Race Weekend Central

The 10: NASCAR Cup Series Power Rankings After Charlotte

2017 Loudon Cup Martin Truex Jr. Car Phil Allaway

(Photo: Phil Allaway)

Throughout the history of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, there are numerous examples of a driver dominating at a certain track or type of track. What is unique about what we’ve seen at the mile-and-a-half speedways this year is that the dominant driver seemed destined for a career as an also-ran for nearly a …

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The 10: NASCAR Cup Series Power Rankings After Dover

Dover

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Championship hopes were at stake for some of the drivers in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs this weekend. The second visit to Dover served as the initial cutoff point, after which the lowest four drivers in the standings would be eliminated. Kyle Busch charged to the front in the closing laps, postponing Chase …

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The 10: NASCAR Cup Series Power Rankings After New Hampshire

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Overton’s 301 New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, Nh Usa Sunday 16 July 2017 Kevin Harvick, Stewart Haas Racing, Busch Beer Ford Fusion And Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing, Fedex Office Toyota Camry World Copyright: Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series returned to New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the second event of the 2017 playoffs. Alas, it was likely the final time that the track will host a playoff event, as the race date moves to Las Vegas next season. Regardless of your opinion of the change, it’s always tough to …

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The 10: NASCAR Cup Series Power Rankings After Chicagoland

2017 Chicago Cup Martin Truex Jr Slimed Logan Whitton Nkp

(Photo: Logan Whitton / NKP)

This weekend kicked off the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs at Chicagoland Speedway. 16 drivers began their pursuit of the biggest prize in stock car racing. One driver is chasing his record setting eighth crown. Five more are after title number two. The other 10 are seeking to add a cup championship to their resumes. …

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The 10: NASCAR Cup Series Power Rankings After Richmond

2017 Richmond Ii Cup Kyle Larson Burnout Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

This weekend marked the final opportunity for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers to earn their shot at the playoffs. 13 drivers arrived at Richmond Raceway with a win (well, the unencumbered kind), which left three more nervously hanging on to the top 16. The final three were far enough ahead in points to …

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The 10: NASCAR Cup Series Power Rankings After Darlington

Darlington Cup 2017 Denny Hamlin Yvonne Leonard

(Photo: Yvonne Leonard)

The stars of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series were kicking it old school this weekend for the annual visit to Darlington Raceway. The throwback celebration has been a massive hit with both fans and competitors alike since its inception three years ago. From the retro paint schemes and uniforms to the outdated attire throughout …

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The 10: The Biggest “Should Have Won” Races of the Past 25 Years

2017 Michigan Ii Cup Brad Keselowski Racing Logan Whitton Nkp

(Photo: Logano Whitton / NKP)

This week, the teams of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series enjoyed their final weekend off until the season ends. Whether it was traveling the world or relaxing at home, the competitors did whatever they felt would recharge their batteries. So I decided to give our contributors a chance to clear their minds as well. …

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The 10: NASCAR Cup Series Power Rankings After Bristol

2017 Bristol Ii Kyle Busch Woohoo Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series went under the lights in Thunder Valley Saturday night for some high banked short track action. The racing there has been pretty clean of late, especially considering how um… unclean Bristol Motor Speedway once was. The Bristol trophy supply was clean too. Cleaned out that is, courtesy of Kyle …

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The 10: NASCAR Cup Series Power Rankings After Michigan

2017 Michigan Ii Cup Kyle Larson Racing Logan Whitton Nkp

(Photo: Logan Whitton/NKP)

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series made the second stop of the year at Kyle Larson International Speedway… whoops. I meant Michigan International Speedway. Although with the way that the Chip Ganassi Racing driver has owned the two-mile oval lately, would it really matter if it were renamed after him? Either way, despite valiant efforts …

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The 10: NASCAR Cup Series Power Rankings After Watkins Glen

Keselowski V Busch

(Photo: John K Harrelson/ NKP)

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series hit the road again this weekend. The road course in Watkins Glen, that is. Such events tend to be a bit of a wild card, much in the same way that restrictor plate races are. Drivers who are typically mired mid-pack suddenly have an opportunity to contend. With the …

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The 10: NASCAR Cup Series Power Rankings After Pocono

2017 Cup Pocono Zach Catanzareti Denny Hamlin

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series was back in the mountains this weekend at the Pocono Raceway. Nothing beats a good mountain retreat. Fresh air, natural wonders, peace and quiet. Just don’t get lost during some wilderness expedition because it’s not easy to find anything in the mountains (I hear they’re still looking for turn …

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The 10: NASCAR Cup Series Power Rankings After Indianapolis

2017 Indianapolis Motor Speedway MENCS Matt Kenseth photo credit NASCAR via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series returned to the hallowed ground in Speedway, Indiana this weekend for the (insert excessively long name here) Brickyard 400. We’ve already seen several drivers break long winless streaks this season. But the annual visit to Indy usually favors regular winners. In fact, only three times has the Brickyard winner …

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