Race Weekend Central

NASCAR Stat Sheet: Killer Bs Unleashed in Pocono As Bowman & Busch Capture Wins

Draftkings

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good, and Alex Bowman and Kyle Busch both lucked into victory lane last weekend at Pocono Raceway. For Bowman, the monumental task of holding off Kyle Larson proved first impossible, then unnecessary. As a flat tire finally ended the reign of the only driver to win in the …

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NASCAR Stat Sheet: New Track, Same Winner as Larson Does It Again

Kyle Larson crosses the finish line at Nashville Superspeedway in the Ally 400, June 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Kyle Larson is on the kind of run that doesn’t happen very often in NASCAR Cup Series racing. Dominance is frequent but it usually comes in the form of a driver winning many races in a year. The suffocating stranglehold of winning one race after another for weeks on end is a whole other level. …

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NASCAR Stat Sheet: Larson Shines on All-Star Sunday

Kyle Larson celebrates his win in the NASCAR All-Star Race at Texas Motor Speedway, June 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Kyle Larson is good at winning. Okay, so that seems like an obvious statement, but it really holds a lot of truth. His prowess on dirt became nearly legendary last year during his NASCAR suspension, and he’s wheeled the Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 into victory lane for three weeks in a row. One can’t help …

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NASCAR Stat Sheet: Larson-y in Sonoma As the No. 5 Team Steals Another Trophy

Kyle Larson celebrates his NASCAR Cup Series victory at Sonoma raceway, June 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Kyle Larson is one of the more naturally capable drivers in motorsports today. Since landing on one of the best teams in NASCAR prior to the start of the year, he’s made the most of his second chance. Along the way, Larson has been racking up the stats. Leading laps, winning stages, and finishing well …

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NASCAR Stat Sheet: Chase Elliott Slip Slides Away With Another Victory

Chase Elliott gives fans a thumbs up at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, March 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Chase Elliott has proven himself to be quite the road warrior, and Sunday he threw another win onto his pile of accolades. The second generation NASCAR champion has 12 career wins, five of which have come on road courses. Easily overlooked, however, is the fact that his first national touring series victory was on a …

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NASCAR Stat Sheet: Kyle Busch Takes the Cake on His Birthday

Kurt Busch, Ryan Newman and Kevin Harvick get ready for the Buschy McBusch Race 400 at Kansas Speedway, May 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

In 2009, Kyle Busch became the first driver since Cale Yarborough in 1977 to win a Cup race on his birthday. However, after winning this weekend at Kansas Speedway, Busch is the only driver in series history who is undefeated on his special day. Since Busch joined the Cup tour in 2005, a race has …

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NASCAR Stat Sheet: Keselowski Leaves Talladega With a 6 Pack

#2: Brad Keselowski, Team Penske, Ford Mustang MoneyLion, #37: Ryan Preece, JTG Daugherty Racing, Chevrolet Camaro Kroger/Reese’s, #4: Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford Mustang Busch Dog Brew, #10: Aric Almirola, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford Mustang Smithfield, #23: Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing, Toyota Camry DoorDash

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Talladega Superspeedway has always been a unique challenge, dating back to the first ever visit that NASCAR made to the 2.66-mile behemoth. The reasons that make it so have changed over the 52 years it’s been part of the sport’s racing schedule, but the hurdles between each competitor and victory still loom just as large. …

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NASCAR Stat Sheet: The No. 48 Is Back

2021 Cup Richmond Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Trophy (Credit: NKP)

Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

Alex Bowman may not be the next seven-time champion, but Sunday (April 18) he was able to post a NASCAR stat that Jimmie Johnson couldn’t during his final three years in the NASCAR Cup Series: put the No. 48 in the winner’s circle. It also marked the first win for Bowman since Auto Club Speedway …

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NASCAR Stat Sheet: Martin Truex Jr. Under Par With His Short (Track) Game

Martin Truex Jr. enjoys his win at Martinsville Speedway April 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

If the stats tell the story, then it seems that Martin Truex Jr. has suddenly turned into short-track ace. In his first 80 Cup races on tracks under a mile in length, Truex won exactly zero. None. Then, after finally breaking through at Richmond in 2019, he’s taken home the trophy in five of his …

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NASCAR Stat Sheet: Is Ryan Blaney the New Rooster?

Ryan Blaney celebrates his win in the NASCAR Cup Series at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Every driver has a unique situation and skill level that makes comparing racers from different eras wildly speculative and a little unfair. But for me, the career trajectory of this week’s winner Ryan Blaney is beginning to mirror that of Ricky Rudd. Think about it: Solid equipment but not universally viewed as elite. He doesn’t …

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NASCAR Stat Sheet: Martin Truex Jr. Finds His Oasis in the Desert

Martin Truex Jr. prepares for a NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway March 2021 Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Fans who have been around for more than a decade can likely recall a time when Martin Truex Jr. victories came about as often as February 29 does. Now it’s nearly as surprising when he goes almost a year without a win. Fortunately for his Joe Gibbs Racing team, that clock was reset on Sunday …

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NASCAR Stat Sheet: Larson Lights Up the Stage in His Second Act

Kyle Larson celebrates his win in the 2021 Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who doesn’t love a good redemption story? Just under a year ago, Kyle Larson became the poster boy for thoughtless expression, firing off without taking into account what his words might mean to someone else. But we all do stupid things. It’s how you use the experience to better yourself that defines you. While the …

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