxs Daniel Suarez Helmet Nigel Kinrace Nkp

Photo: Nigel Kinrace NKP

Despite a cloudy and gray morning at Dover International Speedway, Daniel Suarez shimmered bright in Sunday’s rain-postponed Drive Sober 200, taking the victory in dominating fashion by leading 123 of 200 laps en route to his second win in his XFINITY Series career. Punching his ticket to the Round of 8 in the series’ first …

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Pace Laps: Sleepless Nights for Sprint Cup Stars and Minor League Excitement

2016 Nscs Cup Field Chicagoland Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist / NKP)

Sprint Cup: A Sleepless Week for 14 Men – Kevin Harvick, with a swift, unexpected pass on Matt Kenseth for the win Sunday at New Hampshire, avoided the weight of elimination come next weekend at Dover. Along with Martin Truex, Jr., Harvick is now in rare air because when the field lines up for 400 …

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Beyond the Cockpit: Mike Bugarewicz Guiding Tony Stewart in Final Chase Run

2016 Nascar Sprint Cup Series, Kansas

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Mike Bugarewicz’s career as a crew chief in NASCAR’s premier division was one that got off to a distinctive start. The longtime engineer was named three-time Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart’s crew chief for his final full-time season heading into 2016. However, after Stewart was injured over the off-season in an off-road vehicle accident, …

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The Underdog House: Which Small Sprint Cup Team Blew Us Away At Chicago?

2016 Chicago Cup Landon Cassill Joey Gase Racing Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

Think Small. That’s the motto for this column as I take a larger look at the teams still trying to make a name for themselves in the Cup Series despite fewer resources and a far more difficult mountain to climb. Writer’s Note: What follows is another fresh look for this column, one I expect to stick with.  There are …

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Ty Dillon Subbing For Regan Smith at Chicagoland

2016 Kentucky Cup Ty Dillon Logan Whitton Nkp

(Photo: Logan Whitton / NKP)

With Regan Smith at home in North Carolina, anticipating the birth of his second child, NASCAR XFINITY Series regular Ty Dillon has been tapped to sub. Dillon will slide behind the wheel of Tommy Baldwin Racing’s No. 7 Chevrolet in today’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. The team announced the news on social media Sunday …

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Death Wish Coffee to Sponsor Ty Dillon at Dover

Richard Childress Racing announced on Wednesday that they reached a deal that will see Death Wish Coffee, a Round Lake, N.Y.-based brand of coffee, serve as the primary sponsor of the No. 95 Chevrolet of Ty Dillon that will run under the banner of Circle Sport-Leavine Family Racing at Dover in October.  Death Wish Coffee is a …

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2-Headed Monster- Does Ty Dillon Deserve a Full-Time Cup Ride?

Ty Dillon

Photo: Zach Catanzareti

“I’m ready to make that step (into the Sprint Cup Series). I feel confident as a driver that I can go and compete inside the top 10, top 15 in the Sprint Cup Series if I get a full-time gig.” Those words were spoken by Ty Dillon prior to the XFINITY Series Food City 300 …

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Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin Among Teams Warned After Bristol Violations

2016 Pocono Cup Kyle Busch Zach Catanzareti

Photo: Zach Catanzareti

With the recent laser inspection issues the past few weeks, NASCAR has yet again handed down multiple infractions to teams across the Sprint Cup and XFINITY series. Wednesday’s penalty listing for the Sprint Cup Series included a first warning issued to Denny Hamlin‘s Joe Gibbs Racing team, along with teammate Kyle Busch‘s fourth written warning …

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