Race Weekend Central

Ryan Reed Victorious in XFINITY Daytona Thriller

2017 Daytona Xfinity Zach Catanzareti Ryan Reed

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

He did it again. For the second time in the last three years, Ryan Reed has won at Daytona International Speedway in the XFINITY Series. Holding off Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series talents Kasey Kahne and Austin Dillon, Reed earned his second career win after starting from the front row. “I tried to apply everything …

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Kaz Grala Wins, Matt Crafton Flips In Wild Daytona Finish

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(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

In some ways, Friday’s NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway was 2016 all over again. You had a GMS Racing truck headed to Victory Lane with a fellow competitor flipping in his wake. It’s just that the driver holding the trophy now wasn’t even a full-fledged adult this time last year. Pole-sitter Kaz Grala was Friday …

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JJ Yeley Leads Final XFINITY Practice at Daytona

2016 Xfinity Homestead Miami Speedway Zach Catanzareti Jj Yeley

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

JJ Yeley leads final XFINITY Series practice at Daytona International Speedway. The No. 14 Toyota driver hit 187.005 mph [48.127 seconds] to take the session unexpectedly. “We didn’t even plan to run second practice,” Yeley said. “I’m really happy with how the thing drove. We got the car to drive a little lower and had …

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Three Cars Fail Can-Am Duel Postrace Inspection

2017 Daytona Cup Zach Catanzareti Daytona International Speedway

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Thursday night got even more difficult for three Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series teams. Following the Can-Am Duels at Daytona International Speedway, three teams, Martin Truex Jr., Chris Buescher and AJ Allmendinger, failed postrace height inspection. All three were too low for the legal requirements and will start from the rear in Sunday’s Daytona 500. …

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Chase Elliott Wins 2nd Straight Daytona 500 Pole

2016 Cup Talladega Alan Gustafson Chase Elliott Zach Catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

When it comes to the pole winner, not much has changed in the Daytona 500 lately. For the second straight year, it was Chase Elliott winning the pole at Daytona International Speedway in his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Hitting a speed of 192.872 mph, he won by only 0.002 seconds over teammate Dale Earnhardt …

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Joey Logano Dodges Last-Lap Crash to Win Clash at Daytona

2016 Pocono Ii Cup Joey Logano John Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John Harrelson/NKP)

Team Penske and Joe Gibbs Racing went from following to hitting on the final lap of the Clash at Daytona International Speedway. After contact between Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin for the lead in Turn 1, Joey Logano dodged the spinning No. 11 Toyota to take his first win in the rain-postponed Clash at Daytona. …

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Ty Dillon: ‘It’s Nice to Have My Own Identity’ with Germain Racing

2017 Cup Charlotte Media Tour Zach Catanzareti Ty Dillon

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Though Germain Racing has a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing, the No. 13 team is still a single-car operation. Incoming rookie Ty Dillon replaces veteran Casey Mears in the GEICO Chevrolet for 2017 and will attack his first full-time season in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Dillon, coming off three years of XFINITY Series …

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What Could’ve Been: Mark Martin and Rick Hendrick Almost Teamed Up in 1984

2009 Cup Mark Martin Hendrick Motorsports Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

For three men in the NASCAR world, the month of January has been among the best of their lives, as they were inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Jan. 20. Mark Martin and Rick Hendrick, who join Richard Childress, Raymond Parks and Benny Parsons in the Hall, are back together as inductees following …

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Valtteri Bottas Signs with Mercedes for 2017

Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 2017 Formula 1 Mercedes

(Photo: Mercedes AMG)

More than a month removed from the surprise retirement of 2016 Formula 1 World Champion Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG Petronas has found its new driver for 2017. Valtteri Bottas, with 77 grands prix to his record, including nine podiums, will drive for the sport’s most dominant team in 2017 following weeks of speculation. “I’m really proud …

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Brendan Gaughan to Attempt Daytona 500

2016 Atlanta Nxs Brendan Gaughan Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

According to a report from Las Vegas Review-Journal, Brendan Gaughan will attempt the Daytona 500 for the first time since 2004. The two-time XFINITY Series winner said he will partner with team owner Mark Beard in an unknown-numbered Chevrolet to qualify for the Great American Race at Daytona International Speedway in February. “Jay Robinson, the …

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Circle Sport, The Motorsports Group Merge for 2017

Josh Wise Martinsville Cup 2016 Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

Two organizations will join forces when the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series takes the green at Daytona International Speedway in February. Joe Falk of Circle Sport and Curtis Key of The Motorsports Group [TMG], announced Friday (Jan. 6) that they will combine resources to field a full-time No. 33 Chevrolet entry in 2017. Though the …

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Daniel Suarez Dominates Homestead to Win XFINITY Championship

2016 Xfinity Homestead Miami Speedway Zach Catanzareti Daniel Suarez

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Pole, most laps led and a race victory. Daniel Suarez had it all Saturday at Homestead-Miami Speedway to win his first XFINITY Series championship in his second season. Steering clear of an off-the-pace Cole Whitt, whose TriStar Motorsports team decided not to pit under the final caution, Suarez held off Ty Dillon to win the …

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