Race Weekend Central

4 Burning Questions: Will Consistency Be Enough for Playoff Bubble Drivers in Kansas?

2017 Cup New Hampshire Zach Catanzareti Ryan Blaney Jimmie Johnson

Jimmie Johson and Ryan Blaney (Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Will Consistency Be Enough for Playoff Bubble Drivers in Kansas? There seems to be no time for these poor drivers to relax this time of the season. We’re less than two weeks removed from one of the most humid races at Charlotte Motor Speedway, followed by the insanity of Talladega Superspeedway. Now? Elimination at Kansas …

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Double Take: As One Plate King Retires, Another Steps Up

Brad Keselowski Restart Talladega

(Photo: Rusty Jarrett/ NKP)

For a while there last Sunday (Oct. 15) at Talladega Superspeedway, it looked like Dale Earnhardt Jr. was going to do it. In his final start at his best track, in front of the strongest crowd in years at the 2.66-mile superspeedway in Talladega, Ala., Earnhardt dodged wreck after wreck, barely unscathed but ready for …

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NASCAR 101: 5 Drivers Who Could Make Their Cup Debut Before the End of 2017

2017 Road America Nxs Dakoda Armstrong Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

Chances are you’re focusing more — if not completely — on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship battle that’s wrapping up in a month, and rightfully so, since it seems like it could be quite the nail-biter once all is said and done. That said, five races remain in the 2017 Cup season, and …

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Friday Faceoff: Does Talladega Belong in the Playoffs?

2017 Talladega Ii Cup Erik Jones Crash Damage Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T Thacker NKP)

Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway, just two of the remaining 12 playoff drivers — winner Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin — and 14 of the 40-car field finished the race, with just four cars not listed as involved in an on-track incident.  Does this race belong in the playoffs? Amy Henderson: It doesn’t belong on the …

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Whelen Euro Series Champ Alon Day Attempting Cup Return

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Toyota/save Mart 350 Practice

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Less than three days after Israel’s Alon Day captured the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series championship, his circle is working on bringing him back to the United States to wrap up the 2017 stock car racing season. “It’s not opening doors, but it’s making those doors easier to open,” Day told Frontstretch Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 18. …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR Forecast Powered by DraftKings: Hollywood Casino 400 Preview

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Coca Cola 600 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, Nc Usa Thursday 25 May 2017 Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing, M&m's Red, White & Blue Toyota Camry World Copyright: Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

DraftKings’ daily fantasy NASCAR heads to Kansas Speedway this weekend for the Hollywood Casino 400. This race marks the third and final event of the second round in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. The green flag flies Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN. Cars will hit the track on Friday at …

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Truckin’ Thursdays: 3 Potential 1st-Time Winners Before the End of 2017

2017 Kentucky I Cwts Ryan Truex Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist / NKP)

A few weeks ago at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Ben Rhodes finally found his elusive first career win, something that many expected to happen much sooner than it did. The sophomore driver came the closest to Victory Lane at Kansas Speedway earlier this season when he engaged in a spirited battle with Kyle Busch for …

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Happiness Is: Conspiracies, Texas & One

2017 Talladega Ii Cup Jimmie Johnson Chad Knaus Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

There were seven cars running when the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race resumed for the final time last weekend at Talladega Superspeedway.  Oh, right, it only seemed like seven, and of those left on the track, only four seemed like they had any chance at winning.  Such is how things can go at the …

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Eyes on XFINITY: Tommy Joe Martins Still Surviving in NASCAR

Tommy Joe Martins Daytona Pushing Car

(Photo: Barry Cantrell/NKP)

In 2016, Tommy Joe Martins solidified his spot in NASCAR after an outburst on Twitter regarding the economics of the sport. On Oct. 9, 2017, he was at it again, displaying how it’s almost impossible for small teams to compete in NASCAR due to the distribution of prize money. Of course, he had plenty of …

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Nitro Shots: To Backup or Not to Backup

Nhra 2017 Chicago Steve Torrence Courtesy Nhra Media

(Photo: NHRA Media)

In case you were under a rock somewhere and missed the highlight reel from last weekend’s AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals, Top Fuel points leader Steve Torrence blew a left rear tire on his dragster, which catapulted him straight into the wall, destroying his car in the second round of eliminations. With Torrence done in the …

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2-Headed Monster: Will Chase Elliott Win in the No. 24?

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Apache Warrior 400 Dover International Speedway, Dover, De Usa Sunday 1 October 2017 Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports, Mountain Dew Chevrolet Ss World Copyright: Nigel Kinrade Nkp

Chase Elliott in the No. 24 (Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Chase Elliott has been running better and better every weekend with his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports team, but despite his improving runs, he has yet to win a race in his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career, almost two full seasons in. Will Elliott win a race this season in the No. 24 car before switching …

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Did You Notice?: When Does a NASCAR DNF Start to Matter?

2017 Talladega Ii Cwts Cody Coughlin Chris Fontaine Crash Rusty Jarrett Nkp

(Photo: Rusty Jarrett/NKP)

Did You Notice? … The way NASCAR’s damaged vehicle policy has affected drivers running at the end of races? Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway set an all-time high for DNFs in the sport’s playoff era (2004-present) as 26 drivers failed to finish. Only a dozen cars wound up on the lead lap. The rate of carnage also …

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