Race Weekend Central

2-Headed Monster: Is It Fair Truex & Keselowski Are Out Of The Chase?

2016 Nscs Brad Keselowski Green Flag Dover Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

When the checkered flag flew on the Hellmann’s 500, eight drivers sighed in relief. Not just because they were safe from the unpredictability of Talladega; that was part of the emotion, for sure. But more importantly, two of their chief championship competitors were no longer a threat for the title. Going into the Round of …

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2-Headed Monster: Can One of the Bottom Four Chasers Win and Advance at Talladega?

2016 Talladega I Cup Brad Keselowski Champagne John Harrleson Nkp

(Photo: John Harrleson / NKP)

Coming into this weekend’s Hellmann’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, only two drivers — Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick — find themselves safe and in the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chase. Winners during the first two races of the round, they’ll be the only ones in the playoff field of 12 …

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2-Headed Monster: Jimmie Johnson, Championship Favorite?

2016 Nascar Charlotte

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

“New leader, 48.” Those three words were once the bane of every race team not associated with Jimmie Johnson. The Californian had a knack for checking out once taking over the lead, and winning often – five, six, even 10 times in a single season. Those words were the ones dreaded by the teams that Johnson …

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2-Headed Monster: Who is in More Trouble This Weekend – Ty Dillon or Erik Jones?

2016 Chicago Nxs Ty Dillon Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

It’s doubtful that anybody would have predicted this two races go: Erik Jones and Ty Dillon both sitting outside the cut line in the first round of the inaugural NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase. Down the stretch? Perhaps. But as strong as those teams have run, to see them in trouble just two races in is surprising. …

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2-Headed Monster: Can a Non-Chaser Play Spoiler at Dover?

2016 Cup Richmond Kasey Kahne Jeff Gordon Zach Catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

This weekend’s race at Dover is a much bigger race than it was three years ago. Then, it was the third race of the Chase, an important part of a 10-race stretch of events that would lead to the Sprint Cup championship. Today, it is still the third race of the Chase, but serves as …

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2-Headed Monster: Which Inaugural Chase Will Be More Intriguing, Trucks or XFINITY?

2016 Chicago Cwts 2016 Chase Drivers Russell Labounty Nkp

When NASCAR announced it was expanding its Chase playoff system to the XFINITY Series and Camping World Truck Series earlier this year, fans weren’t sure how to react. On one hand, the Chase awards a championship based on the performance of seven races, and many wonder whether that cheapens the championship. On the other hand, …

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2-Headed Monster: Is Joe Gibbs Racing Still the Championship Favorite?

2016 Indianapolis Cup Matt Kenseth Kyle Busch Matthre T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T Thacker/NKP)

Joe Gibbs Racing has been on a tear since midway through the 2015 Sprint Cup Series season. Winners of 21 of the last 45 races – including 11 this season – the four-driver crew of Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards has been nearly unstoppable. Add in Furniture Row Racing pseudo-teammate Martin …

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2-Headed Monster: Should John Hunter Nemechek Have Moved Cole Custer?

2016 Camping World Truck Mosport

(Photo: Russell LaBounty / NKP)

Nobody ever said that Canadian Tire Motorsport Park doesn’t disappoint. Four years, four crazy finishes, three last-corner passes for the win. And last weekend’s finish between Cole Custer and John Hunter Nemechek was perhaps the craziest of them all. Custer, leading on the last lap and needing a win to qualify for the inaugural Camping …

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2-Headed Monster: Should the Lower-Low Downforce Package Run Full-Time in 2017?

2016 Michigan Ii Cup Chase Elliott Alex Bowman Racing Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Sunday’s Pure Michigan 400 was more than just a dream come true for Kyle Larson, it was also the final test run for the Sprint Cup Series in the proposed 2017 rules package. Coming off of previous years at Michigan International Speedway that saw drivers running nearly flat-out around the two-mile oval, the lessened downforce …

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Did You Notice? … Dale Earnhardt Jr. Still in the Top 25 Despite Long Absence

2016 Watkins Glen Cup Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Zach Catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Did you notice? … Dale Earnhardt Jr. is still within the top 25 in points even though he has only run 18 of 24 races? He currently sits 22nd in the standings, ahead of 11 drivers who have made every race this season. Peers he’s currently beating? Paul Menard, Aric Almirola and Clint Bowyer, all …

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2-Headed Monster- Does Ty Dillon Deserve a Full-Time Cup Ride?

Ty Dillon

Photo: Zach Catanzareti

“I’m ready to make that step (into the Sprint Cup Series). I feel confident as a driver that I can go and compete inside the top 10, top 15 in the Sprint Cup Series if I get a full-time gig.” Those words were spoken by Ty Dillon prior to the XFINITY Series Food City 300 …

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Double Take: Hendrick Motorsports’ Toyota Coup

2016 Atlanta Cwts William Byron Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

With William Byron announcing he’ll be racing for JR Motorsports in 2017, it sent shockwaves through the sport. Few expected this, Byron jumping ship from Kyle Busch Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing. He seemed on pace to become the next Erik Jones, following his slightly older teammate into Cup via JGR or a Toyota alliance. But …

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