Race Weekend Central

Who’s Hot and Who’s Not: Michigan Edition

2016 Pocono I Cup Ryan Blaney Jamie Mcmurray Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

This weekend at Pocono was the best of times and the worst of times. Yes, it was the Tale of Two Tracks, except that it was still the same place. But that’s how it goes on some late spring weekends in the eastern Pennsylvania mountains. HOT Kurt Busch became the latest driver to climb the …

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Friday Faceoff: Are the Toyotas Peaking Too Soon?

The Coca-Cola 600 was among a handful of races to get poor reviews from fans, the majority of which have been night races.  Is it time for NASCAR to reconsider night racing on the schedule? Mark Howell, Senior Writer: If NASCAR wants to develop an audience of younger fans, tit needs to begin by attracting …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in NASCAR: Pocono Edition

2016 Charlotte I Cup Martin Truex Jr Confetti Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty / NKP)

The best day in auto racing gave us two differently distinct types of races, but the final results brought about similar feelings. There was awe in how a rookie could save so much fuel, snookering several top-notch IndyCar teams and competitors down the stretch. The awe we felt with Martin Truex, Jr. reaching Victory Lane was connected to dominance; …

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Friday Faceoff: What Should NASCAR Change About the All-Star Race?

2016 Charlotte All Star Cup Tony Stewart Kasey Kahne Crash Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

The All-Star Race was met with mixed reactions. Should NASCAR try the same format next season or opt for one that’s easier to understand? Dustin Albino, Contributor: The concept was good, but the execution was awful. If it weren’t for Jamie McMurray cutting his tire causing a caution, I don’t think we would be having …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not In NASCAR: Charlotte Edition

2016 Charlotte All Star Cup Matt Kenseth Crash John Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John Harrelson / NKP)

It’s no secret NASCAR’s All-Star Race wasn’t exactly an A+ effort last weekend. That said, let’s keep in mind all-star events for the other major U.S. sports have pretty much been duds for the last several years. The NFL’s Pro Bowl changes the rules to significantly decrease the chance for injury. In the NBA and NHL, …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not: Dover Live Edition

2016 Dover I Cup Matt Kenseth Racing Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

A few times a year, I am fortunate enough to actually attend a NASCAR race in person and this weekend was one of those times. When you attend a NASCAR event, while the main attraction is the Sprint Cup race, there are plenty of other things that happen that make the experience either worth it …

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Friday Faceoff: Should Excessive Burnouts Put Teams on the Hot Seat?

2016 Kansas I Cup Kevin Harvick Racing Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

Three races into his return, Tony Stewart is making up some ground on 30th in points, the Chase cut-off for a driver with a win.  How likely does that win look for Stewart in the next 15 races? Clayton Caldwell, Contributor: I hate to say it, but not very likely. I think Stewart-Haas Racing/Hendrick Motorsports …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in NASCAR: Dover Edition

2016 Kansas I Cup Kyle Busch Burnout Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

NASCAR’s annual Mother’s Day Eve race gave us a mixed bag Saturday night. The low downforce package seemed to help the overall action at Kansas but as Kyle Busch and Martin Truex, Jr. proved throughout the night at this 1.5-mile oval the leader was hard to catch and even more difficult to pass. HOT Kyle Busch returned to …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not: Kansas Edition

2016 Talladega I Cup Brad Keselowski Burnout Logan Whitton Nkp

(Photo: Logan Whitton/NKP)

There was plenty of rolling and tumbling in the Sprint Cup race at Talladega Sunday. That’s been a big topic of debate in these couple of days after the race. It’s something NASCAR is trying to prevent, but when you get cars going at nearly 200 mph only inches away from each other, no matter …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in NASCAR: Talladega Edition

2016 Martinsville I Cup Ryan Blaney Car Amy Henderson

(Photo: Amy Henderson)

If you wonder if watching a NASCAR race is good for you, then were a lot of good reasons to like what happened in Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at Richmond: Long green flag runs: Check. Multiple yellows to bunch the field back up: Check. Seeing Smoke back out on the track: Check. An unexpected Earnhardt special on the …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in NASCAR: Richmond Edition

2016 Bristol I Cup Carl Edwards Checkered Flag Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

This one goes to out to your inner gymnast, the lover of the underdogs and the days and the days of heat and last chance races after what took place during the Sprint Cup race at Bristol on Sunday and the Xfinity race Saturday. HOT Someone other than Kyle Busch won a NASCAR race for …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not: Bristol Edition

2016 Texas I Cup Martin Truex Jr Kyle Busch Racing John Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John Harrelson/NKP)

For a while on Saturday night, the waiting was the hardest part for anyone interested in the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway. But the once the raindrops stopped falling on heads, cars, pit boxes, etc., it turned into a fairly entertaining race for those of us who managed to stay up until …

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