Race Weekend Central

NASCAR 101: The 10 Youngest First-Time Cup Winners

02/19/06 Daytona, Florida. Brian Vickers. Nascar Nextel Cup Series, Daytona. Daytona 500.

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

When Ryan Blaney won his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race last Sunday at Pocono Raceway, he did so at the ripe old age of 23 years old. Which has to put him among the youngest winners ever in the series, right? …right? Well, yes, but also… not totally. I mean, look, with his win, …

Read more

Friday Faceoff: Will Young Guns Bring Young Fans to NASCAR?

2016 Kentucky Kyle Busch Fans Zach Catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Ryan Blaney was the latest young gun to win a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race this past weekend.  As the guard changes in the sport to the younger generation of drivers, will the new faces bring new fans? Bryan Gable: I’m cautiously optimistic with the next generation of drivers.  It’s good that some of …

Read more

NASCAR 101: Cup Debuts Off to a Good (OK, Better) Start in 2017

23 24 September, 2016, Sparta, Kentucky Usa Ryan Sieg ©2016, Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

There are two drivers making their Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debuts this weekend! No, listen. This is kind of cool. When the green flag falls at Dover International Speedway this Sunday in the Cup Series, Ross Chastain and Ryan Sieg will be part of the starting lineup for the first time in their racing …

Read more

NASCAR 101: The 4 Drivers Attempting to Make Their 2017 XFINITY Debuts at Charlotte

2015 Xfinity Iowa 31 July 1 August, 2015, Newton, Iowa Usa Cale Conley ©2015, Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist NKP)

Well, this sure hasn’t happened lately. For the first time since toward the beginning point of the 2017 NASCAR XFINITY Series season, there are quite a few new faces filling out the entry list for this weekend’s race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Not that the series has been hurting for different blood. In each race …

Read more

NASCAR 101: The All-Star Race’s Journey Through NASCAR History

Nascar Sprint All Star Race

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

The 43rd edition of NASCAR’s annual All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway takes place this Saturday, May 20, and the event has come a long way since it first debuted as The Winston in 1985. The event has been run at Charlotte every year since it began, except in 1986, when it was run at …

Read more

NASCAR 101: 2009, the Sprint Showdown

2009 Nascar Sprint Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade, USA Autostock)

The last time a Carl Long-owned team ran a race in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series was 2009. Back then, Long, then 41, was on a part-time schedule in the series and in NASCAR as a whole, making intermittent starts in the XFINITY Series in addition to his Cup program. That year, he had …

Read more

NASCAR 101: An Unencumbered Look Into Encumbered Finishes

2017 Richmond I Cup Joey Logano Trophy Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade NKP)

Joey Logano won last weekend at Richmond International Raceway, but in terms of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship battle, you’d barely know it. That’s because Thursday (May 4), Logano’s No. 22 was announced to have had a rear suspension violation found at NASCAR’s R&D center following the race, which means a few things …

Read more

NASCAR 101: Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Hendrick Motorsports Legacy

2016 Martinsville I Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr Matthre T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T Thacker/NKP)

When Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced his retirement from the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at the end of the 2017 season last Tuesday (April 25), it was no surprise it came with Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick by his side, since that’s the team for which Earnhardt currently drives in the Cup Series. However, here’s …

Read more

NASCAR 101: The 10 Oldest Drivers on the NASCAR Circuit

2015 Xfinity Jeff Green Elkhart Lake Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist NKP)

There was this very dumb, extremely unfounded story going around the Internet earlier this week claiming that Matt Kenseth was going to be retiring, either immediately or at the end of the season, depending on who you asked. It was debunked almost immediately, with the actual press conference Wednesday (April 19) being some actual good …

Read more

NASCAR 101: Is An Early Week Off Good or Bad for Your Points Leader?

2017 Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series O'reilly Auto Parts 500 Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, Tx Usa Saturday 8 April 2017 Kyle Larson World Copyright: John K Harrelson/nkp

(Photo: John K Harrelson/NKP)

Seven races in, Kyle Larson is looking like the driver to beat in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. This weekend should be yet another notch on his belt on the way to a playoff berth and potential first title. Or… it would be, if the series wasn’t off this week. The week of April …

Read more

NASCAR 101: The First Race at Texas Motor Speedway

1997 Winston Cup Series, Texas

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade NKP)

Thursday, April 6, marked the 20th anniversary of the first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race held at Texas Motor Speedway. As the circuit travels to the Fort Worth track this weekend, here is a look back at the inaugural Texas race in 1997. The Jim Carrey movie Liar Liar topped the box office charts …

Read more