Race Weekend Central

Clint Bowyer the Best Since Benny? Plus a ‘Berry’ Good Story

Clint Bowyer

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Hope springs eternal at the start of every NASCAR season. Once the page turns to the month of May, it’s obvious which teams are in the hunt and which teams are pretending to be contenders for the current season. This year, we have had nine different winners in the first 10 races, which shows that …

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Bad Boys Getting Dirty at Dirt-Covered Bristol Motor Speedway

Noah Gragson at 2021 Xfinity race at Daytona Photo NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

It’s that time of the month that the old-timer, long-time NASCAR writer and observer stops by to share some words of wisdom with you. While I will never get used to stage racing and having playoffs in my favorite sport, I am thrilled that not as many drivers and crew guys get hurt as back …

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Cinderella Story NASCAR Style Times Two

Nascar Cup Series

c#48: Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro Ally, #34: Michael McDowell, Front Row Motorsports, Ford Mustang Love's Travel Stops, and #37: Ryan Preece, JTG Daugherty Racing, Chevrolet Camaro Kroger/Coca-Cola

Are you tired of us old guys telling you how much better NASCAR was back in the day? Thankfully, I will spare you that argument because while I often miss some of the old days, I don’t miss hearing about drivers getting hurt or killed as often as they did back in the day. Join …

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Power Rankings: Chase Went to Chase Edition

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Oftentimes, NASCAR gets the short end of the deal — faces a lot of criticism, but they deserve a tip of the old Frontstretch hat for managing to get a full season in during trying times. No other major American sport was able to accomplish this feat. There is no hiding the fact that I’m …

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Power Rankings: Someone Woke Up Joey Logano Edition

2020 Kansas Ii Cup Joey Logano Celebrates Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season has been a weird one for Joey Logano. He managed to win two of the first four races this season, but those were also his only top-10 finishes, too. Sliced Bread has been either very good or very average all season.  As he often does, Logano managed to irritate …

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Power Rankings: Ridiculous ROVAL Edition

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Last week, King Richard Petty caused a bit of a ruckus calling dirt racing “unprofessional.” Do you know what is really unprofessional? Having turn 1 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL contribute to the outcome of the NASCAR playoffs. Speaking of unprofessional, how about racing on a wet track not because of rain but because …

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Power Rankings: ‘Dega Dominos Edition

2020 Talladega playoff Cup Chase Elliott leads in pack racing Photo NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

You can’t win the clichés during the fourth race of the 10-race playoff schedule, but you can sure lose the cliché battle at Talladega Superspeedway. Unfortunately, drivers pushed the rules envelope on Sunday (Oct. 4), causing NASCAR to actually make a ruling on their beloved “Yellow Line Rule.” For those new to NASCAR, a driver …

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Power Rankings: Luck of the Vegas Native Edition

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

In Las Vegas, some times it’s better to be lucky than good at the games of chance. On Sunday night (Sept. 27), Kurt Busch hit the jackpot when a caution flew during a cycle of green flag pit stops. That timely caution helped one of Vegas’ own win, but it was an impressive finish that …

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Power Rankings: Dirty Dozen Edition

Kevin Harvick racing with Kyle Busch in 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Bristol Night race, NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Bristol Motor Speedway is considering importing dirt? If this isn’t an indictment of the current template for NASCAR as it applies to short track racing, I am not sure what else it would be. Since Speedway Motorsports Inc., has decided to add traction compound at the bottom of this track, the racing has gotten much …

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Power Rankings: No Longer the Action Track Edition

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

They used to call Richmond Raceway the “Action Track,” but after racing 400 laps without a non-manufactured caution flag, they might need to forget that nickname ever existed. This isn’t the fault of the track. This isn’t the fault of the drivers. This is the fault of a rules package that makes a gentle rub …

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Power Rankings: 1 Down, 9 to Go Edition

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

All season, Kevin Harvick has been very good. Heading into the Southern 500, he had won seven times already this year and had more top-five and top-10 finishes than anyone else. But one thing he has not been until Sunday (Sept. 6) was being lucky! In one of the crown jewels of stock car racing, …

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Power Rankings: Here Come the Playoffs Edition

2020 Daytona Ncs Kevin Harvick Regular Season Champion Nascar Media

(Photo: NASCAR Media)

It’s amazing how much has changed in all the many years since I started following NASCAR as a kid back in the late 1960s and ’70s. Thankfully, the racing is much safer. Can I hear a “Hallelujah” that we get live races every week? But one curious development is that back in the day, finishing …

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