Race Weekend Central

Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in NASCAR: Monster Ending Goes Out with a Whimper

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Well, the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season is over, and Kyle Busch has won his second title, overcoming teammates Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr, and Kevin Harvick of Stewart-Haas Racing, as they all had problems of one sort or another (documented elsewhere by my colleagues). While Busch did run the full season …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in NASCAR: The Penultimate Race

2019 Phoenix Mencs Martin Truex, Jr. Racing Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series has just one race left, not just this season, but also in its history under that name. But to get there, they first had to complete the Bluegreen Vacations 500 at ISM Raceway, which only was mildly interesting due to how enormous a lead eventual race winner Denny Hamlin …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in NASCAR: Texas Tedium

2019 Texas Mencs Kevin Harvick Checkers Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Sunday’s (Nov. 3) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series’ AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway had to deal with two main complications right off the bat: the Formula One United States Grand Prix about three hours away at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, and NFL football (though the Cowboys were off, playing on …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in NASCAR: Please Staple, Don’t Paper Clip

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(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Martinsville Speedway is the oldest track on the NASCAR circuit, but lately the tracks uniqueness has been entirely flattened by awful racing throughout the pack, marked by an inability to pass and one driver pulverizing the rest of the field. In this case, a snoozer of a race resulted in a Joe Gibbs Racing driver …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in NASCAR: Debris in the Wind

2019 Kansas Mencs Denny Hamlin Restart Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Kansas isn’t exactly known as a state full of scenic beauty, unlike its neighbors Colorado, Nebraska and Missouri. (Oklahoma has its fair share of scenery as well.) Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race, the Hollywood Casino 400, at Kansas Speedway (located on the Sunflower State side of Kansas City) felt like a typical stormy …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in NASCAR: Just Another Manic Monday

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The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series’ 1000Bulbs.com 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, ironically for a race sponsored by a light bulb company, was mostly delayed from the original Sunday start due to a lack of lights (and a ton of rain). So the second and third stages were run Monday afternoon (Oct. 14), and all in …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in NASCAR: A Delaware Drive

2019 Dover Mencs Racing Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

At this point of the NASCAR season, there aren’t really any surprises. The majority of the top-tier rides that are changing hands have been announced, and most of the action can be pretty accurately determined beforehand. The same group of drivers will be up front, while no one can pass anyone else on the track. …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not: The ROVAL Struck

2019 Roval Mencs Chase Elliott Victory Lane Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Charlotte ROVAL did its best to resemble The Lady in Black during the race weekend. Ten caution flags flew during the Bank of America ROVAL 400. But when the checkered flag flew, Chase Elliott was victorious and four drivers saw their championship hopes end as the Round of 16 concluded. Bubba Wallace and Alex …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not: Playoffs Underway

2019 Richmond Mencs Martin Truex, Jr. Burnout Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

All three major NASCAR national touring series’ playoffs are underway with at least one playoff race completed. The NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series already has finished its Round of 8 and its opening Round of 6 race at Talladega Superspeedway isn’t until October 12. The Monster Energy Monster Energy Cup Series and Xfinity Series raced …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in NASCAR: Desert Racing

2019 Las Vegas Mencs Racing Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The South Point 400 was held at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday night (Sept. 15), the opening race of the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. It was somewhat of a tame race, though the scheduling was a bit curious. The desert heat in the summer killed most of the Gander Outdoors Truck …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in NASCAR: Racing’s Hallowed Mausoleum

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Indianapolis Motor Speedway is one of the great cathedrals of auto racing, with over a century’s worth of events run there. One of the overlooked aspects of cathedrals, aside from their beauty, is that they are a little creepy at the same time. In the history of IMS, many racers have died while competing, making …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in NASCAR: Blast From the Past

2019 Darlington throwback Cup weekend pack racing Photo NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Tradition. That’s the theme of the Throwback Weekend at Darlington Raceway with the Bojangles Southern 500, and despite a start at 10 p.m. ET and not finishing until around 2 a.m., the full race distance was run before Hurricane Dorian could arrive. That commitment, whether in the stands or on the couch at home, deserves …

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