Race Weekend Central

Kyle Busch Wins Second Straight MENCS Pole Award

2017 Pocono Cup Zach Catanzareti Kyle Busch

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

For the second consecutive week, car No. 18 will lead the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series field to the green flag on Sunday afternoon. Kyle Busch took over Pocono Raceway, clocking in a time of 50.237 seconds, giving the Joe Gibbs Racing driver his 21st career pole in NASCAR’s premier division. Busch outran reigning Pocono …

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Darrell Wallace Jr. Enters Pocono Raceway with Pressure to Perform

2017 Pocono Cup Zach Catanzareti Darrell Wallace Jr.

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Darrell Wallace Jr. always wanted this day to come. He knew it would come at some point, but he didn’t think the pieces of the puzzle would come into place so easily. When Aric Almirola’s injury was revealed to the public, rumors swirled about the Roush Fenway Racing XFINITY Series driver taking the helm of …

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NASCAR Mailbox: How Important is Darrell Wallace Jr.’s Cup Debut for NASCAR’s Diversity Efforts?

2017 Atlanta Nxs Darrell Wallace Jr Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Finally. Finally. Finally. It took a long time, but Darrell Wallace Jr. is finally getting the call to race in NASCAR’s top division. Filling in for Aric Almirola in the famed No. 43, the move is certainly a powerful one as the sport looks to take advantage of having its first African-American driver compete in …

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Darrell Wallace Jr. to Run for Richard Petty Motorsports, Roush Shuts Down No. 6 XFINITY Team

2016 Fontana Nxs Darrell Wallace Jr Laughing Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

The news that Darrell Wallace Jr. wanted to hear is finally here: a call up to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. The Roush Fenway Racing XFINITY Series driver will become the first African-American to race in NASCAR’s premier division since Bill Lester did so in 2006. Wallace, 23, will replace the injured Aric Almirola in the …

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Beyond the Cockpit: Ross Chastain Remaining Humble with Cup Series Debut

2017 Martinsville Trucks Zach Catanzareti Ross Chastain Bolen Motorsports

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Ross Chastain is getting set to embark on a career milestone. The Florida native, who usually features watermelons on his racecars, will make his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut this weekend at Dover International Speedway with Premium Motorsports in the No. 15 Chevrolet.  Chastain, 24, looks to use his Cup debut as a chance to …

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NASCAR Mailbox: Why is RCR Winning More than JGR?

2017 Nascar Monster Energy Cup Series, Charlotte

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/ NKP)

Winning is everything. There is no trophy for second place in NASCAR. No silver medal. No celebratory champagne. Nothing. Just a runner-up finish on the stat sheet. For the second time this year, Kyle Busch came oh-so-close to Victory Lane, but finished second. This time, it was to Austin Dillon, who earned his first career …

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Beyond the Cockpit: Max Zachem Thriving in 3rd Full NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Season

Max Zachem

(Photo: Max Zachem Facebook)

The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season is in full force. For Max Zachem, the regular grind of putting together his Troyer racecar gives him a chance to spend valuable time with his father, Ken Zachem. This year is different for the Zachem family, though. After acquiring a new spec engine, the team is excelling. Through …

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NASCAR Mailbox: What Does Aric Almirola’s Injury Mean for RPM?

Aric Almirola Kansas 1

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Strapping into a racecar is not as easy as it looks. Each week, whenever I’m sitting in my dorm watching NASCAR, people come up to me with little to no understanding about how the sport works and what it takes to go nearly 200 mph in one of those bulky stock cars. But whenever there …

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NASCAR Mailbox: Why Does Travis Pastrana’s Comeback Matter?

Travis Pastrana

(Photo: Matthew Thacker / NKP)

NASCAR’s entering an era where they’re looking for fresh, big stars. Jeff Gordon is done. Tony Stewart is done. Carl Edwards is done. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is next. So where does that leave the sport? Well, NASCAR is in a delicate state, featuring ratings and attendance declines. But there remains plenty of optimism for the future …

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NASCAR Mailbox: Who Should Replace Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Hendrick Motorsports?

2016 Loudon I Cup Alex Bowman Greg Ives Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

The news is sinking in. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is retiring. Just like Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart, the show must go on. And it will. Drivers come and go, but like Gordon and Stewart, Earnhardt is one of NASCAR’s main ambassadors. His face is plastered on advertisements left and right, creating a diverse collection of appreciation that …

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NASCAR Mailbox: Talk About Racing, Not Events Outside of It

2017 Las Vegas Cup Kyle Busch Brad Keselowski Racing John Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John Harrelson/NKP)

There is a pattern occurring in the sports world that is a bit shocking to some; one that is quite concerning, and frankly a bit absurd. But, at the same time, the counterargument for it is reasonable. Throughout the entire sports world, media personalities and fans are raving about athletes doing things (good or bad) …

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NASCAR Mailbox: How Will Texas Motor Speedway’s Repave Change Racing in the Lone Star State?

2016 Nascar Sprint Cup Series, Texas

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Repaves. Repaves. Repaves. Hate them or love them, it is simply part of motorsports. Let’s be real: You probably don’t love them. But hey, it could be worse. Imagine if tracks did not have the money to repave and suddenly, fans were left with weepers at every facility. Yuck. But as the NASCAR realm adjusts …

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