Race Weekend Central

Stock Car Scoop: Reaction to Silly Season News, New Hampshire Preview

Harrison Burton smiles in his DEX Imaging firesuit at 2021 Road America NASCAR Xfinity race, photo NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The usual suspects on Stock Car Scoop are back: Frontstretch‘s Bryan Nolen and Adam Cheek reunite to discuss the favorites for the NASCAR Cup Series’ visit to New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday (July 18), its only race there this year. Nolen and Cheek also break down the announcement of Harrison Burton climbing the ladder …

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Friday Faceoff: Should NASCAR Take a Summer Vacation Every Year?

Tyler Reddick stands next to his car at 2021 spring Kansas Cup race NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Should NASCAR continue to schedule back-to-back off-weekends in the late summer even when no Summer Olympics are being held? Trenton Worsham: Not back to back, but it’d be nice for it to have two or three more weeks off scattered out throughout the year as bye weeks. Josh Roller: I like the idea of a late …

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4 Burning Questions: What’s Next for Xfinity Silly Season?

Austin Cindric wins 2021 Pocono NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who did Wood Brothers Racing hire? After a hint from Door Bumper Clear earlier in the week, it was made official July 15 that in 2022, Austin Cindric will take over the No. 2 for Team Penske in the NASCAR Cup Series while Harrison Burton will take over the venerable No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing …

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Fire on Fridays: Where Does Matt DiBenedetto Go Now?

Matt DiBenedetto

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

I love to imagine Roger Penske sitting down a few weeks ago, opening the illustrious NASCAR website Frontstretch on his browser, reading this article and saying, “Well, that settles it. Time to make a call.” To be clear, much of the last paragraph is said in jest. Roger Penske does not read Frontstretch. Frontstretch is anything …

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Harrison Burton: ‘Hard to Say No’ to Ford, Wood Brothers Racing

2021 Charlotte NXS Harrison Burton NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Recently, former NASCAR Cup driver and NBC Sports analyst Jeff Burton helped his son Harrison Burton pick out a suit for an important meeting. The younger Burton wasn’t even sure what the meeting was about. As the world found out Thursday morning (July 15), the meeting led to Harrison Burton being named the driver of …

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Matt DiBenedetto on Free Agency: ‘I Was Just at a Loss for Words’

Matt DiBenedetto smiling at 2021 NASCAR Cup Series race at Circuit of the Americas NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The news finally broke this morning: Matt DiBenedetto is indeed a free agent. DiBenedetto will not return to Wood Brothers Racing’s No. 21 in 2022, with Harrison Burton driving the car in the NASCAR Cup Series after this season. His original replacement, Austin Cindric, will move to Team Penske’s No. 2. After the news came …

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Harrison Burton to Drive For Wood Brothers Racing in 2022

Matt DiBenedetto during the Instacart 500k at Phoenix Raceway, 3/14/2021 (Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Harrison Burton has been tapped by Wood Brother Racing to drive its iconic No. 21 Ford in the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season, the team announced Thursday, July 15. Burton, the son of former Cup driver Jeff Burton, will take over the ride from Matt DiBenedetto, who has driven the car since 2020. Austin Cindric …

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Team Penske Taps Austin Cindric to Drive No. 2 Cup Car in 2022

Brad Keselowski during the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, 5/30/2021 (Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Defending Xfinity Series champion Austin Cindric will drive Team Penske’s No. 2 Ford in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2022, the organization announced Thursday, July 15. Cindric, 22, will take over the ride from Brad Keselowski, as Team Penske confirmed that the 2012 Cup champion will depart the team to “pursue other opportunities.” Keselowski has …

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Holding a Pretty Wheel: Perception, Reality & NASCAR’s Million-Dollar Problem

Nascar Cup Series

#10: Aric Almirola, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford Mustang Smithfield

There was once a young driver with a reputation for winning. He built a name for himself at the local bullrings, racing — and sometimes winning — against drivers twice his age and who had been racing before he was born. He scraped together what sponsorship he could, and put more than he could probably …

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Kyle Larson to Remain With Hendrick Through 2023

2021 Pocono Cup Kyle Larson car NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Kyle Larson has signed an extension with Hendrick Motorsports to stay with the team in the NASCAR Cup Series through 2023, according to The Associated Press. The team confirmed the news in a press release. Larson will have sponsorship from HendrickCars.com in the majority of races (35). The website has been aboard the No. 5 …

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Zach’s Turn: Has Hendrick Motorsports Taken a Step Back?

Hendrick Motorsports Alex Bowman Denny Hamlin Atlanta 2021

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Asking whether Hendrick Motorsports has taken a step back in the midst of its best season in years probably seems absurd on the surface. The dominant four-car organization has won seven of the last nine NASCAR Cup Series races, headed mainly by Kyle Larson, and most recently won just two races ago at Road America, …

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