Race Weekend Central

Couch Potato Tuesday: Dale Earnhardt Jr. & NASCAR Championship Overkill On NBC

2017 Kansas Ii Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr John K Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John K. Harrelson/NKP)

On Sunday, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season came to a conclusion at Homestead-Miami Speedway.  It’s pretty obvious what the main topics of discussion were on this day. NBC brought Bob Costas down to Homestead to basically serve as the broadcast’s host.  However, his only real role of note was to interview Dale Earnhardt …

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Damage, Lost Track Position Cost Kevin Harvick at Homestead

2017 Homestead Cup Kevin Harvick Car Phil Allaway

(Photo: Phil Allaway)

For a good chunk of Sunday’s Ford EcoBoost 400, Kevin Harvick was sitting in title contention.  While the 2014 Cup champion never led the race, he ran as high as second.  The No. 4 Ford didn’t have the speed to challenge Kyle Larson early on but was every bit of a match for Kyle Busch …

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Danica Patrick Ends Full-Time Career in Flames

2017 Daytona Cup Zach Catanzareti Danica Patrick

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Sunday’s Ford EcoBoost 400 was the last race in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series for Danica Patrick as a full-time driver. Unfortunately for Patrick, her last intermediate track race in NASCAR ended in flames. On lap 142, the Stewart-Haas Racing driver was running a lap down in 18th when she got loose entering turn …

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Brian France, Brent Dewar Give NASCAR State of the Sport

2017 Xfinity Richmond Zach Catanzareti Brian France

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Sunday morning, NASCAR CEO Brian France and president Brent Dewar addressed the media at Homestead-Miami Speedway.  Last year’s press conference was a contentious one for a number of different reasons.  This time, it was a more subdued environment as the two executives gave wrap-up comments on the 2017 season. France started out the conference by …

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Ill-Handling BRANDT Chevrolet Disappoints Justin Allgaier

2017 Xfinity Homestead Justin Allgaier Pit Stop Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty / NKP)

Justin Allgaier didn’t exactly enter Saturday’s Ford EcoBoost 300 under ideal circumstances to race for a championship. In the end, those circumstances left him coming up short in the title chase. Last weekend at Phoenix, his No. 7 Chevrolet was found with an unapproved rear brake assembly, resulting in a suspension for crew chief Jason …

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Martin Truex Jr. Fastest in Ford EcoBoost 400 Happy Hour

2017 Homestead Cup Martin Truex Jr. Car Phil Allaway

(Photo: Phil Allaway)

If there has been a constant at Homestead-Miami Speedway so far in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, it has been Martin Truex Jr.‘s pace right out of the box on fresh tires.  Happy Hour was more of the same. On his very first lap of practice, Truex turned in a time of 31.543 seconds …

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Tyler Reddick Wins Pole For Ford EcoBoost 300

2017 Homestead Nxs Tyler Reddick Car Phil Allaway

(Photo: Phil Allaway)

Tyler Reddick certainly saved his best for last. During NASCAR XFINITY Series qualifying, right when it counted, Chip Ganassi Racing’s Reddick laid down a lap of 32.604 seconds (165.624 mph).  That was good enough to claim the pole for Saturday’s Ford EcoBoost 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Reddick’s lap, nearly 0.150 seconds quicker than Stewart-Haas Racing’s Cole …

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Goodyear Tires Renews Deal as NASCAR’s Exclusive Tire for National Series

Goodyear Tires ready for NASCAR action. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

On Saturday morning, NASCAR announced that Goodyear has renewed their sponsorship agreement with the sanctioning body.  As a result, they’ll remain as NASCAR’s exclusive tire supplier for the sport’s top three national series (Monster Energy NASCAR Cup, XFINITY, and Camping World Trucks).  The five-year deal begins with the start of the 2018 season. Goodyear tires …

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Looseness Curbs Matt Crafton’s Championship Chances at Homestead

2017 Homestead Cwts Matt Crafton Truck Phil Allaway

(Photo: Phil Allaway)

Matt Crafton came into Friday night’s Ford EcoBoost 200 with just as good of a chance to claim the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series title as the other Championship 4 contenders.  However, as the 200-mile race wound on, the Black Label Bacon/Menards Toyota just fell further away from the lead pack. As Harry Hogge once …

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William Byron Fastest in Ford EcoBoost 300 Final Practice

2017 Homestead Nxs William Byron Car Phil Allaway

(Photo: Phil Allaway)

JR Motorsports’ William Byron appears to be in a very good position to have a great run on Saturday.  The XFINITY Series rookie and championship contender was fastest overall with a lap of 32.513 seconds (166.087 mph), the fastest XFINITY lap of the day. Byron’s quick time was eight-hundredths of a second faster than Richard …

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Chase Briscoe Wins Ford EcoBoost 200 Pole

2017 Loudon Cwts Chase Briscoe Truck Phil Allaway

(Photo: Phil Allaway)

Brad Keselowski Racing proved that it’s not going to go out quietly.  Chase Briscoe claimed the pole for Friday night’s Ford EcoBoost 200 with a lap of 32.239 seconds (167.499 mph) in the final round of Camping World Truck Series qualifying. Briscoe’s lap was three-hundredths of a second faster than Ben Rhodes, who lines up …

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