Race Weekend Central

Out With the Old, In With the New: 2021-2022 NASCAR Silly Season Recap

Next Gen Car Testing Daytona, Spire Motorsports Corey Lajoie, JTG Daugherty Ricky Stenhouse Jr., TrackHouse Racing Ross Chastain and Daniel Saurez, Hendrick Motorsports Dale Earnhardt Jr., Petty GMS Racing Erik Jones, Hendrick Motorsports William Byron, Kaulig Racing Justin Haley and Daniel Hemric NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

If you have watched football for a short duration, it probably did not take you long to realize that the wristband quarterbacks wear carry a portable playbook. This helps the quarterback have access to plays rather than having to memorize a plethora of them. Why am I talking about NFL wristbands? Because as a new …

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Austin Cindric Returns to Rolex 24 with WeatherTech Racing

2021 Loudon New Hampshire NASCAR Xfinity Austin Cindric smile NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

WeatherTech Racing announced Monday (Jan. 10) that the team will enter a third car in this month’s Rolex 24 at Daytona.  This entry, a second Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, will be shared by Team Penske NASCAR Cup Series regular Austin Cindric, along with Dirk Mueller and Patrick Assenheimer and race in the GTD Pro class.  The …

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Menards Expands Penske Cup Sponsorship for 2022

2021 Kansas Ii Cup Ryan Blaney Car Sean Gardner Getty

(Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Menards will expand its sponsorship of Team Penske to two NASCAR Cup Series cars in 2022, Penske announced Nov. 30. Menards’ colors will adorn Austin Cindric‘s No. 2 in the series in addition to continuing its sponsorship of Ryan Blaney‘s No. 12. Additionally, Menards will sponsor Harrison Burton‘s rookie effort with Wood Brothers Racing in …

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Xfinity Breakdown: Allmendinger’s Loose Wheel & Spin Aids Hemric’s Championship

2021 Xfinity Phoenix AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet (Credit: NKP)

Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

With just over 20 laps to go in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway Saturday night (Nov. 6), Austin Cindric boasted a two-second lead. While the margin between him and second place shrunk a bit while navigating lapped traffic, the championship looked to be his to lose. Well, there’s an old saying: …

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Austin Cindric Beaten by Inches for Xfinity Series Championship

2021 Xfinity Phoenix Austin Cindric, No. 22 Team Penske Ford (Credit: NKP)

Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

A second consecutive championship was on the line for Austin Cindric. He fell inches short.

A bump-and-run from perennial runner-up Daniel Hemric in the final set of corners left Cindric 0.03 seconds from the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series title at Phoenix Raceway on Saturday night (Nov. 6).

The contact came coming to the checkered flag on an overtime restart to define the season’s title bout. Cindric was “pissed” he was moved but said it was fair game.

Daniel Hemric Wins 1st Race & Xfinity Series Championship

2021 Xfinity Phoenix Daniel Hemric pre-race (Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images via NASCAR Media)

Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images via NASCAR Media

Daniel Hemric tied a NASCAR record by finishing runner-up 10 times in his Xfinity Series career. With two turns left and a championship on the line, he wouldn’t settle for No. 11. Hemric nudged fellow title contender Austin Cindric out of the way, then won a drag race to the line to earn the 2021 …

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Stock Car Scoop: NASCAR Championship Weekend Preview

Phoenix

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

It’s NASCAR’s crowning moment. Championship weekend is upon us all this weekend at Phoenix Raceway, where the Camping World Truck, Xfinity and Cup series will crown their 2021 title-winners come checkered flags on Friday (Nov. 5), Saturday and Sunday. Ahead of the excitement, Adam Cheek and Bryan Nolen team up for one final preview podcast …

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4 Burning Questions: Who’s Saying Goodbye After 2021?

2021 Kansas I Cup Ross Chastain Kurt Busch racing NKP

Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

Who will win the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship? John Hunter Nemechek enters Phoenix Raceway with the most wins on the season but as the fourth seed after just barely getting to this round after a late crash at Martinsville Speedway. Nemechek is probably the most aggressive driver of these four and will do …

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End of an Era Awaits Team Penske & Brad Keselowski

Brad Keselowski

(Nigel Kinrade Photography)

This Sunday (Nov. 7) at Phoenix Raceway, all eyes will be focused on the Championship 4, a final quartet of title-contending NASCAR Cup Series stars with a chance to secure the sport’s biggest prize. Brad Keselowski won’t be one of them, which means his lengthy tenure at Team Penske will come to a quiet end …

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Xfinity Breakdown: Daniel Hemric Advances, But Late Caution Thwarts Another Victory

Daniel Hemric Martinsville 2021 Xfinity pack racing NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Austin Cindric and AJ Allmendinger each entered Saturday’s (Oct. 30) NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Martinsville Speedway 47 points above the cutline. Race smart and complete all the laps meant they were likely racing for a championship next weekend. After stage two, both received the notification they were locked in the Championship 4 race at …

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Noah Gragson Wins Martinsville, Clinches Championship 4 Berth

2021 Martinsville Ii Nxs Noah Gragson Woohoo Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Noah Gragson had to win to advance to the Championship 4 Saturday night (Oct. 30) at Martinsville Speedway, and was willing to do anything to win the Dead On Tools 250. After driving and willing his way to the lead, he faced challenges from Daniel Hemric passing him late and battled to retake the lead …

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