Race Weekend Central

Happiness Is…Homestead, Drama & Offseason

Jimmie Johnson Sunlight Burnout Martinsville Cup 2016 Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

That’s a wrap.  The 2016 NASCAR season is now one for the history books, with Jimmie Johnson now level with other seven-time champions.  Though many are apt and willing to argue with Johnson’s place in history, questioning the format under which he won each title, his name will still be inked as the one in …

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Happiness Is…Smoke, Championships & Optimism

Nascar Sprint Cup Series Ford Ecoboost 400

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

This weekend is the culmination of the long NASCAR season.  For the Cup regulars, that means 36 points-paying events in addition to two other races that are just for the joy of the sport.  For the Trucks and XFINITY characters, the season may not feature as many laps or weekends at work but that doesn’t …

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Pace Laps: Bowman’s Big Day, Sadler’s Penalty and a Wet Brazilian Grand Prix

2016 Nascar Sprint Cup Series, Phoenix

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Sprint Cup: Career Day for Alex Bowman in Phoenix – It seems like Alex Bowman has truly made the most of every opportunity he’s found in 2016. That statement hit the ceiling in Sunday’s Can-Am 500 at Phoenix International Raceway, when Bowman became the fastest driver in the Sprint Cup Series, leading 194 of 324 …

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Happiness Is… Smarts, Desperation & So Close

2016 Phoenix I Nscs Kevin Harvick Carl Edwards Finish Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

The weather forecast for the upcoming weekend at Phoenix International Raceway looks excellent, sunny and no chance of rain.  That should come as a relief to NASCAR execs and fans who slogged their way through the six hours of delay for the Cup race at Texas.  That rain also shortened the race brought about what …

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Happiness Is…Addition, Jeff Gordon & Texas

2016 Texas I Cup Pack Racing Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

One of the stories surrounding NASCAR that continues to get attention is the one involving the title sponsor.  For months now, the organization has let it be known that it was in negotiations and that it would unveil a sponsor when the timing is right.  Apparently this message includes the caveat that those in charge of making …

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Slipstream Saturday: Rosberg Holding On, the Mexican Grand Prix & More

nico rosberg mexican grand prix 2016

Nico Rosberg at the Mexican Grand Prix

The drivers championship is getting all of the attention and rightly so – especially as Mercedes has already taken the constructor’s championship.  It has been a while since the title has come down to the last few races.  Last year, Lewis Hamilton wrapped up the championship at the U.S. Grand Prix, leaving the rest of …

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Happiness Is… A Tame Talladega, Surprises & Martinsville

2016 Nascar Talladega

21-23 October, 2016, Talladega, Alabama USA Joey Logano, Brian Scott, Greg Biffle, and Alex Bowman ©2016, Barry Cantrell / NKP

That’s it, with the feared Talladega Superspeedway in the rear-view mirror, the remaining drivers can breathe easy and plot their way to a championship.  In a way, that seems simple, as easy as: go fast.  But things are never quite that simple and the remaining drivers offer a myriad of different ways to wonder about …

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Slipstream Saturday: Rosberg Rolling, The U.S. Grand Prix & More

Nico Rosberg during practice for the Formula One Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on August 21, 2015 in Spa, Belgium. (Credit: Getty Images)

(Credit: Getty Images)

Four races remain in the 2016 Formula 1 season, and Nico Rosberg holds a 33 point lead over his teammate Lewis Hamilton.  Last year, Hamilton was in the process of wrapping up his third championship when the series visited the U.S. Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas.  His victory, however, looks to have …

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Happiness Is… Messy Charlotte, Lewis Hamilton & Lights

Jimmie Johnson Checkered Flag Celebration Charlotte Cup 2016 Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

This past Sunday Jimmie Johnson locked himself into the next round of the Chase, avoiding any kind of pratfall that might befall him at the super scary, oh no, Talladega, the roulette-wheel track.  For Johnson and Co. the move is exactly the one they needed to make to progress in the current Chase format.  Points …

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Slipstream Saturday: Mercedes Conspiracy & More, Ahead of the Japanese GP

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Lewis Hamilton (credit: Getty Images)

Last Sunday, at the Malaysian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton looked to have race victory in hand.  After starting from the pole, Hamilton made a clean getaway and put the field in his rear view.  His teammate became the victim of Sebastian Vettel dive-bombing he first turn, putting Vettel out of the race and Nico Rosberg …

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Pace Laps: Truex’s Triumph and Jones’ Rough Luck

2016 Atlanta Nxs Erik Jones Helmet Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Sprint Cup: Truex’s Pace was the biggest Monster of all in Dover As Chris Buescher studied the finishing order of Sunday’s Citizen Soldier 400, a face of disbelief joined many others. “Man, that was a wild pace,” he said. For sure, Dover International Speedway saw one of the quickest paces in recent memory, as race …

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