Race Weekend Central

XFINITY Breakdown: Drive for the Cure 300

Alex Bowman Indy

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker / NKP)

Since being announced as the replacement for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 88, Alex Bowman has earned his share of detractors. Entering the Drive for the Cure 300, the knock has been Bowman’s winless resume in all three of NASCAR’s top national touring series. Time to go ahead and cross that criticism off the list. Bowman …

Read more

Tech Talk: Cooling, Bumps & New Rules with Drew Blickensderfer

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Pure Michigan 400 Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Mi Usa Friday 11 August 2017 Drew Blickensderfer And Richard Petty World Copyright: Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs are hot and heavy heading into Charlotte Motor Speedway, and the time constraints on teams are ramping up. Drew Blickensderfer and the No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports team, driven by Aric Almirola, has had a challenging season with the team’s driver having to sit out while recovering from a broken …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Late Pass Gives Kyle Busch Victory Over Chase Elliott at Dover

Dover

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Who’s in the headline – We’ve seen it happen multiple times at Dover International Speedway as the No. 48 team makes a late-race charge to lead a handful of laps and win the race. It wasn’t the No. 48 car Sunday, but it was the No. 18 team. Kyle Busch dropped like a stone in …

Read more

Tech Talk: Justin Alexander Talks Suspension, Aero & Strategy for Dover

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)

After two races in the playoffs, the No. 3 of Austin Dillon is in a tie with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. for the final spot to transfer into the second round of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. Making the playoffs is a big deal for an organization, but advancing is what it is all …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Kyle Busch Sneaks by With New Hampshire Win

Loudon

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Who’s In The Headline After events conspired against him at Chicagoland Speedway, the stars aligned for Kyle Busch in Loudon to allow him to win his 41st career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race. He was in second place at the mid-point of the race when Kevin Harvick spun and ended up sideways in the middle …

Read more

Tech Talk: Tires, Drive Off & Turning Are On Jason Ratcliff’s Mind

Jason Ratcliff Charlotte Cup 2017 Mike Neff

Being in the final 16 of the playoffs in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series adds a lot of pressure to race teams for sure, and that was evident at Chicagoland Speedway last Sunday when people were speeding on pit road, leaving lug nuts loose and jumping over the wall early. The pressure will only …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Martin Truex Jr. Slimes His Way to First Win of the Playoffs

2017 Chicago Cup Martin Truex Jr Slimed Logan Whitton Nkp

(Photo: Logan Whitton / NKP)

Who’s in the headline – The best driver and team for the vast majority of 2017 has been Martin Truex Jr. and the No. 78. They made another statement in the first race of the playoffs with a dominating performance over the second half at Chicagoland Speedway. Truex already has the playoff points necessary to waltz …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Kyle Larson Survives Smoke, Safety Vehicles & Overtime to Win Richmond

2017 Richmond Ii Cup Kyle Larson Checkered Flag Nigel Kinrade Nkp

Who’s in the headline – It had to happen eventually. Kyle Larson is too good of a racecar driver to only win on two-mile racetracks. Richmond Raceway is a track that will highlight a drivers ability more than most any other one, so it would make sense that someone with Larson’s talent would shine there. In …

Read more

Tech Talk: Tony Gibson Talks Tires, Brakes & Strategies for Richmond

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Nra Night Race Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tn Usa Friday 18 August 2017 Tony Gibson, Kurt Busch, Stewart Haas Racing, Monster Energy/haas Automation Ford Fusion. World Copyright: John K Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John K Harrelson/NKP)

The No. 41 team had another strong run on Sunday to come home third at Darlington Raceway. The team is running strong over the last few races, just in time to make a run at a title. Strategy calls by crew chief Tony Gibson put the team in position to win in last week’s Southern …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Denny Hamlin Sweeps Darlington Weekend With Late-Race Charge

Denny Hamlin Darlington

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Who’s in the headline – Denny Hamlin was thrust into an alternate pit strategy when Martin Truex Jr. short pitted on his penultimate pit stop and then made his final stop with just over 50 laps to go. When the No. 11 driver attempted to hit pit road on lap 314, he missed the entrance …

Read more