Race Weekend Central

Daytona, Darlington, Kansas to Lift COVID-19 Attendance Restrictions

Daytona International Speedway view NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The grandstands will be full at three more tracks later this season. Per three coordinated May 7 releases, Kansas Speedway and Daytona International Speedway will open their stands to full capacity for their NASCAR race weekends later this season. In addition, Darlington Raceway, which hosts NASCAR Cup, Xfinity and Truck series this weekend, will do …

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eNASCAR Pro Invitational iRacing Series: Erik Jones Makes Bold Move for Darlington Win

Erik Jones Darlington iRacing

(Photo: Justin Melillo/NASCAR Media)

In one of the most anticipated sim racing events this year, Erik Jones came home with the victory in the eNASCAR Pro Invitational iRacing Series on Wednesday night (May 5), held on a virtual Darlington Raceway. “We were 11th on that second to last restart then they all crashed and we got up there,” Jones …

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Lewis Hamilton Claims Second Consecutive Portuguese Grand Prix Win

2021 F1 Portuguese GP Lewis Hamilton Saturday Jiri Krenek Mercedes AMG F1

(Photo: Jiri Krenek/Mercedes AMG F1)

It was another picture perfect day in Portugal, and another perfect day for Lewis Hamilton. After a questionable mistake nearly cost him a podium last week, this week the 7-time F1 world champion was unbeatable. Dominating the second half of the race, Hamilton came across the line nearly 30 seconds ahead of second place to …

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The Virtual Frontstretch: Issue 11

Melillo Virtual Frontstretch 11

Photo by Justin Melillo via iRacing.com

Welcome to the latest edition of The Virtual Frontstretch, where the NASCAR sim racing community gets updated on some of the top leagues and happenings across the iRacing and NASCAR Heat platforms. With that said, this is planning to be the last issue that will be named The Virtual Frontstretch. Starting next week, hopefully, this …

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Kyle Busch Claims Truck Series Win at Kansas Speedway

2021 Trucks Kansas Kyle Busch Trophy (Credit: Sean Gardner/Getty Images via NASCAR Media)

(Photo: Sean Gardner/Getty Images via NASCAR Media)

It was an early birthday weekend present for the soon-to-be 36 year old Kyle Busch. In a familiar sight, the closing laps of Friday’s (May 1) Wise Power 200 at Kansas Speedway saw the Kyle Busch Motorsports duo of Busch and John Hunter Nemechek contending for the win. Then the caution came out. After Jennifer …

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Alex Palou Earns Pole for Saturday’s IndyCar Texas Race

Alex Palou celebrates his victory in the Honda Grand Prix of Alabama (Photo: Joe Skibinski/INDYCAR Media)

(Photo: Joe Skibinski/INDYCAR Media)

Alex Palou will start on the pole in Saturday’s (May 1) NTT IndyCar Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. Rain came overnight and track drying was still on-going, forcing IndyCar to cancel its qualifying session. Drivers will lineup based on entrant points through two 2021 events. Palou, who was victorious in the season opener at …

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Callum Ilott Relishes First Crack at F1 with Alfa-Romeo

Callum Ilott at the Portuguese Grand Prix, April 2021.

(Photo: Antonin Vincent/DPPI)

For 2020 F2 Vice Champion Callum Ilott, it seems like he was pretty much ripped off for this season. While 2020 champion Mick Schumacher, 3rd place finisher Yuki Tsunoda AND 5th place finisher Nikita Mazepin were all promoted to F1 this year, it seems the same thing was destined for the runner-up Ilott. Linked to …

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Eyes On Xfinity: An Off-Week Wish List for Series Regulars

2021 Xfinity Talladega Jeb Burton, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet, Leads (Credit: NKP)

Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

So far this season, a handful of off weekends have peppered the NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule. That ends after this weekend as the series will be on track every weekend beginning May 8 at Darlington Raceway through July 17 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. As teams and drivers get the final off weekend for a …

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Dropping the Hammer: NASCAR Says ‘No’ to Being Part of Voting Rights Debate

Daniel McFadin Dropping the Hammer

Graphic by James Crow

On June 7, 2020 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, NASCAR President Steve Phelps made one of the most important public statements ever made by a NASCAR official, especially for one not named France. With a field of cars sitting in front of empty grandstands due to an international pandemic and some 13 days after George Floyd …

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eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series: Chris Shearburn Survives Carnage, Wins Big at Kansas

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(Photo: iRacing)

Chris Shearburn scored the victory at virtual Kansas Speedway on April 27 to make it seven different winners in seven races this season in the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series. This marked the first time since 2010 there have been seven winners in seven races. The win was the second of Shearburn’s career, and he was …

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Toyotas Come Up Empty At Talladega

Denny Hamlin leads a pack of cars at Talladega Superspeedway, April 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

In recent years, Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin have repeatedly factored into who’d emerge with a race victory on super speedways at Daytona and Talladega. But on a day mostly dominated by Fords on Sunday at the mammoth Alabama speedway, Toyotas didn’t end up factoring in a victory as a Ford-laden field duked it …

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