Race Weekend Central

Happiness Is: The Pits, Baku & Plans

2018 Kevin Harvick Pit Stop Pit Crew Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

Life in the pits (Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

This week’s column is going to start with a bit of questioning regarding the management dealing with races.  Chronological order comes across as a good way to start. That means touching upon the peculiar start time for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond on Saturday night. Who exactly is the brain-child that …

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Happiness Is: Caring, Shoey & 45

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

So there’s been some little bits of news this weekend in NASCAR-land but nothing that would count as earth-shaking.  The news that Ford will be switching to the Mustang in the Cup series for the 2019 season tops the list, however. While this announcement may have been spoiled earlier in the year it still doesn’t …

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F1 Slipstream Saturday: The Chinese GP and Changing of the Guard

Sebastian Vettel China Gp Qualifying

Sebastian Vettel (credit: Getty Images)

This weekend, Formula 1 will be racing at Shanghai International Circuit, which is also a way of stating that the third race of the season is the Chinese Grand Prix.  One of the focal points of the race last year was Max Verstappen’s drive from the 16th starting spot to third. That story did take …

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Happiness Is: Tires, Appearances & Gasly

2018 Cup Texas Martin Truex Jr Wrecked Beth Lunkenheimer

Martin Truex Jr has owned 1.5 mile tracks - but not this past Sunday at Texas (Photo: Beth Lunkenheimer)

Sure, there are topics that could be addressed to start off this column but whatever, let’s just get to the happy. Here goes.   Happiness Is Tires. The race this past weekend seemed somewhat peculiar for the tire issues that surrounded the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race.  It may have been the chilly temps …

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Happiness Is: Manners, McLaren & Bowyer

Clint Bowyer Martinsville Cup Mike Neff 2018

(Photo: Mike Neff)

This past weekend brought an unusual circumstance to NASCAR as it played chicken with the weather forecast and seemingly lost.  While the 2-Headed Monster column may address how the governing body should handle dealing with the weather, this column will point out a golden opportunity that was missed. When the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series …

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F1 Slipstream Saturday: The Australian Grand Prix Preview; Hamilton Leads the Field

Toro Rosso 2018 Car 1

The 2018 Toro Rosso on track at the Australian Grand Prix (credit: Getty Images)

The Formula 1 season is finally upon us, the last of the major motorsports series to kick things into gear.  The sport again begins with the Australian Grand Prix, held on a temporary circuit in Albert Park in Melbourne.  As this is the opening event, it brings with it a decent amount of intrigue that …

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Happiness Is: Economics, Harvick & Melbourne

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Ticketguardian 500 Ism Raceway, Phoenix, Az Usa Saturday 10 March 2018 Kevin Harvick, Stewart Haas Racing, Ford Fusion Jimmy John's World Copyright: Barry Cantrell Nkp

(Photo: Barry Cantrell/NKP)

One of the things that has been peculiar to cover the past half-decade was NASCAR and the perceptions of doom that surround the sport.  This column has addressed before the societal condition of being in a constant crisis mode and how it manifests itself through media portrayal and peopleʻs reactions.  The announcement that Loweʻs would …

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Happiness Is: Happy, Rings & The Ex

2018 Daytona Cup Zach Catanzareti Jimmie Johnson

Jimmie Johnson knows what Kevin Harvick is going through (Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

No need for any attempts of witty whatever to open the column this week.  Letʻs just jump into some happiness. Happiness Is…Happy.  Usually when a driver beats down the field as Kevin Harvick has done the past two races, this column would extol how awesome he is.  And heʻs been magnificent, no doubt. There have …

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Happiness Is: No. 8 – Birdwatching

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 Celebrates World Copyright: Barry Cantrell Nkp

Kevin Harvick celebrating his beatdown at Atlanta (Photo: Barry Cantrell/NKP)

Weʻre back with another installment of bringing joy to the NASCAR world.  Or maybe itʻs regarding the joy that NASCAR brings.  Or perhaps NASCAR fans are just joyful people.  It doesnʻt really matter as long as thereʻs a recognition that joy is supposed to be strewn throughout this column.   We tried to get a …

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Happiness Is: Acknowledgement

Da1q6314

Bye Bye, Daytona. On to Atlanta

So thatʻs that.  Austin Dillon won the Daytona 500 and joins a rather peculiar list of drivers who enjoyed rather undistinguished careers but still hoisted that monstrous trophy.  Derrick Cope, Ward Burton, Trevor Bayne and Jeff Gordon can revel in their newfound company.   Kidding aside, Jeffie, Dillonʻs win brought a polemic of reactions that …

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Happiness Is: Joy

Da1q6727

Brad Keselowski is ready for the start of the season - are you?

Itʻs time.  Time to start imagining the prospect of winterʻs chill receding in the rear-view mirror.  Time to enjoy the jet dryer of time blowing away old memories to start the season anew.  Time to allow a bit of childish joy to creep into your life if youʻre a motorsport fan as all three of …

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