Race Weekend Central

NASCAR Top 10 Storylines 2017: Tumbling NASCAR TV Ratings

2017 Nascar Monster Cup Series, Homestead

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

One of the NASCAR stories that attracted a lot of attention in 2017, which seems kind of ironic, is NASCAR TV ratings and viewership numbers. In particular, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series declined sharply this season. Some races dropped by as much as 20 percent while just a handful of events posted an increase. …

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Happiness Is: Matt Kenseth, Tears & Championships

2017 Kansas Ii Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr John K Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John K. Harrelson/NKP)

There are a number of storylines that emerged from the Cup race at Phoenix – pardon me, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix.  The one that seemed to garner the most attention, rather than Matt Kenseth’s win, looked to be the on-track equivalent of a slap-fight between Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin. …

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Pace Laps: Brad Keselowski Advances to Homestead, William Byron Scores Another Victory

William Byron Phoenix Victory

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker / NKP)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Brad Keselowski Sneaks into Championship 4 – When they bumped, banged, passed and wrecked in the distance, the view became clear for Brad Keselowski: milk it home and you’re going to Homestead-Miami Speedway. From the drop of the green flag in the Can-Am 500, a position in the Championship 4 …

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F1 Slipstream Saturday: Are Changes Foreshadowing Trends?

Pierre Gasly Toro Rosso

Pierre Gasly turning laps in his Toro Rosso at Interlagos ahead of the Brazilian GP (photo: Getty Images)

The final two races of the 2017 Formula 1 season is an interesting time.  With the championships settled, the racing this weekend comes with a different sense of drama in the fact that it’s just pure racing.  The points do not matter as they usually do – though the teams are still looking to gather …

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Happiness Is: Phoenix & Brazil

2017 Cup New Hampshire Zach Catanzareti Ryan Blaney Jimmie Johnson

Jimmie Johson and Ryan Blaney (Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

This past weekend brought all three NASCAR series to life at the same track, which seemed like a rare event.  The summer months often bring a scattershot sense to the sport as the series can go their own ways, notably at tracks like Iowa, Kentucky, and Canadian Tire Park.  Now, as the season races to …

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Happiness Is: Controversy, Rosberg & Texas

Cup Action Kyle Busch Leading Way

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Once again a short track on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cups Series schedule provided some of the best action.  Such a scenario is nothing new, as tracks like Martinsville, Richmond, and Bristol have made for wonderful arenas to see both skilled driving play out amongst the chaos of fender rubbing. That Martinsville Speedway installed lights …

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Pace Laps: Lights at Martinsville, Lewis Hamilton Crowned Champion & IMSA Changes for 2018

Cup Action Kyle Busch Leading Way

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: The Power of Lights: Something about that Sun seemed to keep the drivers at bay Sunday at Martinsville Speedway. When she decided to make her daily disappearing act for the night, things changed in a big hurry on track. Around lap 300, the speedway flicked on the new once-used LED …

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F1 Slipstream Saturday: Bienvenidos, Mexican Grand Prix & More

Lewis Hamilton Wins 2017 Japanese Grand Prix

Is it about to become five title for Lewis Hamilton?(Photo: Getty Images)

The story of the race is, no surprise, Lewis Hamilton.  Should Hamilton finish fifth or better, the driver’s championship is over, regardless of where Sebastian Vettel takes the checkered flag.  Such a scenario really means the the title is a fait accompli, meaning that Hamilton, in essence, has already won the title.  For Vettel to …

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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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Pace Laps: Martin Truex Jr. Comes up Clutch, Alex Bowman Wins in First Start of Season

Alex Bowman Charlotte Xfinity Win

(Photo: Russell LaBounty / NKP)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Chevrolet, Ford Let One Slip Away in Charlotte – After 30 races, we seem to know what to expect come a mile-and-a-half race in 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series racing: Toyota dominates while Chevrolet and Ford scratch for a top-five result. However, Sunday’s Bank of America 500 broke that …

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F1 Slipstream Sunday: Hamilton Closing In on His Fourth Title & Japanese Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton Wins 2017 Japanese Grand Prix

Is it about to become five title for Lewis Hamilton?(Photo: Getty Images)

Sunny skies set the scene to start the Japanese Grand Prix, which felt much needed after FP2 was washed out and cloudy skies hovered over FP3 and qualifying.  Lewis Hamilton made a clean getaway at lights out and had his way with the field as he enjoyed another race victory, his fourth in the past …

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