Race Weekend Central

Did You Notice?: A Look Into Aric Almirola Sub Possibilities

Almirola Kansas

(Photo: Russell LaBounty / NKP)

Did You Notice? … Two big-name drivers have already turned down the No. 43 ride to replace an injured Aric Almirola? Carl Edwards, once highly coveted by Richard Petty Motorsports many years ago has said no, he can’t go back and run the car through Sonoma on June 25. It’s not the first time Edwards has said …

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NASCAR’s Top Talent Scouts: Who’s Got the No. 1 Draft Pick?

2016 Daytona Ii Cup Brad Keselowski Joey Logano Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

NASCAR’s Dale Earnhardt Jr. news cycle finally got trumped in the sporting world by Thursday night’s NFL draft. As you read this, stories are popping up over names like Mitch Trubisky, Jabrill Peppers and I-can’t-remember-his-name-but-god-he-better-help-my-team. It’s a reminder for all that life must go on. At Hendrick Motorsports, those words ring truer than ever as it …

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NASCAR Mailbox: Who Should Replace Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Hendrick Motorsports?

2016 Loudon I Cup Alex Bowman Greg Ives Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

The news is sinking in. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is retiring. Just like Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart, the show must go on. And it will. Drivers come and go, but like Gordon and Stewart, Earnhardt is one of NASCAR’s main ambassadors. His face is plastered on advertisements left and right, creating a diverse collection of appreciation that …

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4 Burning Questions: Will Low Downforce Make for Another Atlanta Classic?

Will the low-downforce package make Sunday a classic? Forget the five-minute crash damage repair clock, we have low downforce back this weekend! We must start talking about this package, which should put on a heck of a show this Sunday at Atlanta. After a highly successful weekend for the sport at Daytona, the Folds of Honor …

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Did You Notice? … Whether Change Can Keep NASCAR Afloat?

Da1q6665

(Photo: Bruce Nuttleman)

Did You Notice? … Just a NASCAR change or two has descended upon us since we last came together? Since November, the sport has taken on a new title sponsor in Monster Energy, adopted a flurry of new rules designed to spice up competition, and split with tradition by chopping even the Daytona 500 into …

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The Big 6: Questions After The 2017 Advance Auto Parts Clash

2016 Indianapolis Cup Danica Patrick Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? Only one driver this season used Daytona 500 pole criteria to qualify for NASCAR’s revamped Clash: Danica Patrick. The former pole winner of the Great American Race suffered through a difficult offseason, one that featured Stewart-Haas Racing filing a lawsuit against Patrick’s sponsor Nature’s Bakery for pulling their 25-race sponsorship …

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Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Approved to Race in 2017

2016 Darlington Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr. Zach Catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is back. Hendrick Motorsports announced Thursday that Earnhardt has been cleared to return to racing.  The OK came after Earnhardt participated in a private test session on Wednesday at Darlington Raceway that was attended by Charlotte area neurosurgeon Dr. Jerry Petty and representatives of NASCAR. Dr. Micky Collins, medical director of the University …

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Alex Bowman to Drive for Hendrick Motorsports in Clash

Earlier today, Hendrick Motorsports announced that Dale Earnhardt, Jr. has been cleared to race once again.  However, Hendrick Motorsports also included a second piece of news inside of its announcement.  Earnhardt’s return will not completely leave Alex Bowman out in the cold. Hendrick Motorsports also announced on Thursday morning that Bowman will drive the No. …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in NASCAR: Desert/Dessert Edition

Tony Stewart

Photo: Zach Catanzareti

NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series made its final trip West for the 2016 season with a lot on the line. Six drivers sparred for just two remaining spots in Arizona to run for the championship this coming week at Homestead. Four of them were left feeling like they were stuck in the desert, where this Phoenix event just happened to be …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Joey Logano Steals Victory From the Jaws of Defeat at Phoenix

2016 Nascar Phoenix

(Photo: Matthew Thacker / NKP)

Who’s in the headline – In the final elimination race of the season, Joey Logano looked like he was about to slip out of contention for a transfer position. Fortunately for him, a caution flag flew, which bunched the field up and afforded him a final shot to reclaim a spot in the final four. …

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Pace Laps: Bowman’s Big Day, Sadler’s Penalty and a Wet Brazilian Grand Prix

2016 Nascar Sprint Cup Series, Phoenix

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Sprint Cup: Career Day for Alex Bowman in Phoenix – It seems like Alex Bowman has truly made the most of every opportunity he’s found in 2016. That statement hit the ceiling in Sunday’s Can-Am 500 at Phoenix International Raceway, when Bowman became the fastest driver in the Sprint Cup Series, leading 194 of 324 …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2016 Can-Am 500

2016 Nascar Sprint Cup Series, Phoenix

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? He’s not a rookie — he actually has two full Cup seasons under his belt — but Alex Bowman might as well be one in some respects.  He’s seen the tracks, but he’s never really raced against the top drivers in the series on a weekly basis for …

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