Race Weekend Central

Thinkin’ Out Loud – Denny Hamlin Wins at Watkins Glen

Truex

Who’s in the headline – Denny Hamlin out-drove the field in Sunday’s Cheez-It 355 from Watkins Glen International to pick up his first-career road course win. Staying clean on pit road and on the racetrack, Hamlin passed Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch with 10 laps to go to return to Victory Lane for the second …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Pennsylvania 400

2016 Pocono Ii Cup Ricky Stenhouse Jr Pack Racing Logan Whitton Nkp

(Photo: Logan Whitton/NKP)

Who’s in the headline – Chris Buescher took one of the biggest Sprint Cup underdog victories ever seen in Monday’s Pennsylvania 400 from Pocono Raceway. Buescher played the fuel game to perfection as impending weather hit the “Tricky Triangle.” Leading the first laps of his Cup career when the leaders took to pit road, the rookie …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud – Kyle Busch Finds Brickyard Pot of Gold at the End of the Rainbow

Kyle Busch Kissing Bricks Indianapolis Cup 2016 Yvonne Leonard

Photo Credit : Yvonne Leonard

Who’s in the headline – Kyle Busch pulled out the broom stick for the second year in a row at Indianapolis. To make it even more exciting, this year, he not only swept both races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, he won both poles as well. Busch dominated the event, leading all but 21 laps en …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Matt Kenseth New Hampshire Win Tainted By Failed Inspection?

2016 Loudon I Cup Mattkneseth Woohoo Matthew T Thacker Nkp

Who’s in the headline: The old adage of only having to lead one lap seems to be the way Matt Kenseth does business. It rang true again this weekend as Kenseth started 18th and took over 250 laps to get to the point. Once there, he endured three restarts over the final 31 circuits and strolled to victory in a …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Brad Keslowski Survives War of Attrition, Stretches Fuel for Kentucky Triumph

2016 Kentucky Cup Brad Keselowski Finger Logan Whitton Nkp

(Photo: Logan Whitton/NKP)

Who’s in the headline – With ‘Commander’ Kerry Tharp working his final race before leaving NASCAR to become Darlington Speedway’s track president, Brad Keselowski asked him during a Friday press conference if it would be their last together. Tharp’s reply? “Thats up to you. Win the race and you’ll get another one.” Keselowski did just that, stretching …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Coke Zero 400 Reminder of NASCAR Plate Race Problems

2016 Daytona Ii Cup Kasey Kahne Crash Damage John Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John Harrelson/NKP)

The Key Moment – On the final restart, Brad Keselowski got a much-needed push from teammate Joey Logano. Behind him, the Busch brothers battled (though not with paddles, in a bottle, on poodles). Team Penske’s Logano faded and Keselowski, topping off a dominant night, went on to score his first win at Daytona International Speedway. In a …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Inside Tony Stewart’s Stunning Sonoma Victory

2106 Sonoma Cup Tony Stewart Woohoo Close John Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John Harrelson/NKP)

Who’s in the headline – Friday, Tony Stewart said, “driving a Sprint Cup car does not make me happy right now.” Wonder how he feels after a trip to Victory Lane? Based on that winning look on his face my guess is “ecstatic” after a last-lap, last-turn re-pass of Denny Hamlin earned Smoke his first victory since Dover in June 2013. …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud – Aero Packages, Winners, Losers and Charters for the Second Off Week of the Season

Kyle Busch Confetti Martinsville Cup 2016 Mike Neff

Who’s in the headline – In a world where “winning is everything,” Kyle Busch is the name in bold at the top of the charts with three victories in 2016. If points are your thing, then it is Kevin Harvick who has set himself above the rest. Whatever the case, the last two champions in …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Kurt Busch Turns Monster Restart Into Pocono Victory

Kurt Busch

[Photo: Zach Catanzareti]

Who’s in the headline: Kurt Busch, and rightfully so, is the man to watch in the Sprint Cup Series after winning Sunday’s Axalta ‘We Paint Winners’ 400 from Pocono Raceway. Not only does he now have a stop in the 2016 Chase, but Busch also heads into next week’s race at Michigan International Speedway as …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud – Martin Truex, Jr. Dominates to win the Coca-Cola 600

2016 Charlotte I Cup Martin Truex Jr Jimmie Johnson Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

The Key Moment – When that particular No. 78 car was completed, some mechanic grinned, slammed the hood and said, “Yeah, this one ought to run pretty good.” In a Nutshell – After a season fraught with frustration, Martin Truex, Jr. put on a clinic and finally sealed the deal with a dominant win. Truex led …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud – Joey Logano Makes Late-Race Pass to Claim First All-Star Victory

2016 Charlotte All Star Cup Joey Logano Champagne John Harrelson Nkp

Who’s in the headline – The No. 22 of Joey Logano was festooned with a myriad of pictures from the 50 years of Team Penske. On a full moon Saturday night, the collective spirits of all of the drivers who have piloted a car for “The Captain” rode along with Logano as he navigated the …

Read more