Race Weekend Central

Double Take: The Tale of the No. 44

Although Brian Scott in his retirement statement on Thursday claimed that his No. 44 Ford is “a new team”, the reality is that the Richard Petty Motorsports ride enjoys one of the most interesting lineages currently seen in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series garage. Recently, the team has underperformed, failing to tally a top-20 finish in …

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Double Take: Will NASCAR’s New XFINITY, Truck Limitations Actually Do Anything?

2016 Chicago Nxs Pack Racing Nighel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

This week, NASCAR changed the rules on Sprint Cup Series driver eligibility in the XFINITY Series and the Camping World Truck Series. After years of no involvement with an issue many criticized the sport for, NASCAR finally sprung into action. But make no mistake, these rules aren’t going to change anything. Of the five Sprint …

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Double Take: Jeffrey Earnhardt Not Only One Carrying on Legacy Sunday

2015 Daytona International Speedway Nscs Bobby Labonte Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

For a few months it looked like one of the most iconic names at Talladega Superspeedway would be absent from this weekend’s festivities. The Earnhardt name has a long and rich history at the facility, one that has won over 20 races in several different series over the past three decades. However, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.’s concussion …

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Double Take: Past Kansas Winners’ Chances Come 2016

2016 Loudon I Cup Joey Logano Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Sort of an interesting stat: In recent memory, Kansas Speedway has been dominated by drivers still driving in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase. Save for Jeff Gordon’s win in the 2014 spring race, current Chase drivers can lay claim to all checkered flags at the 1.5-mile track since 2011. That’s right, all but Gordon are still …

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Double Take: Yes, There Is Life Outside of the Chase

2016 Indianapolis Cup Ryan Blaney Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

Much of the conversation in NASCAR right now is focused on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chase field, and rightfully so. After all, one of those 16 drivers will end the season with the series championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway. But hey, look, there are still 24 other drivers who will take the green flag in Sunday’s race …

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Double Take: Hendrick Motorsports’ Toyota Coup

2016 Atlanta Cwts William Byron Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

With William Byron announcing he’ll be racing for JR Motorsports in 2017, it sent shockwaves through the sport. Few expected this, Byron jumping ship from Kyle Busch Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing. He seemed on pace to become the next Erik Jones, following his slightly older teammate into Cup via JGR or a Toyota alliance. But …

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Double Take: A Chris Buescher-Inspired ‘Where Are They Now?’

2016 Indianapolis Cup Chris Buescher Michael Annett Racing Logan Whitton Nkp

(Photo: Logan Whitton/NKP)

When Chris Buescher was declared the winner of the Pennsylvania 400 on Monday, he joined an elite list of drivers as a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winner. He is the 185th different winner in Cup history, and his win was the fourth ever for the No. 34, his car number. In honor of Buescher’s first-ever …

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Double Take: 22 Hendrick Drivers Played Part in Getting to 1,000 Top 5s

2016 Loudon I Cup Chase Elliott Jimmie Johnson Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

You may have heard that Hendrick Motorsports is just one top 5 away from 1,000 in the Sprint Cup. Just take a moment and let that sink in: Hendrick Motorsports has placed a driver in the top 12.5 percent of the field on 999 occasions. Its most-accomplished driver, Jeff Gordon, has only raced 797 races in …

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Double Take: New Kentucky Surface Could Lead to Troubles for Past Winners

Kentucky Rain

(Photo: Aaron Bearden, Frontstretch)

NASCAR is heading to a brand-new track this weekend: Kentucky Speedway. OK, it’s not new in the sense that teams have never been to the facility before, but in the fact that the track itself has undergone a huge renovation in the past year. Gone is the old asphalt, bumpy and rough and tough to …

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