Race Weekend Central

NASCAR Plans to Convert Auto Club Speedway into Short Track for 2022 Season

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The sanctioning body of NASCAR plans to convert Auto Club Speedway in California into a half-mile short track, according to a report by The Athletic released Tuesday (Sept. 8). NASCAR submitted a proposal to San Bernardino County on Tuesday. The project would involve changes to the track as it stands, as well as decreasing the …

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Beside the Rising Tide: After the Boys of Summer Are Gone 

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

With Labor Day weekend marking the traditional (though not actual) end of the summer season, I fear other plans might have caused some of you to miss Saturday’s (Sept. 5) NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Darlington Raceway. If you did, that’s too bad, because it was arguably one of the best NASCAR-sanctioned races of this …

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5 Points to Ponder: A Glass Case of (Playoff) Emotion

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Ryan Blaney Is in a Hole It’s fair to say that Ryan Blaney began the playoffs at Darlington Raceway in the worst of all possible manners. Improperly mounted ballast saw Blaney lose both his crew chief for the race and 10 of his 13 hard-earned playoff points, not to mention having to start at the …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Darlington Brings Wall Contact & Horses to Play

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Oh yes, Darlington. On Labor Day weekend, this is where NASCAR fans go to sweat gallons of fluid and take in some interesting racing. Viewers had three very different races on the schedule on the egg-shaped oval. Cook Out Southern 500 The centerpiece of Throwback Weekend was 500 miles at Darlington Raceway. I don’t think …

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The Underdog House: Michael McDowell Rides Again In Darlington

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Top Dog Michael McDowell spent numerous weeks being highlighted in this category earlier in the season, as he and his Front Row Motorsports teammate John Hunter Nemechek divided most of the top finishes between themselves. Lately, things have taken a less favorable turn. Coming into Sunday’s event at Darlington Raceway, McDowell had finished outside the …

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Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer Crew Chiefs Suspended After Darlington Inspection Woes

Two NASCAR Cup Series crew chiefs are facing penalties after Sunday night’s (Sept. 6) Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. Head wrenches Adam Stevens and Johnny Klausmeier were each suspended for Saturday night’s Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond Raceway, as well as being fined $20,000 for two loose lug nuts. Stevens coached Kyle …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? Kevin Harvick won the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on Sunday night (Sept. 6) after late contact between leaders Chase Elliott and Martin Truex Jr. It was Harvick’s third Southern 500 win and eighth of the season, tying a career high. Austin Dillon, Joey Logano, Erik Jones and William Byron rounded …

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Stock Car Scoop: Kevin Harvick Talks Darlington Win, ‘It Wasn’t Pretty’

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Kevin Harvick capitalized on the misfortunes of Chase Elliott and Martin Truex Jr. to win his eighth race of the season on Sunday night. What were his thoughts after the 2020 Southern 500? Find out in the Sept. 7 edition of Stock Car Scoop. Frontstretch‘s newest podcast focused on the motorsports news of the week …

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NASCAR Stat Sheet: Could Daniel Hemric’s Dismal Season Ruin His NASCAR Future?

Nascar Xfinity Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

NASCAR’s annual Throwback Weekend at Darlington Raceway brings out all the old and unique paint schemes and this year was no different. For the first time in playoff history, though, the Cup Series playoff opener was held at The Track Too Tough to Tame. All three national touring races had their moments this weekend, headlined …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2020 Cook Out Southern 500

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who… should you be talking about after the Cook Out Southern 500? Winning at Darlington Raceway isn’t always about beating the competition. Kevin Harvick won his second Darlington race of 2020 by racing the Lady in Black herself, while ahead of him, two drivers forgot that cardinal rule and raced each other instead. Martin Truex …

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Up to Speed: The Petty Family Versus the Lady in Black

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(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The list of drivers who have dominated at Darlington Raceway reads like a NASCAR honor roll.  David Pearson holds the record for most wins in NASCAR’s top division there with 10 victories.  After Pearson’s run ended, Dale Earnhardt took over and nearly equaled the Silver Fox’s feat by claiming nine wins.  Other NASCAR Hall of …

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Austin Dillon Offers Strong Showing in Playoff Opener at Darlington

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Austin Dillon was on many people’s list as a first-round exit from the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs but proved Sunday night (Sept. 6) that he’ll be a tough out. Dillon wheeled his No. 3 Chevrolet to a stout second-place finish in the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, adding plenty of momentum to …

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