Race Weekend Central

Rick Hendrick Like a Father Figure to Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., Rick Hendrick Hugging

(Photo: Dustin Albino)

It was obvious that Dale Earnhardt Jr. was going to be emotional heading into Sunday’s Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. However, the most emotional was when the 18-year Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series veteran was greeted by team owner Rick Hendrick right before he climbed into the No. 88 machine. Earnhardt spent the final …

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Kyle Busch Frustrated at Runner-Up Championship Finish

Cup 2017 Homestead Zach Catanzareti Kyle Busch

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

With just over 40 laps to go, Kyle Busch looked like he was in control of the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. His No. 18 Toyota was gaining nearly a second on the leaders, fresh tires and a late-race pit strategy giving Busch the edge. But then, the caution flew. A blown left rear tire …

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2017 Frontstretch Podcast: William Byron Breaks Through

William Byron Championship

(Photo: Lesley Ann Miller /NKP)

Listen to the latest Frontstretch Podcast about William Byron‘s XFINITY Series championship with Tom Bowles, Dustin Albino, Zach Catanzareti, and Joseph Wolkin. In a special edition of the Frontstretch Podcast live from Homestead-Miami Speedway, a handful of our writers (Dustin, Zach, Joe and Tom) break down Saturday’s XFINITY Series championship race. William Byron earned his first NASCAR title, sneaking by Elliott Sadler in …

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XFINITY Breakdown: Cole Custer Earns 1st Victory, William Byron Captures Title

2017 Nascar Xfinity Series, Homestead

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Saturday’s Ford EcoBoost 300 was the Cole Custer show — everyone else was second-class. The driver of the No. 00 grabbed the lead for the first time shortly after lap 10 and put on a quite the battle with Tyler Reddick for the race lead until lap 60. Right after the beginning of the second …

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Brendan Gaughan Done Racing NASCAR Full-Time

Brendan Gaughan Dover

(Photo: Logan Whitton / NKP)

Leading up to the green flag of Saturday’s Ford EcoBoost 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, there was much speculation regarding Brendan Gaughan‘s NASCAR future. Following a 13th-place effort, the 21-year veteran confirmed he was finished as a full-time driver in this sport. “It’s never my last race, but it will probably be my last full-time race,” …

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2017 Frontstretch Podcast: Danica Patrick Steps Away

Danica Patrick 2017 Homestead Zach Catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Frontstretch Podcast about Danica Patrick retirement with Tom Bowles, Phil Allaway, Dustin Albino, Zach Catanzareti and Joseph Wolkin. ALBINO: Danica Patrick Steps Away From Racing In a special edition of the Frontstretch Podcast live from Homestead-Miami Speedway, a handful of our writers (Dustin, Zach, Joe, Tom and Phil) break down Friday’s breaking news. Danica Patrick’s retirement took center stage on …

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Denny Hamlin Tops Morning Practice at Homestead

Denny Hamlin Cup 2017 Homestead Zach Catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

After being the first driver to take time in Saturday’s 55-minute morning practice session, Denny Hamlin topped the chart at 171.130 mph. The No. 11 car stayed atop the scoring pylon for the duration of the session. On Friday, Hamlin won the pole for Sunday’s Ford EcoBoost 400. In this session, the No. 11 proved …

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Successful Season for Johnny Sauter Despite Runner-Up Championship Finish

2017 Homestead Cwts Johnny Sauter Truck Phil Allaway

(Photo: Phil Allaway)

Prior to the Ford EcoBoost 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Johnny Sauter had momentum. Winning the last two races heading into the championship, the No. 21 team of GMS Racing appeared poised for back-to-back titles in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. But a second straight championship just wasn’t in the cards. Friday night, the No. …

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Richard Childress Racing Scaling Back to Three XFINITY Series Teams in 2018

Brendan Gaughan, Brandon Jones Kansas

(Photo: Russell LaBounty / NKP)

Entering the 2017 season, Richard Childress Racing chose to run five full-time XFINITY Series teams. It was an ambitious move for the organization while plotting their future in the sport’s lower divisions. Come 2018, that experiment is getting rolled back. At Homestead-Miami Speedway on Friday, team owner Richard Childress told Frontstretch the organization is cutting 40 percent …

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2017 is Danica Patrick’s Final Full-Time Season as Driver, Running Daytona 500 and Indy 500 in 2018

Danica Patrick 2017 Homestead Zach Catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

On Friday afternoon at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Danica Patrick announced that 2017 will be her final full-time season as a racecar driver, but will compete in the 60th annual Daytona 500 and end her career at the 102nd Indianapolis 500 in 2018. Patrick admitted that coming into the 2017 season, she faced something she never had …

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Brad Keselowski Trying to Validate Career by Winning Second Championship

2017 Chicago Cup Brad Keselowski Helmet Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

2017 is a trying year for Brad Keselowski and Team Penske. On Sunday, the 2012 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion has the opportunity to be the 16th driver in history to win multiple titles at the top level of auto racing. Keselowski has three victories entering the championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the last …

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