Race Weekend Central

NASCAR 101: The Cup Rookie Battle Couldn’t Be Closer Than It Is Right Now

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The closest points race in NASCAR right now isn’t necessarily a battle for the championship. Sure, there are few clear favorites for titles in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, the Xfinity Series and the Gander Outdoors Truck Series. With two or three races to go in each series, there’s a sense that the championship …

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NASCAR 101: Related Drivers in NASCAR

2016 Fontana Nxs Ty Dillon Austin Dillon Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

This column was all set. Perfect, even — the idea, that is. It was timely, fitting, whatever. Then Carson Ware dropped off the Gander Outdoors Truck Series entry list for this weekend at Martinsville Speedway. But you know what? Screw it. Doing it anyway. In the event that Ware returns to the entry list (until …

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NASCAR 101: The Most First-Time Winners in Truck Series History

Nascar Gander Outdoors Truck Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

After a quiet year for new winners in 2018, the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series is having quite a year for newcomers to victory lane. Spencer Boyd‘s Talladega Superspeedway triumph made him the fifth first-time winner in the series in 2019, with three races still to go before the season’s end. He’s the first new …

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NASCAR 101: 5 Longest Active Winless Streaks in All 3 Series

2017 Daytona I Cwts Joe Nemechek Barry Cantrell Nkp

Photo: Barry Cantrell/NKP

It’s hard to believe that Kyle Larson had not won in 75 races. Or the fact that Jimmie Johnson still can’t find victory lane. While Larson was able to take a home a much needed checkered flag last Sunday (Oct. 6) at Dover International Raceway to end his winless streak in the Monster Energy NASCAR …

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NASCAR 101: Most Cup Wins of the 2010s

2019 Daytona Clash Cup Kevin Harvick Jimmie Johnson Racing Nkp

It’s Kyle Busch vs. Kevin Harvick vs. Jimmie Johnson in the battle of the 2010s. Just seven races remain in this decade of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series racing, and three drivers are in contention for the most wins overall during those 10 years. Entering this weekend’s race at Dover International Speedway, Busch leads the …

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NASCAR 101: The Cup Silly Season Dominoes Still to Fall

2019 Phoenix I Cup Ricky Stenhouse Jr Nkp

(Photo: NKP)

Been quite a week, eh? With Christopher Bell‘s thoroughly non-shocking move to Leavine Family Racing in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series for 2020, followed by the actually surprising loss of Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in Roush Fenway Racing’s No. 17 at the expense of Chris Buescher, Silly Season is very much in full swing for …

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NASCAR 101: Inside the eNASCAR Heat Pro League

Heat Logo

(Photo: NASCAR)

The team names sound familiar: Team Penske, Joe Gibbs Racing, Hendrick Motorsports. There’s JTG Daugherty and Stewart-Haas and Germain Racing and Roush Fenway… but wait a minute: drivers named Garbage, Trackbar, Sloppy Joe and, um, Fluffy? What’s going on here? What’s going on is a playoff race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the eNASCAR …

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NASCAR 101: Active Drivers With the Most (& Least) Team Owners

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Once again, NASCAR Silly Season is in full bloom. We’ve got retirements and alignments, sponsorships and ownerships, hirings and firings and, of course, Matt DiBenedetto. This annual late-summer/early-fall tradition is filled with nerves, excitement and surprises. On the note of surprises, Paul Menard joins David Ragan as the second Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver …

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NASCAR 101: Can Kyle Busch Score 30 Top 10s in 2019?

2019 Michigan Mencs Kyle Busch Face Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

“But [Kyle] Busch could also be peaking too early. Because if history is any indication, his early-season strength could end up faltering down the line.” Man, I wonder what kind of idiot wrote that earlier this year. …oh. Right. In early May 2019, Kyle Busch was on a hot streak rivaling few others in Monster Energy …

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NASCAR 101: Here Are the 2019 Darlington Throwback Schemes

2018 Darlington Cup Zach Catanzareti Chase Elliott

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

It’s that time of year again: the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series return to Darlington Raceway for Labor Day weekend and its festivities, leading up to the Bojangles Southern 500 on Sunday, Sept. 1. This year, the theme throws back to the years 1990-1994, though some chose schemes outside that period. A …

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NASCAR 101: Here’s What NASCAR Changed With Cup Participation in Xfinity, Truck Series for 2020

Nascar Xfinity Series Camping World 300 Practice

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Much like the constant rules changes surrounding the annual Advance Auto Parts Clash in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Daytona International Speedway, the regulations around who’s allowed to race in the Xfinity and Gander Outdoors Truck series continue to morph each year, and 2020 will be no different. What’s that, you say? You …

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NASCAR 101: Other K&N Stalwarts Who Could Join Sam Mayer in the Truck Series (Or Beyond)

2019 Pocono Xfinity Zach Catanzareti Hailie Deegan

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

The latest graduate of the K&N Pro Series to NASCAR’s national series is Sam Mayer, who made his Gander Outdoors Truck Series debut Thursday night, Aug. 15, at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mayer, 16, was announced in late 2018 as one of the drivers for GMS Racing’s Truck Series program in 2019. The catch? He wouldn’t …

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