Race Weekend Central

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2020 Pocono Organics 325 at Pocono Raceway

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Headline(s): Kevin Harvick snagged his first career victory at Pocono Raceway and his third of the 2020 season in Saturday’s (June 27) Pocono Organics 325. The difference between taking two tires on the No. 4 and four tires on Aric Almirola’s No. 10 Ford proved to be what helped Harvick break his winless streak …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2020 GEICO 500 at Talladega

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Headline(s): It’s more than plausible that the best car won on Monday, as Ryan Blaney earned his first checkered flag of 2020, fourth of his career and second in a row at Talladega Superspeedway. The No. 12 Team Penske Ford led 63 of 191 laps, the most of anybody in the field, and edged …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2020 Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead

2020homesteadncsdennyhamlincheckersnascarmedia

(Photo: NASCAR Media/Getty Images)

The Headline(s): Denny Hamlin scored his third victory of 2020 and second since NASCAR returned from hiatus on Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway (June 14). All three have come under rainy circumstances. His Daytona 500 win in February was on a Monday after the normally-on-Sunday race was postponed. Next up, his May win at Darlington was …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2020 Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Editors Note: What in blazes am I doing here? Yeah, Matt, what’s up? You write on Tuesdays, having given this column up years ago. Yep. You recall correctly. Bryan Keith, who took over this column when Mike Neff stopped doing it, has been doing a fine job with the race recaps under whatever title he’s …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2020 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta

2020atlantancskevinharvickcheckersnascarmedia

(Photo: NASCAR Media/Getty Images)

The Headline(s): The meaning of Harvicking has changed since Kevin Harvick played childish instigator on Brad Keselowski at Texas Motor Speedway in 2014. Now, it means dominating at Atlanta Motor Speedway, which is what the No. 4 team did on Sunday, June 7, leading 151 laps en route to an easy win. The victory was …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2020 Food City Presents the Supermarket Heroes 500 at Bristol

2020bristolncsbradkeselowskicheckersnascarmedia

(Photo: NASCAR Media/Getty Images)

The Headline(s): Brad Keselowski was right to ask if Las Vegas has re-opened yet, because Sunday proved it’s sometimes better to be lucky than good. Capitalizing on a spat between Joey Logano and Chase Elliott for the race lead sending both leaders into the wall on lap 498, the No. 2 drove past the wreck …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2020 Alsco Uniforms 500 at Charlotte

2020charlottencschaseelliottburnoutnascarmedia

(Photo: NASCAR Media/Getty Images)

The Headline(s): Opening night jitters be gone. Fast all night again at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Chase Elliott bested Kevin Harvick for the lead on lap 181 and never looked back, holding off hard charges from Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney to score his first Cup win of 2020, seventh career Cup win and 15th victory …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2020 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte

2020charlottencsbradkeselowskiburnoutnascarmedia

(Photo: NASCAR Media/Getty Images)

The Headline(s): Capitalizing on an extremely late-race caution, Brad Keselowski and team stayed out while leader Chase Elliott pitted. He then bested Jimmie Johnson on a green-white-checkered restart to win the 2020 Coca-Cola 600.  RT to congratulate @keselowski on winning his third Crown Jewel. ? #CocaCola600 x @Team_Penske pic.twitter.com/LiFncgWc7l — Charlotte Motor Speedway (@CLTMotorSpdwy) May …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2020 Toyota 500 at Darlington

2020 Darlington Ncs Denny Hamlin Finish Nascar Media

(Photo: NASCAR Media/Getty Images)

The Headline(s): After showing long-run speed during a late green-flag run, Denny Hamlin’s pit crew got the No. 11 out front off pit road after a lap 194 caution at Darlington Raceway. Following a brief restart, Hamlin then capitalized when an incident between Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott on lap 200 brought out the 11th …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2020 The Real Heroes 400 at Darlington

2020 Darlington Ncsracing Nascarmedia(2)

(Photo: Getty Images/NASCAR Media)

The Headline(s): The last time the NASCAR Cup Series raced at Darlington outside of Labor Day weekend, Kevin Harvick drove to victory lane in 2014. Six years later, Harvick did it again, leading 159 laps to score a convincing victory in The Real Heroes 400. It’s Harvick’s first win of 2020, 50th career Cup win …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2020 FanShield 500 at Phoenix

2020phoenixncsrestartrlp

(Photo: Randy Lanning)

The Headline(s): Holding off Kevin Harvick on two successive late-race restarts, Joey Logano prevailed in overtime to win at Phoenix, his second win of 2020, 25th career Cup Series win and 56th NASCAR national series victory. Fast Fords win races! Proud of our 22 @shell @pennzoil team. We learned a lot today and will be …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2020 Auto Club 400 at Fontana

2020californiancsalexbowmanracingrlp

(Photo: Randy Lanning)

The Headline(s): After winning the first stage and showing speed all weekend, Alex Bowman took the lead on lap 133 after a hotly-contested restart to begin the final stage, and never looked back. Gapping Ryan Blaney over the final run, Bowman cruised to his second career Cup victory and third career NASCAR national series win. …

Read more