Race Weekend Central

5 Points to Ponder: A Champions Edition

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

A Worthy Champion Huge congratulations to Chase Elliott on his first Cup championship, matching a feat his father Bill achieved all the way back in 1988. Chase’s dominant, nerveless, winning performances at both Martinsville Speedway and Phoenix Raceway these past two weeks, all with the incessant pressure of the playoff format, showed he is a …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: There Is No Way the Championship 4 Doesn’t Hurt the Sport As a Whole

Nascar Cup Series

#9: Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro NAPA Auto Parts, celebrates after winning the 2020 Nascar Cup Series Championship

It seems so weird to actually be home for the final race weekend of the NASCAR season. For me, this was the first time since 2014 that I’d actually been home for it. The last five season finales were spent in Homestead, dodging rain showers, hiding under souvenir trailers and sweating. We also got interesting …

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The Underdog House: Bubba Wallace Goes Out on Top at Phoenix

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Top Dog Bubba Wallace stood atop the underdog pile when the final checkered flag waved on Sunday at Phoenix Raceway. After a tumultuous season of ups and downs, Wallace put a period on his tenure in the Petty No. 43 with a 15th-place finish. He ran as high as seventh, and at the end of …

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Up to Speed: The Future Is Bright For Hendrick Motorsports

Nascar Cup Series Season Finale 500

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

It wasn’t long ago that Hendrick Motorsports had one of the oldest driver lineups in NASCAR.  Five years ago, at the time of Jeff Gordon’s final race in his famed No. 24 car, the organization’s youngest driver was Kasey Kahne at 35 years old.  With Gordon’s career wrapping up amid a bourgeoning youth movement in …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2020 Season Finale 500 at Phoenix

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? Chase Elliott won the 2020 Season Finale 500 at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday (Nov. 8) after leading a race-high 153 laps. More importantly, he won his first NASCAR Cup Series title in his first Championship 4 appearance. Other title contenders Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin finished second through fourth. Jimmie Johnson …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2020 Season Finale 500

Chase Elliott holds 2020 Bill France trophy Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who… should you be talking about after the 2020 Season Finale 500? At age 24, Chase Elliott joins an elite group as the 34th driver to take the title of NASCAR Cup Series champion. He had to start from the rear of the field at Phoenix Raceway after the No. 9 Chevrolet failed pre-race inspection …

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NASCAR Stat Sheet: A Look Back At Jimmie Johnson’s NASCAR Career

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

We made it! The 2020 NASCAR season is complete. Sure, there was a 10-week stoppage after the first month of the season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The virus limited fans in attendance for most racetracks and created a dent in NASCAR revenue. The playoff itself also had a weird twist; a nine-race winner and …

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Stock Car Scoop: Chase Elliott Wins 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Championship

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Chase Elliott won his first NASCAR Cup Series Championship on Sunday afternoon (Nov. 8) in Phoenix by winning the 2020 Season Finale 500. He beat Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, and Denny Hamlin to take charge in his first Championship 4. What did Elliott have to say after the race? Hear from him in the latest …

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Alan Gustafson Claims 1st NASCAR Cup Championship as Crew Chief

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Alan Gustafson has worked with elite drivers in his career, including current or future NASCAR Hall of Famers Mark Martin, Kyle Busch, and Jeff Gordon. None of them delivered him a NASCAR Cup Series championship, nor did he deliver one to them. In his 16th season as a Cup Series crew chief, he and Chase …

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Bad Pit Stops Hinder Brad Keselowski’s Chance at 2020 Championship

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Ahead of the NASCAR Cup Series championship race at Phoenix Raceway, Brad Keselowski was confident, believing he was one of, if not the favorite for the championship. After all, the No. 2 team had three wins in 2020 on tracks similar to the Phoenix. Because polesitter Chase Elliott had to start at the rear for …

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Jimmie Johnson Finishes 5th in Final Cup Start: ‘My Heart’s Full’

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

In his final start in full-time NASCAR Cup Series competition, Jimmie Johnson secured a top-five finish to close out his 19-year career in the sport’s top division. The seven-time champion hasn’t won a points-paying race since 2017 but secured five top-five finishes, 10 top 10s and 107 laps led in his farewell season. “My heart’s …

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Denny Hamlin Finishes 4th at Phoenix & in Cup Championship

Denny Hamlin scratches his head on pit road at Charlotte Motor Speedway. (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

After a seven-win season led Denny Hamlin to a berth in the NASCAR Cup Series championship round at Phoenix Raceway, the No. 11 team couldn’t seem to find its stride and fell short of the title. “We were a little off handling, but overall car speed, we just didn’t have enough,” Hamlin explained after the …

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