Race Weekend Central

Tony Stewart Fined by NASCAR For Criticism of Lug Nut Rule

2013 Dover Cup Tony Stewart Trophy Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

On the day that Tony Stewart announced he would return to NASCAR, he was fined $35,000 for violating guidelines in the Sprint Cup Series Rule Book. On Wednesday, at a sponsorship appearance, Stewart criticized NASCAR’s 2015 rule change allowing teams to put less than five lug nuts on tires during pit stops, a change that …

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Friday Faceoff: Do Fans Belong in the Garage?

2016 Bristol I Cup Kytle Bsuch Crash Damage John Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John Harrelson/NKP)

A fan was injured after being struck by Kyle Busch’s car when Busch pulled into the garage with terminal damage at Bristol.  The fan placed the blame on Busch, but was it the driver’s fault?  And could the incident spell the end to some of the access fans have enjoyed? Sean Fesko, Staff Writer: This …

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Stewart-Haas Racing Previews Kevin Harvick’s Throwback Paint Scheme for Darlington

With Labor Day weekend just five months away, throwback schemes for NASCAR’s return to Darlington Raceway are beginning to flood in. In Kevin Harvick‘s case, the sponsor will honor a former driver with a familiar sponsor. On Thursday, Stewart-Haas Racing displayed the paint scheme that Harvick will be racing during the Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on Labor …

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Friday Face-off: Can Rowdy Catch Superman?

2016 Texas I Cup Jimmie Johnson Kyle Busch Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

Kyle Busch scored the 36th win of his career Saturday night in Texas.  He’s currently 17th on the all-time wins list and third among active drivers (Jimmie Johnson ranks first with 77 and Tony Stewart is second with 48).  Will Busch eclipse Johnson’s total before he’s done? Clayton Caldwell, Contributor: It’s a great question. Busch …

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Friday Faceoff: Who Has Turned a Corner in 2016?

After strong performances to start the season, AJ Allmendinger is currently 12th in driver points, in position to make the Chase if he can maintain.  Is JTG Daugherty Racing poised to repeat the success of fellow single-car team Furniture Row Racing? Sean Fesko, Staff Writer: The team very well could make the Chase on consistency. …

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Erik Jones Sweeps XFINITY Series Practice Sessions in Texas

2016 Phoenix I Nxs Erik Jones Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

Erik Jones swept both of the XFINITY Series practice sessions on Thursday at Texas Motor Speedway in preparation for Friday night’s O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 Jones was quickest in the first of two XFINITY Series practices on Thursday in Texas at a lap of 186.968 mph. The driver of the No. 20 Toyota is the defending winner …

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Martin Truex Jr. Fastest in Opening Practice at Texas

Martin Truex Jr Martinsville Cup 2016 Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

With just over a minute to go in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series opening practice of the weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, Martin Truex, Jr. posted a lap at 192.892 mph boosting him to the top of the scoring pylon. The No. 78 car was the only Toyota in the top 10 on the speed charts …

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Gray Gaulding Signs XFINITY Series Deal with Roush Fenway Racing

2015 Martinsville I Cwts Gray Gauldingtruck Credit Amy Henderson

(Photo: Amy Henderson)

After speaking about how excited he was to announce his plans for 2016, Gray Gaulding has signed on to become the newest developmental driver for Roush Fenway Racing in the XFINITY Series. Gaulding is scheduled to pilot the No. 60 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing in two events this season, the first coming at Bristol Motor Speedway in August. He will make his …

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Friday Faceoff: So, Who Should Have Been Fined?

2016 Fontana Cup Trevor Bayne Pack Racing Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

Both Kyle Busch and Cole Pearn faced penalties for post-race comments over the weekend, and Busch was ultimately fined and placed on probation for not meeting postrace media obligations. Penalties were considered but not given when Busch accused NASCAR of fixing the NXS race on his team radio while Pearn took to Twitter to sling …

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Danica Patrick Penalized for Walking Up Track During Race

NASCAR has placed Stewart-Haas Racing driver Danica Patrick on probation and fined her $20,000 for walking onto the apron of the track during last Sunday’s Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway. On lap 120, Patrick was running in 19th when Kasey Kahne came down to side draft her but got closer than expected …

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Kyle Busch Fined, Placed on Probation After Auto Club XFINITY Race

2016 Fontana Nxs Kyle Busch Daniel Suarex Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

On Thursday afternoon NASCAR fined Kyle Busch $10,000 following a post-race incident at last Saturday’s XFINITY Series race at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. The defending Sprint Cup Series champion was penalized for not showing up to the media center and answering his post-race obligations for the media due to his second-place finish …

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