Race Weekend Central

Harrison Burton Boosts Hot Streak with Runner-Up Finish at Darlington

Harrison Burton Darlington II 2021

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

DARLINGTON, S.C. — Harrison Burton got all the way to the driver-side door of Noah Gragson in turn 4, but that was as close as he got to victory lane. Burton notched his best result of 2021 with a second-place finish in the Sports Clips Help a Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway on Saturday (Sept. …

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Zach’s Turn: Darlington Highlights Intersection of Old & New as Playoff Opener

Darlington Raceway NASCAR

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Darlington Raceway is an obvious historic landmark for NASCAR. That is part of what makes the 71-year-old facility the perfect start of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, which kick off at the 1.33-mile South Carolinian oval Sunday (Sept. 5) with the 72nd annual Cook Out Southern 500 at 6 p.m. ET. Although the 10-week playoffs …

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Zach’s Turn: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Hopeful Momentum Translates Into Daytona Win

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Michigan 2021

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is in the midst of one of the best seasons of his career. The driver of the No. 47 Chevrolet for JTG Daugherty Racing has finished outside the top 20 just six times through 25 races and posted his 13th top-15 finish of the season Sunday (Aug. 22) at Michigan International Speedway …

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Zach’s Turn: Where Lies the Truth Between Denny Hamlin & Chase Briscoe?

Chase Briscoe Denny Hamlin Indianapolis 2021

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Days after the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe continue to debate what happened on the final restart of the race. The conversation has taken up a good chunk of the social media chatter too, whether that be on Twitter, Reddit or Facebook. But …

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Chase Elliott Subbing for Michael Annett at Indianapolis Road Course

Chase Elliott 2021

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Chase Elliott will drive the No. 1 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, the team announced Saturday morning (Aug. 14). Elliott will replace Michael Annett, who continues to recover from surgery to address a stress fracture in his leg. Annett, the winner of the 2019 …

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Zach’s Turn: Points Battle Between Tyler Reddick & Austin Dillon Heating Up

Tyler Reddick Watkins Glen 2021

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

With three races remaining in the regular season, Tyler Reddick and Austin Dillon know who they have to fight for the final playoff spot on points. In fact, they probably know their competition too well. That’s because the Richard Childress Racing teammates currently sit on opposite sides of the NASCAR Cup Series playoff cutline, with …

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Chase Elliott Laments Mistake in Runner-Up Effort at Watkins Glen

Chase Elliott Watkins Glen 2021

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Watkins Glen, New York – Chase Elliott rocketed from the rear of the field twice with what was unquestionably the fastest car on the track. The two-time defending Watkins Glen International winner, however, still came up 2.4 seconds short of the win, finishing second behind Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson on Sunday (Aug. 8) at …

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Ty Gibbs Impresses Competitors With 3rd Xfinity Win of 2021

Ty Gibbs Watkins Glen 2021

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Ty Gibbs has proven time and again he is an extremely talented racecar driver. What made Saturday’s (Aug. 7) performance at Watkins Glen International different was that he cleanly and outright beat two of the best road racers in the NASCAR Xfinity Series to lead a race-high 43 laps and claim his third victory of …

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Paul Menard Posts 8th-Place Finish in Return to Trucks at Watkins Glen

2021 Watkins Glen Trucks Paul Menard truck NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Paul Menard is rarely seen at NASCAR racetracks these days. He proved, however, that his road-racing abilities are just as sharp as ever, wheeling the No. 66 Toyota for ThorSport Racing to an eighth-place finish in the rain-shortened NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Watkins Glen International on Saturday afternoon (Aug. 7). This wasn’t …

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Ty Gibbs Bested by Corey Heim in Another Heated Battle

2021 ARCA Watkins Glen Ty Gibbs (Credit: NKP0

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Ty Gibbs and Corey Heim have created the rivalry to watch this year in the ARCA Menards Series. The dueling duo went head to head yet again on Friday (Aug. 6) at Watkins Glen International while going for the lead. Unlike last week at Winchester Speedway where Gibbs dumped Heim for the top spot, Friday’s …

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Zach’s Turn: Ross Chastain Finally Nets NASCAR Stability with Trackhouse

Ross Chastain Daniel Suarez

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Ross Chastain has bounced around NASCAR’s top three series for the past decade. Finally, though, the 28-year-old watermelon farmer has found a home in the NASCAR Cup Series for at least the next two years. Trackhouse Racing Team announced Tuesday (Aug. 3) Chastain will pilot the team’s newly-acquired No. 1 Chevrolet in 2022 after signing …

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Zach’s Turn: Team Penske in Midst of Massive Upheaval

Team Penske Joey Logano Brad Keselowski New Hampshire 2021

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Team Penske has been the beacon of stability in NASCAR for the past eight years. That cohesion was officially upended one week ago when Roger Penske confirmed Brad Keselowski’s departure from Team Penske by announcing Austin Cindric will transition into the No. 2 Ford for the 2022 season. Change is extraordinarily rare at Team Penske, …

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