Race Weekend Central

Dropping the Hammer: William Byron Racing for Mother After Her Brain Tumor Diagnosis

William Byron

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

At first, William Byron wasn’t sure if he would even share the news with his race team, let alone the rest of the world. But on Tuesday (May 4), the Hendrick Motorsports driver informed the public about what his family has been dealing with for the last month. His mother, Dana, has been diagnosed with …

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Dropping the Hammer: NASCAR Says ‘No’ to Being Part of Voting Rights Debate

Daniel McFadin Dropping the Hammer

Graphic by James Crow

On June 7, 2020 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, NASCAR President Steve Phelps made one of the most important public statements ever made by a NASCAR official, especially for one not named France. With a field of cars sitting in front of empty grandstands due to an international pandemic and some 13 days after George Floyd …

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NASCAR President Steve Phelps on Jennifer Jo Cobb, COVID-19 Vaccines & State Voting Laws

2018 Homestead Cup Zach Catanzareti Steve Phelps

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Just a few hours before the NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway Sunday (April 25), NASCAR President Steve Phelps addressed the media as part of an announcement regarding NASCAR’s new national partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. After that news, Phelps took a few questions on high-profile topics related to the …

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Ryan Blaney and the Keys to Success at Talladega

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

.007 seconds. It’s not much, but that’s all Ryan Blaney has needed to win at Talladega Superspeedway. And not just once. Both of his NASCAR Cup Series victories on the 2.66-mile track  – in October 2019 and June 2020 – had the same margin of victory. Blaney and the Cup Series return to Talladega this …

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Dropping the Hammer: Chevrolet Seeing Benefits of GM Overhaul

Alex Bowman and Austin Dillon at Richmond

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Dr. Eric Warren, the director of NASCAR programs at General Motors, had plenty of reasons to be happy on Monday (April 19). The previous day, Alex Bowman and his No. 48 Chevrolet capitalized on a late caution to swoop in and capture the win in the NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway. Hendrick Motorsports …

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Alex Bowman’s Richmond Win Caps Off Big Day for Drivers of No. 48

Alex Bowman talks with Jimmie Johnson before 2019 Indianapolis Cup race Photo NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Jeff Andrews was like many of us Sunday afternoon. Even though the NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway was well underway, Hendrick Motorsports’ general manager couldn’t help himself. He had to see Jimmie Johnson’s maiden voyage in an open-wheel car. “I won’t lie, I clicked over to IndyCar there a couple of times during …

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Bubba Wallace on Adam Toledo & the ‘Never-Ending Battle’

Bubba Wallace

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Thursday, April 15, was a day dominated by news related to the deaths of Black people by way of police officer. In Minneapolis, Minn., the trial of Derek Chauvin, the police officer accused of murdering George Floyd last May, came to its conclusion. Miles away in Brooklyn Center, Kim Potter was arraigned on a charge …

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Dropping the Hammer: Josh Berry’s Big Chance Pays Off

Josh Berry wins at Martinsville

(Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images via NASCAR media)

The NASCAR Xfinity Series should introduce a new slogan: “The Xfinity Series: Where 30 is the new 20.” After Sunday’s race at Martinsville Speedway, this slogan would apply almost exclusively to one driver: Josh Berry. The newest driver to claim a win in NASCAR’s second-tier national series wasn’t a baby-faced twentysomething who’d have trouble getting …

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Chase Elliott Posts ‘Uneventful’ 2nd-Place Finish at Martinsville

Chase Elliott at Martinsville

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

For Chase Elliott, the first seven races of the 2021 NASCAR Cup season were “eventful.” That’s one way of describing only earning two top fives and finishing 13th or worse in four of the remaining five races, including one DNF. So the Hendrick Motorsports driver was more than pleased with an “uneventful” Sunday afternoon at …

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Jeff Gordon Tested Positive for COVID-19, ‘Good to Go’ for Martinsville

Jeff Gordon

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Jeff Gordon revealed April 8 he tested positive for COVID-19 last week, but that he’s “good to go” to cover this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway. The NASCAR Hall of Famer and Fox Sports analyst shared the news on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio’s “On Track.” “I can’t say my off-week was great because …

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Dropping the Hammer: The Justin Allgaier Reset

Justin Allgaier at Atlanta

Getty Images via NASCAR Media

You don’t need me to remind you how long, hot and weird the summer of 2020 was. A lot of it’s a blur, for better or worse. But one moment that’s stuck with me in the ensuing year came on June 1. That night, the Xfinity Series competed at Bristol Motor Speedway in its third …

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Dropping the Hammer: Bristol Dirt Race Earns Date in 2022 and ‘Beyond’

NASCAR Cup on Bristol dirt

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Any questions about whether NASCAR’s “Bristol Dirt” experience would live to see another year were answered well before the checkered flag fell on Monday’s (March 29) Cup Series main event. During the final stage break, Bristol Motor Speedway flashed a message on the video screens that hang above the infield: “Dirt returns in 2022. Lock-in …

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