Race Weekend Central

Talk Dirt-y to Me: Pros & Cons of Expanding Eldora Dirt Derby

Nascar Camping World Truck Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Anybody watch any good races this week? Following the sixth installment of Tony Stewart’s salute to sediment, the racing world, fans particularly, are clamoring for an expansion of the midweek, new summer classic at Eldora Speedway. What started as a novelty event when Stewart acquired the facility back in 2008 has established itself as one …

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Voice of Vito: How Much Is Enough? Brands, Fans & Rules Packages Under the Microscope

#4: Kevin Harvick, Stewart Haas Racing, Ford Fusion Jimmy John's, #11: Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Camry Fedex Express, #3: Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet Camaro Dow Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

There seems to be a bit of hand-wringing as of late over not just the state of NASCAR from a fan perspective, but also from a competitive standpoint. The talk dominating the airwaves and social media circles (aside from vacation vids) the past few days has run the gamut from questioning the talent level at …

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The Class of 1993: Latest NASCAR Hall of Fame Group Forever Linked by Unforgettable Season

Jeff Gordon, one of just two drivers to capture the sport's Winston Million. (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Not all NASCAR Hall of Fame class selections are easy ones. A fan favorite or forgotten pioneer always gets left off, and feelings of resentment result. Many take it as a personal insult and affront if their favorite driver, crew chief or commentator isn’t enshrined in a timely manner. And to think some say nobody …

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Bayne of His Existence: Does Matt Kenseth’s Arrival Translate to Trevor Bayne’s Imminent Demise?

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

Might Trevor Bayne's six become nine? (Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

“Were you expecting somebody else?” As Mark Martin took to the podium Wednesday at the NASCAR Hall of Fame to introduce the next driver of the flagship No. 6 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing, rumors ran rampant over what the actual nature of this announcement would be. Was there a shakeup coming at Roush Fenway? …

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Voice of Vito: NASCAR Ups & Downs in the Off-Week

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Heading into the Easter weekend break, there are a number of notable items that are ripe for discussion at this point in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season: who’s hot, who’s not, the usual state of the sport hand-wringing that has become en vogue the past few (well, several) seasons, and what we can …

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Making Sense of Fuzzy Math, Rigged Roofs, and the 48’s Folly

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/ NKP)

Making Sense of Series Stats With Kevin Harvick’s win Sunday in Las Vegas, his career total of NASCAR wins reached a milestone mark of 100 wins. As a result, the graphs touting the win total along with Kyle Busch at 184, compared to Richard Petty’s 200 Cup Series wins and David Pearson’s 105 wins started …

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NASCAR Top 10 Storylines 2017: Darrell Wallace Jr. Finally Snags a Full-Time Ride with RPM

2017 Texas Darrell Wallace Jr. Richard Petty Motorsports Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

The 2017 NASCAR season was the end of an era, on a number of different levels. Actually, the season began with one of its most familiar faces calling it quits before the green flag even fell over Speedweeks. The year finished in a similar vein, as the driving careers of two drivers who rose to …

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Voice Of Vito: Can Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dominate One Last Time At ‘Dega?

2017 Atlanta Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr Car Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Consistency or Conspiracy with NASCAR No-Call? Heading into Talladega this weekend, there are three big storylines: the last ride for Dale Earnhardt Jr. at his most successful track, can Ricky Stenhouse Jr. sweep Talladega and make it into the next round of the playoffs, and is there an underdog who can come from relative obscurity …

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Voice of Vito: Reflections on Richmond, Sponsor Drama & Danica Patrick’s Future

Darlington Cup 2017 Martin Truex Jr Throwback Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

If you were looking for some late-season NASCAR drama, you got it dumped over your head in bucketfuls this week. From ambulances gone awry to calling out the sanctioning body for the timing of caution flags to CEOs spouting off about the icon of icons in motorsports, it was the type of perpetuating storyline that …

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Voice of Vito: Toyotas Vs. Tires

2017 Cup New Hampshire Zach Catanzareti Brad Keselowski Ryan Blaney

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

There was a lot of politicking at Michigan International Speedway last weekend, reminiscent of the 1990s and early 2000s back and forth among the manufacturers. The rumor was that NASCAR was planning on taking cars to the wind tunnel after the race, as it is the final intermediate track race, which make up the majority …

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Voice of Vito: Knowing When To Fold ‘Em and Top NASCAR Silly Season Rides Revisited for 2018

Nascar 2017 Cup Jason Ratcliff Matt Kenseth Nascar (photo: Nigel Kinrade / Nkp)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Chasing Amy Following the unveiling of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Darlington throwback scheme on Tuesday, Junior Nation was at odds with one another, as well as an Earnhardt. What, they didn’t dig the AC Delco scheme that Junior piloted to two consecutive titles in 1998 and 1999? Sorry, wrong Earnhardt. It’s actually Dale Jr.’s wife, Amy, enduring …

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Voice of Vito: Injustice in XFINITY

2017 Atlanta Cup Denny Hamlin Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Taking Candy from a Baby – with a Bat Denny Hamlin’s last-lap battle with William Byron to win the NASCAR XFINITY Series’ Irish Hills 250 Saturday at Michigan International Speedway, was yet another checkmark next to the growing list of reasons of why Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers competing in the lower-tier XFINITY and …

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