Race Weekend Central

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Martin Truex Jr. Rides Clean Air to Pocono Victory

2018 Pocono Cup Zach Catanzareti Martin Truex Jr.

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Who’s in the headline Martin Truex Jr. started the Pocono 400 by winning the first stage and ended it with a trip to Victory Lane. After a strong early performance, the jack falling on a pit stop left him 14th and it took most of the race to work back through traffic. Truex’s misfortune, combined with a …

Read more

Tech Talk: Mike Wheeler Talks Suspension, Brakes & Shifting for Pocono

Martinsville Cup Mike Wheeler 2018 Mike Neff

Crew chief Mike Wheeler on the No. 11 box

After the longest race of the season, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series prepares to head to one of the four longest ovals on the schedule. The triangle-shaped Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa., offers very unique challenges for the teams and crew chiefs. Mike Wheeler is preparing the No. 11 for Denny Hamlin to …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Kyle Busch Crushes Coca-Cola 600

2018 Kyle Busch Richmond Cup Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who’s in the headline Kyle Busch came into the 59th Coca-Cola 600 with a points win on every active Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series track except Charlotte Motor Speedway. Not only did he check the box next to Charlotte, he also did it in truly dominating fashion. In the only four-stage race on the Cup …

Read more

Tech Talk: Splitter Clearance & Pit Stop Choreography With Trent Owens

Trent Owens Martinsville Cup 2018 Mike Neff

The Monster Energy Open was the first laps in anger with the restrictor plate aero package at Charlotte Motor Speedway. AJ Allmendinger won the final stage, while his JTG Daugherty Racing teammate Chris Buescher came home in fifth. Trent Owens, crew chief for Buescher, wasn’t able to take much away from the experience for the …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Kevin Harvick Shines Brightest Among All-Stars

#4: Kevin Harvick, Stewart Haas Racing, Ford Fusion Jimmy John's Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who’s in the headline Kevin Harvick continues to flex his muscle as the best in the sport in 2018. Harvick won the second All-Star Race of his career Saturday night, with his other win coming over a decade ago in 2007. And in about as dominating a fashion as anyone could in a race where …

Read more

Tech Talk: Justin Alexander Prepares for Radical All-Star Rules Package

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Quaker State 400 Kentucky Speedway, Sparta, Ky Usa Friday 7 July 2017 Justin Alexander World Copyright: Logan Whitton Nkp

(Photo: Logan Whitton/NKP)

This weekend is a reward, or at least that is what it is supposed to be. Drivers and teams who have won a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race since 2017, along with winners of the All-Star Race in the last 10 years get to showcase their talents in front of many of the people …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Kevin Harvick Slathers Competition in Kansas

#4: Kevin Harvick, Stewart Haas Racing, Ford Fusion Busch Light Celebrates His Win Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who’s in the headline Kevin Harvick continues to confirm the belief that Ford is the manufacturer to beat in 2018 in Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. For the fifth time in 12 races, Harvick was in Victory Lane. He started the year with three wins in a row after the Daytona 500 and has now …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Kevin Harvick Sweeps Up Dover

#4: Kevin Harvick, Stewart Haas Racing, Ford Fusion Jimmy John's Celebrates In Victory Lane After Winning Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who’s in the headline After a drought of six long races, Kevin Harvick is back in Victory Lane. The No. 4 Ford was the most dominant car all weekend at Dover and it showed throughout the race. Harvick started on the outside of the front row with the second fastest qualifying time. He led the …

Read more

Tech Talk: Mike Wheeler on Bump Stop Material, Hard Landing & Pit Road Practice

Martinsville Cup Mike Wheeler 2018 Mike Neff

Crew chief Mike Wheeler on the No. 11 box

A typical Talladega race ended with some people thrilled, some people angry and others just disappointed. For Mike Wheeler and the No. 11 team, it was a disappointing race thanks to self-imposed difficulties after back-to-back pit road speeding penalties with driver Denny Hamlin. Looking to rebound, the team is preparing to head to the first …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Joey Logano Back in Victory Lane After a Year

2018 Joey Logano Talladega Cup

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who’s in the headline Joey Logano won the race at Richmond last spring only to have the win “encumbered.” That was the last time he graced Victory Lane in a Cup race until Sunday. This time around, he was not to be denied, leading four times for a total of 70 laps, including the final …

Read more

Tech Talk: Discussing Talladega Rule Changes & Rear Spoilers With Trent Owens

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Pennzoil 400 Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, Nv Usa Friday 2 March 2018 Chris Buescher, Jtg Daugherty Racing, Chevrolet Camaro Natural Light And Trent Owens World Copyright: Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

In 2018, NASCAR did away with special aero packages just for the restrictor plate tracks. Now, teams utilize the same rules at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway that they run at every other track on the schedule. There are differences in what the car uses to establish the racing platform, but the scanning system that …

Read more