Race Weekend Central

The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2018 STP 500

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Daytona 500 Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fl Usa Sunday 11 February 2018 Clint Bowyer, Stewart Haas Racing, Rush Truck Centers/mobil 1 Ford World Copyright: Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Who…gets my shoutout of the race? Most of Monday’s top 10 finishers raced in that pack for most of the day.  Seven scored points in both of the first two stages.  And then there was Alex Bowman. Bowman, who started 16th, lurked in the top 15 for much of the day, and it generally looked …

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The Frontstretch 5: Inspection Pieces to Inspect Further

2017 Indianapolis Cup Aj Allmendinger Pack Racing Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

1. The team factor At the end of every day, when all is said and done, an inspection failure is on the team.  NASCAR took a lot of flack last weekend when 13 cars failed to make it through pre-qualifying tech at Fontana, but it’s not the sanctioning body’s responsibility to make sure teams make …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2018 Auto Club 400

2018 Las Vegas I Cup Jimmie Johnson Helmet Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? Sunday at Auto Club Speedway, Jimmie Johnson drove his way to his first top 10 since Charlotte last fall. After a miserable start to the year, the ninth-place run was a bright spot in what’s been a difficult year for Hendrick Motorsports in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup …

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Holding A Pretty Wheel: NASCAR’s Vicious Money Cycle

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series 2018 Nascar Media Tour Charlotte Convention Center, Charlotte, Nc Usa Tuesday 23 January 2018 Jimmie Johnson World Copyright: Matthew T. Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

There was a time when a NASCAR driver was practically synonymous with his sponsor — that blue STP car was so recognizable as Richard Petty’s ride that “Petty Blue” is a color in every fan’s frame of reference. Though Dale Earnhardt drove the Wrangler ride for several years, one look at that black GM Goodwrench …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2018 Ticket Guardian 500

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Daytona 500 Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fl Usa Sunday 11 February 2018 Aric Almirola, Stewart Haas Racing, Napa Auto Parts Ford Fusion World Copyright: Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? It’s hard not to be impressed by Aric Almirola in the short time he’s been in the Stewart-Haas Racing No. 10 ride so far. He hasn’t finished lower than 13th this season, and this week at ISM Raceway scored his best finish of 2018 and second top 10 …

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The Frontstretch 5: Early NASCAR Hall of Fame Picks

2016 Pocono Ii Cup Jeff Gordon Helmet Matthew Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

The nominee list for the next NASCAR Hall of Fame class was released on Tuesday, and it’s an intriguing group for many reasons.  More nominees have begun to emerge from outside the national touring series, and while there are still some pioneers on the list who are deserving, voters have done a solid job of …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2018 Pennzoil 400 Presented by Jiffy Lube

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Folds Of Honor Quik Trip 500 Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, Ga Usa Friday 23 February 2018 Paul Menard, Wood Brothers Racing, Menards / Moen Ford Fusion World Copyright: Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? A driver with the reputation for being quiet certainly was on Sunday, even as he raced his way to a solid top-10 run. Paul Menard posted his second top 10 of 2018 on Sunday (March 4). So far in 2018, Menard has finished no worse than 17th and …

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The Frontstretch 5: Numbers to Know as NASCAR Hits Las Vegas

2015 Las Vegas Cup Kevin Harvick Wins Race Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

1. 29 That’s the number of drivers who have won a Cup Series race on a 1.5-mile track since 2000, encompassing the careers of every active winning driver. It might seem like a lot, but that’s over the course of 151 total races. That includes just 13 active drivers. When you break it down to …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2018 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Folds Of Honor Quik Trip 500 Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, Ga Usa Sunday 25 February 2018 Kevin Harvick, Stewart Haas Racing, Jimmy John's Ford Fusion Wins World Copyright: Rusty Jarrett Nkp

(Photo: Rusty Jarrett/NKP)

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? Kevin Harvick cruised to the win, but Sunday was a good day for all of Stewart-Haas Racing. All four of the organization’s Fords finished in the top 13. Harvick and Kurt Busch combined to lead 233 laps. And while Busch faded late, Clint Bowyer was strong after the …

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The Frontstretch 5: Things We Know After Daytona

2017 Richmond Ii Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr Aric Almirola Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

1. Aric Almirola is an excellent plate racer This fact isn’t news to those who have been paying attention to the new driver of the No. 10. But for so many, Daytona was the first time Almirola made an appearance on the radar. Remember, Almirola’s only Cup win to date came at Daytona in 2014. …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2018 Daytona 500

2018 Daytona Cup Daytona 500 Zach Catanzareti Denny Hamlin Darrell Wallace Jr.

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? Before a multi-car pileup with a lap remaining, there were a couple of cars in the top 10, sometimes the top five, that fans don’t see there very often.  Matt DiBenedetto, driving for tiny Go FAS Racing, and Brendan Gaughan, driving for part-time owner Mark Beard, were looking …

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The Frontstretch 5: Big Questions as NASCAR Opens 2018

2017 Daytona Ii Nxs Pack Racing Nigel Kinrade Nkp

Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

1. Will the Camaro put Chevrolet back in the game? As a whole, Chevrolet teams struggled in 2017.  Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott carried the banner for the manufacturer, but this make wasn’t represented in the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.  The Camaro, which replaces the discontinued SS in the Cup Series this year, put …

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