Race Weekend Central

Beyond the Cockpit: Juan Pablo Montoya Has Eyes Set on Future Despite Colorful Past

2016 Indycar Juan Pablo Montoya Indycar Media

(Photo: INDYCAR Media)

Any time you’re on a three-man list alongside Mario Andretti and Dan Gurney, you’ve done pretty well in your time behind the wheel of a racecar. For Juan Pablo Montoya, after tasting victory in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, Verizon IndyCar Series and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, he can proudly call himself one of …

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Did You Notice? … Dale Earnhardt Jr. Still in the Top 25 Despite Long Absence

2016 Watkins Glen Cup Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Zach Catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Did you notice? … Dale Earnhardt Jr. is still within the top 25 in points even though he has only run 18 of 24 races? He currently sits 22nd in the standings, ahead of 11 drivers who have made every race this season. Peers he’s currently beating? Paul Menard, Aric Almirola and Clint Bowyer, all …

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Frontstretch 5: Drivers 25 or Younger Who Could Win Sprint Cup Titles

2016 Michigan Ii Cup Kyle Larson Chase Elliott Racing Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

If this season has any theme, it’s that this sport is alive and well with young talent who have bright futures. So far across NASCAR’s three national series, rookies have won multiple races, posed a legitimate threat for their own series championship, and pulled into Victory Lane for the first time. While Kyle Larson isn’t …

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The 10: Young Guns, High Speed and a Shootout in Pure Michigan

2016 Michigan Ii Cup Kurt Busch Brad Keselowski Kyle Larson Racing John Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John Harrelson/NKP)

After weeks – no, years – spent waiting for a new young driver to score a legitimate breakthrough in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, fans of the series saw not one, but two future stars shine in the Irish Hills of Michigan. In the end, it was Kyle Larson that got the best of Chase …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Always Tell Viewers Why the Caution Is Out

2016 Michigan Ii Cup Kyle Busch Spin Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Low-downforce racing is always interesting; my takeaway so far of the three low-downforce races is that the package makes NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars handle a little like the trucks in the Camping World Truck Series — very susceptible to being swept around. However, we only have Kentucky and Michigan International speedways to base this …

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5 Points to Ponder: Clint Bowyer Struggles On

2016 Phoenix I Cup Clint Bowyer Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Two-Thirds Down: With the conclusion of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway, we’re now exactly two thirds through the longest season in all of professional sports. Just a pair of races remain (Darlington Raceway and Richmond International Raceway) before the circuit gets down to the serious business of the playoffs. And …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not: The First Time Edition

2016 Michigan Ii Cup Kyle Larson Burnout John Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John Harrelson/NKP)

If you never think anything good can happen to you… or maybe if that good thing is close to happening, but you think it might not… or maybe if you’re afraid to take the one chance to make that good thing happen — then all three of NASCAR’s major races this weekend were for you, …

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The Underdog House: Tracking NASCAR’s Small Teams from Michigan to Darlington

2016 Pocono I Cup Ryan Blaney John Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John Harrelson/NKP)

Tommy Baldwin Racing Regan Smith, No. 7 APC Chevrolet Looking back: Michigan International Speedway was one of Smith’s better runs on a 1.5-to-2-mile speedway this year, with a 26th-place finish and a lap led on his tally. Smith said afterward that he feels like his team is learning some things that will help them in …

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Beside the Rising Tide: Summertime’s Done Come & Gone

2016 Kentucky Cup Pack Racing Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/ NKP)

While summer doesn’t officially end until Sept. 22, the Labor Day weekend coming up marks the unofficial end of summer in most of our minds, especially for those of us old enough to recall when school didn’t start until after Labor Day or even later. I’m not sure what the deal is with students forced to …

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Pace Laps: Sieg Looking for Chase Spot, Moffitt’s Big Win and Pagenaud’s Title Hopes

2016 Ncwts Brett Moffitt Woohoo Michigan Photo John Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John Harrelson / NKP)

Sprint Cup Series: Youth Makes A Comeback – Much of the NASCAR season has been focused on when there will be a “changing of the guard.” 45-year-old Tony Stewart is retiring, 45-year-old Jeff Gordon has already done so but is filling in for fellow 40-something Dale Earnhardt, Jr. during his concussion recovery. That trio accounts for millions …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud – Kyle Larson Comes Away with First Sprint Cup Win at Michigan

2016 Michigan Ii Cup Kyle Larson Woohoo Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Who’s in the headline – Shouldering the label of best not to do something can be a heavy burden. For 98 Cup races, Kyle Larson took the green flag but was not the first one to see the checkered. After eight top 5s and 17 top 10s as a rookie, it seemed inevitable that Larson …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2016 Pure Michigan 400

2016 Nscs Kyle Larson Chase Elliott Restart Michigan Photo Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/ NKP)

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? Kyle Larson was in the spotlight for his win, but he wasn’t the only driver for Chip Ganassi Racing to take home a top 10 on Sunday as teammate Jamie McMurray came home eighth in his No. 1 Chevy.  CGR has struggled over the last couple of seasons, …

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