Race Weekend Central

Regan Smith to Fill In Again for Almirola

2017 Charlotte All Star Cup Regan Smith Car Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

After pulling substitute duty for Richard Petty Motorsports last week in NASCAR’s All-Star Open event, Regan Smith will again drive the famous No. 43 machine at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the Coca-Cola 600. Smith Finished fourth in the Open event on short notice and impressed the team enough for another chance. The Cato, New York …

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NASCAR 2018 Hall of Fame Class Announced

Gateway Motorsports Park Day 2

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Each year 20 legends of NASCAR are considered for induction to NASCAR’s Hall of Fame. Only five are chosen for immortality. The class of 2018 was announced Wednesday with Red Byron, Robert Yates, Ray Evernham, Ken Squire and Ron Hornaday Jr. joining the ranks of a select group of legends in stock car racing. Red …

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Regan Smith to Sub for Aric Almirola in Monster Energy Open at Charlotte

2017 Daytona I Cwts Regan Smith Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Aric Almirola’s T5 compression fracture at Kansas Speedway Saturday night left a seat to be filled at Richard Petty Motorsports. At least for this weekend, that spot will be filled by Cup Series veteran Regan Smith. With limited time to find a substitute driver, the team announced Wednesday afternoon Smith will drive the No. 43 Ford. He’ll fill …

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NASCAR Next Class of 2017-2018 Revealed

Nascar Next 17 18

(Photo: NASCAR via Sean Busher)

NASCAR announced the newest group of drivers Wednesday that comprise its NASCAR Next program. Now in its seventh year, the list of nine is designed to highlight young talent throughout the 2017-2018 racing seasons. By putting out their public resumes, the hope is they next get good money and sponsorship to move up the stock car ranks. …

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Joe Gibbs Racing Announces Primary Sponsor Circle K for Matt Kenseth

2017 Fontana Cup Matt Kenseth Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

In a much anticipated announcement on Wednesday, Joe Gibbs Racing revealed a new sponsor for driver Matt Kenseth and the No. 20 Toyota team. Circle K, one of the nation’s largest convenience and fuel retailers, will make the leap into the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series for the first time in the primary sponsorship role. …

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Martinsville TV Ratings: Slightly Down

2017 Martinsville Cup Zach Catanzareti Brad Keselowski

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

NASCAR Ratings Decline; Youth Participation Growing For yet another week, NASCAR Ratings were shown to decline as the Martinsville race was given a 2.1 overnight rating. That was a marked improvement overall, however, as the prior two weeks this season overnight ratings declined 17% from the previous year. Though the decrease in overnight ratings for …

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Happy Hour Has Clint Bowyer All Smiles in Martinsville

2017 Martinsville Cup Zach Catanzareti Clint Bowyer

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Off the heels of his third place finish last week in California, Clint Bowyer ran the fastest single lap in Happy Hour for this Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series event at Martinsville Speedway. Kyle Busch ran the second fastest lap, with Jamie McMurray, Brad Keselowski and Ryan Newman completing the top five. Ryan Blaney, …

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Stewart-Haas Racing Rescinds Appeal of Rodney Childers’ Suspension

2016 Nascar Texas

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

NASCAR confirmed Wednesday (March 29) that the No. 4 Stewart-Haas racing team will no longer appeal its penalty for an unapproved track bar slider assembly at Phoenix International Raceway two weeks ago, removing crew chief Rodney Childers from atop the pit box. The penalty was in the process of appeals during last Sunday’s event at …

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Chase Elliott Fastest in Final Practice, Finds the Wall

2017 Atlanta Chase Elliott Cup Zach Catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Chase Elliott found the fast way around Auto Club Speedway Saturday afternoon, but he also found that one little misstep can ruin an otherwise good day. Just minutes into the final practice session, Elliott found himself on top of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series time sheet with a lap of 38.404 seconds (187.480 mph). …

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