Race Weekend Central

NASCAR Mailbox: The Next Breed of XFINITY Series Racers Is Coming

2016 Charlotte Cwts Daniel Hemrick William Byron Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

As the 2016 NASCAR season comes to a close, the driver line-ups for each of the top three divisions are falling into place. For the XFINITY Series, 2017 will feature plenty of changes, including a handful of rookies advancing from the Camping World Truck Series. Among the new names in the will be Cole Custer …

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Did You Notice? … Green-Flag Racing Is NASCAR’s New Normal

2016 Nscs Brad Keselowski Green Flag Dover Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Did You Notice? … Martin Truex, Jr. is having one of the most unexpected career surges in Sprint Cup history? Keep in mind, just two years ago he led just a single lap all season with his single-car, Furniture Row Racing No. 78 car based out in Colorado. Truex wasn’t even supposed to last beyond the 2015 season at …

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The 10: Masters of the Monster Mile

2016 Nscs Brad Keselowski Green Flag Dover Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Would you look at that? He did it again. Martin Truex, Jr., surged ahead of the field –and I mean way ahead, by over 10 seconds– to claim a dominant victory in the Citizen Soldier 400 at Dover International Speedway, his fourth of 2016. With it, he also soared right back atop our power rankings. I know. …

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The Frontstretch 5: NASCAR Tracks That Should Be on Every Bucket List

Martinsville Cup Green Flag 2016 Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

1. Martinsville Speedway Easily without a doubt Martinsville. The racing is great and doesn’t really change regardless of template changes made over the years. The food is great and no race fan is really a race fan without trying a Martinsville hot dog. The atmosphere of the place is a great balance between being the …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: The Chase Stymies Dover Enjoyment

2016 Pocono Ii Cup Martin Truex Jr Helmet Logan Whitton Nkp

(Photo: Logan Whitton / NKP)

Author’s Note: This week, we’re going to keep this column to just the Cup race.  I will cover the XFINITY and Camping World Truck series races later this week. Martin Truex, Jr. kicked some butt on Sunday.  Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was more than fine with that. I can appreciate a good ass kicking. Some might call …

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Beyond the Cockpit: A Conversation with Ex-Mechanic Josh Tucker

Any time a driver says ‘I’d like to thank the boys back at the shop for a great racecar’ while standing in Victory Lane, it’s people like Josh Tucker who are getting their shout out. Born in Indiana, racing was a natural decision for Tucker, who grew up just north of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. With …

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David Ragan Leading On & Off the Racetrack

2016 Kentucky Cup David Ragan Matt Dibenedetto Racing Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty / NKP)

Many things have changed in recent years for David Ragan. Swapping race teams, adapting to different crew chiefs and starting a family has made for a busier lifestyle for the Georgia native. 2016 is Ragan’s first season with BK Racing, an organization that is trying to build resources to become a super team. On paper, …

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5 Points to Ponder: And Then, There Were 12

2016 Chicago Cup Martin Truex Jr Woohoo Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

ONE: And Then, There Were 12 The drop of the checkered flag at Dover ended the championship hopes of four drivers, while 12 others remain standing, headed into the (mostly) hometown race for them. Advancing to the Round of 12! #TheChase pic.twitter.com/eTcSv6Z59b — NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 3, 2016 Chris Buescher, whose No. 34 Front Row …

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Beside the Rising Tide: Has Now Grown Old?

2016 Nscs Cup Field Chicagoland Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist / NKP)

Seriously, is it over yet? Seven more races. Seven more weeks? Please tell me you’re kidding. There was a time when I impatiently counted the hours until the next NASCAR race within minutes of the finish of the previous one, but it’s been awhile now. After four hours of Sunday’s Dover race and much internal …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not: Chase Elimination Edition

2016 Nscs Jimmie Johnson Kentucky Photo Logan Whitton Nkp

(Photo: Logan Whitton/NKP)

Sunday’s Sprint Cup contest at Dover served as the first Chase elimination inside NASCAR’s ten-race playoff. That means we had to say goodbye to four of the 16 drivers who, just a few short weeks ago believed they were the favorites to hold up the championship trophy in Homestead. As the Monster Mile showed us, despite a clean race Sunday holding on to a spot …

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