Race Weekend Central

NASCAR’s Next Gen Messaging is Sound, Now the Car’s Action Needs to Match

2022 Next Gen cars Chevrolet Ford Toyota Jared C Tilton Getty

(Photo: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images via NASCAR Media)

NASCAR’s Next Gen car has arrived. Now, how will it perform?  That’s the key question on the minds of many eager race fans following the conclusion of Wednesday’s (May 5) official car unveiling in Charlotte, North Carolina.  And for the series, it’s the most important question of all.  NASCAR has taken a deep plunge with …

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NASCAR Embracing Change on Doorstep of New Era

Chase Elliott car kicks up some dust in practice at Bristol Dirt Cup practice NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

It’s a unique time to be a NASCAR fan. Gone are the folkways of the past, replaced by change in nearly every aspect of the sport. The last decade of racing in the Cup Series and beyond has seen significant shifts from the so-called “peak” era of yesteryear. Without the same massive audience the sport …

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Usual Suspects Likely to Win in NASCAR’s Trip to Las Vegas

2019 Las Vegas I Cup Ryan Blaney Joey Logano Racing Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Whenever Las Vegas is pictured in movies, photos, print or a backdrop for the latest TikTok, there’s one consistent theme: Excess.  Everyone flocks to Sin City with at least a small hope of getting lucky, hitting big on a slot machine or roulette table and enjoying their spoils with a night on the town. Veteran …

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Denny Hamlin’s Fourth Chance: Will This One End Differently?

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

We’ve seen this story before. But could this edition have a happier ending?  While most have struggled through this difficult 2020, Denny Hamlin has enjoyed what might be the best season of his NASCAR Cup Series career. The Virginian has matched his career-best 9.5 average finish from last year, sits one win away from matching …

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A Fair Compromise

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The realm of sports is often home to feel-good stories, but they frequently prove fleeting in nature.  Given the industry’s sponsorship-focused business model and frequent need for immediate return, that’s arguably more true in motorsports than any other industry.  It’s because of that truth that deals like Thursday’s (Oct. 8) second opportunity for Matt DiBenedetto …

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Bubba Wallace’s Difficult Decision Was the Right One

2019 Cup Bristol Bubba Wallace Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Bubba Wallace’s decision to leave Richard Petty Motorsports ahead of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series was surely a difficult one, an emotional call months in the making.  But look beyond emotions and it’s clearly the right decision to make.  Once a driver struggling to find sponsorship, Wallace has gone on a sponsor shopping frenzy this …

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Daytona’s Going to Be Different. Let’s Enjoy It.

Daytona International Speedway Ckf250(2)

Arguably the most normal part of the 2020 motorsports calendar came on Jan. 25, when the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship made its annual voyage to Florida for the Rolex 24 at Daytona.  Now perhaps the wildest moment of the entire pandemic – on track, at least – is about to take place on the same …

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The Good, the Meh & the Ugly: Reviewing All-Star Race Changes

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

So… they really threw the kitchen sink at that one, huh? NASCAR’s annual Cup Series All-Star Race has become as much of a testing ground for the sport as a genuine race in recent years. While the race itself has often struggled to deliver consistently, NASCAR has gotten value out of the event by trialing …

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NASCAR’s Brief Return to Slight Normalcy at the Coca-Cola 600

2019 Charlotte Cup Martin Truex Jr. Checkered Flag Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Greatest Day in Motorsport will be a shell of its traditional self.  But thanks to NASCAR, it won’t be entirely empty, either. With the NASCAR Cup Series done with a flexible shift to Darlington Raceway to restart the 2020 season, the tour is now preparing for its Memorial Day weekend classic, the Coca-Cola 600. …

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The Time is Right for A Shared NASCAR-IndyCar Weekend

2019 Gateway Indycar Josef Newgarden Car Chris Owens Indycar Media

(Photo: Chris Owens/INDYCAR Media)

While I was making the long post-day-job drive from Indiana to North Carolina on Friday, I did so with a slight twinkle in my eye. I wasn’t going to make it to the track that day — my drive ended an hour from Charlotte at 1 a.m. — but I knew that those in attendance …

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Pondering the Postseason Field: Who Secures the Final Spots?

2019 Atlanta Cup Daniel Suarez Nkp

(Photo: NKP)

It’s taken a few years and 25 races to get here, but there’s playoff drama to be found heading into this weekend’s Cup Series regular season finale at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  After years where the playoff field was largely decided in the weeks prior to the finale, a quartet of drivers have proven unable to …

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