Race Weekend Central

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Verizon 200 at the Brickyard

AJ Allmendinger kisses the bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway after his Verizon 200 win. (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Verizon 200: What happened? AJ Allmendinger won the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard on Sunday (Aug. 15) after a chaotic conclusion to the first NASCAR Cup Series race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott and Matt DiBenedetto rounded out the top-five finishers.  "LET'S GOOOOOO!" @AJDinger and @KauligRacing are …

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Zach’s Turn: Points Battle Between Tyler Reddick & Austin Dillon Heating Up

Tyler Reddick Watkins Glen 2021

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

With three races remaining in the regular season, Tyler Reddick and Austin Dillon know who they have to fight for the final playoff spot on points. In fact, they probably know their competition too well. That’s because the Richard Childress Racing teammates currently sit on opposite sides of the NASCAR Cup Series playoff cutline, with …

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NASCAR Stat Sheet: Kyle Larson Dethrones the King of the Road

NASCAR Kyle Larson

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Chase Elliott has been the talk of the garage every time the Cup Series heads for a track with any right-hand turns. Rightfully so, considering his winning percentage on such tracks is the best in NASCAR history. But his quest for a third straight triumph at Watkins Glen came up one position short this weekend, …

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5 Points to Ponder: When Chase (Elliott) Does the Chasing

2021 Watkins Glen Cup Chase Elliott Racing Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

1. Chase Elliott nearly pulls off ridiculous comeback Everybody loves a good come-from-behind victory, but is it still entertaining when the heroic comeback doesn’t quite complete the job at the end of the day? Based on what we saw from Chase Elliott Sunday (Aug. 8), the answer is yes. Given that the defending NASCAR Cup …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire

2021 Loudon Cup Aric Almirola lobster Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened in the Foxwoods Resort Casino 301? Aric Almirola won the Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday (July 18) to steal an unlikely playoff spot in what’s been a dismal season. Christopher Bell, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney rounded out the top-five finishers. How about that? ? …

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Friday Faceoff: Should NASCAR Take a Summer Vacation Every Year?

Tyler Reddick stands next to his car at 2021 spring Kansas Cup race NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Should NASCAR continue to schedule back-to-back off-weekends in the late summer even when no Summer Olympics are being held? Trenton Worsham: Not back to back, but it’d be nice for it to have two or three more weeks off scattered out throughout the year as bye weeks. Josh Roller: I like the idea of a late …

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Eyes On Xfinity: Jordan Anderson’s Team Looks to Continue Overachieving

Nascar Xfinity Series

#31: Kaz Grala, Jordan Anderson Racing, Chevrolet Camaro Ruedebusch.com

Jordan Anderson will admit that the itch to still get behind the wheel and drive is “still there.” This weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Anderson gets a chance to satisfy that itch, getting behind the wheel of his own car for the second time this year in the Xfinity Series. The first time came …

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The Underdog House: Bubba Wallace Top Dog of the Ring in Atlanta

2021 Cup Atlanta Ii Bubba Wallace Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Setting Atlanta Motor Speedway has become iconic in its own way. No, it doesn’t hold the prestige of a Daytona 500. It doesn’t test the same amount of endurance as the Coca-Cola 600 does. Kissing the bricks is not seen there. And it doesn’t serve hot dogs as good as Martinsville Speedway’s. The place …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 Quaker State 400

Tyler Reddick waits for the NASCAR Cup Series race at Circuit of the Americas to begin, May 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who … should you be talking about after the Quaker State 400? Kurt Busch has had moments this season where he looked stout but hadn’t been able to put a winning run together.  That ended Sunday (July 11) at Atlanta Motor Speedway where Busch was dominant in the Quaker State 400. He led three times …

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Kurt Busch Outduels Brother Kyle Busch, Scores 4th Win at Atlanta

2021 Atlanta Ii Cup Kurt Busch Burnout Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Intermittent rain, a hole in the track and a ferocious battle with his younger brother weren’t enough to keep Kurt Busch from victory lane at Atlanta Motor Speedway, as he drove his No. 1 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet to a win in the Quaker State 400 on Sunday (July 11). After track repairs on deteriorated …

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Did You Notice?: 6 NASCAR Storylines to Follow With 6 Regular Season Races Left

Kyle Larson races teammate William Byron in the 2021 Pennzoil 400 Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Did You Notice? … There’s six races left in the NASCAR Cup Series regular season? After some incredible parity, with 10 different winners in the first 11 races, the 2021 playoff battle has mostly sorted itself out. We’ve had just one new winner in the last nine races as Cinderellas have been replaced by the typical …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Jockey Made in America 250 at Road America

#9: Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro NAPA Auto Parts celebrates his win

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? Chase Elliott won the Jockey Made in America 250 at Road America on Sunday (July 4) after pulling away and leading the final 17 laps for an Independence Day victory. Christopher Bell, Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top-five finishers. ??????? Retweet to congratulate @chaseelliott on the seventh road-course …

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