Race Weekend Central

NASCAR Top 10 Storylines 2017: Tumbling NASCAR TV Ratings

2017 Nascar Monster Cup Series, Homestead

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

One of the NASCAR stories that attracted a lot of attention in 2017, which seems kind of ironic, is NASCAR TV ratings and viewership numbers. In particular, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series declined sharply this season. Some races dropped by as much as 20 percent while just a handful of events posted an increase. …

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Happiness Is: Matt Kenseth, Tears & Championships

2017 Kansas Ii Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr John K Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John K. Harrelson/NKP)

There are a number of storylines that emerged from the Cup race at Phoenix – pardon me, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix.  The one that seemed to garner the most attention, rather than Matt Kenseth’s win, looked to be the on-track equivalent of a slap-fight between Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin. …

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F1 Slipstream Saturday: Are Changes Foreshadowing Trends?

Pierre Gasly Toro Rosso

Pierre Gasly turning laps in his Toro Rosso at Interlagos ahead of the Brazilian GP (photo: Getty Images)

The final two races of the 2017 Formula 1 season is an interesting time.  With the championships settled, the racing this weekend comes with a different sense of drama in the fact that it’s just pure racing.  The points do not matter as they usually do – though the teams are still looking to gather …

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Happiness Is: Phoenix & Brazil

2017 Cup New Hampshire Zach Catanzareti Ryan Blaney Jimmie Johnson

Jimmie Johson and Ryan Blaney (Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

This past weekend brought all three NASCAR series to life at the same track, which seemed like a rare event.  The summer months often bring a scattershot sense to the sport as the series can go their own ways, notably at tracks like Iowa, Kentucky, and Canadian Tire Park.  Now, as the season races to …

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Happiness Is: Controversy, Rosberg & Texas

Cup Action Kyle Busch Leading Way

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Once again a short track on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cups Series schedule provided some of the best action.  Such a scenario is nothing new, as tracks like Martinsville, Richmond, and Bristol have made for wonderful arenas to see both skilled driving play out amongst the chaos of fender rubbing. That Martinsville Speedway installed lights …

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F1 Slipstream Saturday: Bienvenidos, Mexican Grand Prix & More

Lewis Hamilton Wins 2017 Japanese Grand Prix

Is it about to become five title for Lewis Hamilton?(Photo: Getty Images)

The story of the race is, no surprise, Lewis Hamilton.  Should Hamilton finish fifth or better, the driver’s championship is over, regardless of where Sebastian Vettel takes the checkered flag.  Such a scenario really means the the title is a fait accompli, meaning that Hamilton, in essence, has already won the title.  For Vettel to …

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Happiness Is: Conspiracies, Texas & One

2017 Talladega Ii Cup Jimmie Johnson Chad Knaus Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

There were seven cars running when the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race resumed for the final time last weekend at Talladega Superspeedway.  Oh, right, it only seemed like seven, and of those left on the track, only four seemed like they had any chance at winning.  Such is how things can go at the …

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F1 Slipstream Sunday: Hamilton Closing In on His Fourth Title & Japanese Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton Wins 2017 Japanese Grand Prix

Is it about to become five title for Lewis Hamilton?(Photo: Getty Images)

Sunny skies set the scene to start the Japanese Grand Prix, which felt much needed after FP2 was washed out and cloudy skies hovered over FP3 and qualifying.  Lewis Hamilton made a clean getaway at lights out and had his way with the field as he enjoyed another race victory, his fourth in the past …

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Happiness Is: Late-Season Racing & Change

2017 Chicago Cup Martin Truex Jr Burnout Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

With all the crazy goings on in the world we all need a few moments to get happy.  While this column is more than willing to acknowledge the intersection between sport and politics and believes that they are exorbitantly linked, that does not belie the fact that sport also acts as a place for community …

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Slipstream Saturday: Selamat tinggal, Malaysian GP; and More

Renault Malaysia 2017

This weekend, Formula 1 returns to Sepang International Circuit for the Malaysian Grand Prix.  The race comes in a bittersweet fashion as this will be the last F1 event at the track for the foreseeable future.  The government, who backs the race, has withdrawn its support amid rising prices and decreasing attendance.  Surely, having such …

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Happiness Is: Sports & Politics

2017 Loudon Cup Brad Keselowski Car Phil Allaway

(Photo: Phil Allaway)

Recent events have been focusing on the flag and notions of protest and reactions have ranged from right to left, from sane and logical to outlandish and misguided. Wherever your thought process may rest, that’s your call. But this column is calling BS on the ‘stick to sports’ rhetoric and the notions that sport and …

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