Race Weekend Central

Friday Face-off: Can NASCAR Learn from Pokemon GO?

2016 Charlotte Cwts Pack Racing I Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

What variable from Saturday’s race at Kentucky stood out the most to you – the racetrack’s repave and reconfiguration, Goodyear’s conservative tire choice or the low-low downforce package?  Bryan Gable, Staff Writer: I’ll go with the repave.  Goodyear’s decision to bring the super-hard tires probably contributed more to the state of the racing, but the repave was …

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Friday Faceoff: Time for Dale Earnhardt, Jr. to Panic?

2016 Martinsville I Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr Matthre T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T Thacker/NKP)

NASCAR announced a few changes to qualifying, including using owner points instead of practice speeds to determine the lineup if qualifying is rained out and giving a provisional spot to an open team during the Chase if that team makes the playoffs.  Was this the right move at midseason, or should NASCAR have waited until …

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Friday Faceoff: Should Excessive Burnouts Put Teams on the Hot Seat?

2016 Kansas I Cup Kevin Harvick Racing Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

Three races into his return, Tony Stewart is making up some ground on 30th in points, the Chase cut-off for a driver with a win.  How likely does that win look for Stewart in the next 15 races? Clayton Caldwell, Contributor: I hate to say it, but not very likely. I think Stewart-Haas Racing/Hendrick Motorsports …

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NASCAR Mailbox: Gauging Tony Stewart’s Chase Chances

Tony Stewart Bank Of America 500 2015 Charlotte Cup Mike Neff

(Photo Credit: Mike Neff, Frontstretch)

Another week and another win for Joe Gibbs Racing. It’s more clear than ever that JGR has become the elite team in NASCAR in 2016. Every week we go to the racetrack and it seems as though a Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota is the class of the field. At Kansas, it was Martin Truex Jr.’s …

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Friday Face-off: Can Rowdy Catch Superman?

2016 Texas I Cup Jimmie Johnson Kyle Busch Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

Kyle Busch scored the 36th win of his career Saturday night in Texas.  He’s currently 17th on the all-time wins list and third among active drivers (Jimmie Johnson ranks first with 77 and Tony Stewart is second with 48).  Will Busch eclipse Johnson’s total before he’s done? Clayton Caldwell, Contributor: It’s a great question. Busch …

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NASCAR Mailbox: Matt Kenseth’s Struggles

2016 Martinsville I Cup Matt Kenseth Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Man, do I love Martinsville! It doesn’t get much better than good old fashioned short track racing! I was a surprised to see Kyle Busch win just because his track record on flat tracks was sub-par. However, I believe running the Camping World Truck Series race on Saturday helped Busch in the Cup race on Sunday. …

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Friday Faceoff: So, Who Should Have Been Fined?

2016 Fontana Cup Trevor Bayne Pack Racing Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

Both Kyle Busch and Cole Pearn faced penalties for post-race comments over the weekend, and Busch was ultimately fined and placed on probation for not meeting postrace media obligations. Penalties were considered but not given when Busch accused NASCAR of fixing the NXS race on his team radio while Pearn took to Twitter to sling …

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Comers and Goers: 2016 Rule Package a Blessing for Some, Not so Much for Others

2016 Phoenix I Cup Carl Edwards Kyle Busch Racing Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

It’s evident every time there is a new rules package that comes into NASCAR that some teams will hit on the setup immediately and others will take longer to figure it out. Heading into the 2016 season, everyone knew that with the lower downforce package, that reality was very possible. We are three races into the new …

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Friday Faceoff: Will Matt Kenseth Turn it Around?

2016 Las Vegas Cup Matt Kenseth Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade NKP)

Matt Kenseth, who entered the season as a title favorite, has yet to score a top-10 finish through three races.  Is it time for the No. 20 team to hit the panic button, or is the slow start just a bump in the road? Dustin Albino, Contributor: Matt Kenseth has had an opportunity to win …

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Friday Faceoff: Did NASCAR Add Too Many Gimmicks?

2015 Martinsville I Cup Tony Stewart Racingcredit Amy Henderson

(Photo: Amy Henderson)

NASCAR announced several changes last week, including a caution clock in the Truck Series. Is this going to change anything in terms of what fans see on track and/or for race teams? Clayton Caldwell, Contributor: The caution clock was a gut shot to me when I first heard it. I don’t mind the Chase in …

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Sunday Showdown: Who Will the Title Sponsor Be?

Nscs Logo

Credit: NASCAR

Several teams have announced new drivers across NASCAR’s national divisions this month. Among them are Brian Scott in the No. 9 Richard Petty Motorsports Cup ride, Chris Buescher in a Cup ride with Front Row Motorsports and Ben Rhodes moving to Thorsport Racing in the Camping World Truck Series. Which driver will have the biggest …

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2015 NASCAR Rewind: Aric Almirola

Aric Almirola waits in the garage between practice sessions for the 2015 Bojangles' Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)­­

You couldn’t say it wasn’t an interesting year for Aric Almirola and his No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports team. The team made the Chase for the Sprint Cup in the 2014 season and was looking to do that again as they headed into the 2015 season. Instead, the season would be marked by decent consistency that was …

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