Race Weekend Central

Up to Speed: NASCAR Cup Drivers With Something to Prove in 2020

Matt DiBenedetto

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

A new racing season means new opportunities and new challenges.  Over the winter, NASCAR’s Cup Series saw its usual flurry of changes among drivers, teams and crews.  As a result of these changes, many drivers, rookies and veterans alike will be feeling the pressure to perform in 2020.  Whether measuring their success against other competitors …

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Up to Speed: A Full Season Show by Kyle Busch

2019homesteadmencskylebuschvictorylanecck

(Credit: Christian Koelle, Frontstretch)

In the end, reports of Kyle Busch’s demise turned out to be greatly exaggerated.  It may have been a shaky run through the playoffs at times for the Las Vegas native. But once the dust had settled at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday night, Busch had claimed his second championship in NASCAR’s top division. Busch’s second …

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Up to Speed: Denny Hamlin Gets Another Chance

2019 Dover Mencs Denny Hamlin Face Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

This time, Denny Hamlin didn’t blink. Needing to close out a victory late in Sunday’s (Nov. 10) race at ISM Raceway, Hamlin prevailed on a restart with three laps to go, holding off fellow playoff drivers Kyle Busch and Ryan Blaney.  The win allows Hamlin to advance to the final round of the playoffs next …

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Up to Speed: Final Thoughts on the 2019 NASCAR Aero Package

2019 Michigan Cup pack racing

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway was the latest chapter in a story that has unfolded all season long.  The 500-mile, day-into-night event was the last big test of NASCAR’s new aero package for stock car racing’s premier series. While there is still one intermediate track race left at Homestead-Miami …

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Up to Speed: No Love Lost Between Denny Hamlin & Joey Logano

2019 Martinsville Mencs Joey Logano Car Cck

(Photo: Christian Koelle)

Martinsville Speedway’s reputation for producing hot tempers and hurt feelings remain intact.  The fall playoff race, in particular, has featured no shortage of drama between championship contenders. Two years ago, Chase Elliott was upset at Denny Hamlin after being spun out late in the race.  Last year, Martin Truex Jr. was peeved at Joey Logano …

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Up to Speed: Reversal of Fortunes for Team Penske

2019 Daytona Cup Zach Catanzareti Team Penske Ryan Blaney Joey Logano Brad Keselowski

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Early in NASCAR’s 2019 season, Team Penske appeared to have two top shelf contenders for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series title.  Brad Keselowski kicked off their effort, rolling to three victories in the first 12 races of the year.  After a disappointing playoff run in 2018, the No. 2 team was looking like a …

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Up to Speed: The Tale of the Talladega Boycott, 50 Years Later

2019 Talladega Cup Mencs Zach Catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Long after a Talladega boycott threatened its existence, Talladega Superspeedway has an identity all its own.  The speedway is celebrating its 50th anniversary this weekend, and those 50 years have produced a record of thrills and spills that few other tracks can match.  There’s a lot to like about Talladega when everything goes right.  Fast-paced, …

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Up to Speed: Richard Childress Racing Starting Over

2019 Mencs Bristol Austin Dillon Car Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Richard Childress Racing is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2019.  Starting out as an owner/driver, Childress built his organization into one of the mightiest teams in NASCAR history.  His achievements with Dale Earnhardt at the wheel of the No. 3 Chevrolet are the stuff of legend. But as great as RCR has been over most …

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Up to Speed: The Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL Delivers, Again

2019 Roval Mencs Start Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Two years ago, when Charlotte Motor Speedway announced that its fall race would be held on something called a “ROVAL,” the decision was met with a fair amount of skepticism.  Would big, bulky stock cars put on a good show at an infield road course?  And was it really a good idea to have such …

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Up to Speed: Hendrick Motorsports Teammates in a Tight Spot

2019 Atlanta Cup William Byron Alex Bowman Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Last weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Alex Bowman and William Byron began their playoff runs with good finishes.  Bowman cruised to a sixth-place result, his best finish since winning at Chicagoland Speedway.  Byron spun out with less than 100 laps to go in the race but fought back to finish ninth.  Combined with Chase …

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Up to Speed: It’s Complicated Between NASCAR & the NFL

2019 Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Playoffs Field Of 16 Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

For the second year in a row, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs kicked off at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.  Last year’s race turned out to be a brutal war of attrition run during the heat of the afternoon, with temperatures easily reaching into the triple digits. To make things more comfortable for the …

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Up to Speed: Do Not Feel Bad for Jimmie Johnson

Jimmie Johnson

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Ever since the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series began utilizing a postseason format, Jimmie Johnson has been part of the championship fight.  For 15 straight seasons, no matter what guidelines NASCAR instituted for the Chase/playoffs, Johnson was always there. That streak came to an end on Sunday (Sept. 8), when Johnson failed to make the …

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