Race Weekend Central

Truckin’ Thursdays: 4 Potential First-Time Winners at Gateway

2016 Chicago Cwts Ryan Truex Thinking Brett Moist Nkp

Ryan Truex (Photo: Brett Moist NKP)

Chase Briscoe almost broke through and scored his first career victory last weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. In fact, many thought he was the one who’d weaved through the chaos that ended the race and won, but it was Christopher Bell who emerged victorious. But Briscoe’s near-victory, coupled with Ryan Blaney’s first career Cup Series win …

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Friday Faceoff: What to Do with the Overtime Line?

2017 Dover I Cup Jimmie Johnson Leads Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

1. The teams of both Kyle Busch and Chase Briscoe received heavy penalties after Dover International Speedway, including suspensions of crew chiefs, tire carriers and tire changers after each had a wheel fall off in completion.  Did NASCAR make the right call? Amy Henderson: Yes. The rulebook is pretty specific in this area, and NASCAR was …

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Ben Rhodes Staying Positive Despite Coming Up Short Again

2017 Dover Ben Rhodes Trucks Zach Catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

At the beginning of the final stage, Ben Rhodes found himself in familiar territory in NASCAR’s Camping World Truck Series. Restarting as the race leader, it appeared a first victory would finally be within his grasp. But Rhodes’ road to Victory Lane took yet another detour in a frustrating 2017 season for the driver. Rhodes and crew …

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4 Burning Questions: Will Regan Smith Make the All-Star Race?

2017 Daytona Trucks Zach Catanzareti Regan Smith

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Will Regan Smith Makes the All-Star Race in Almirola’s No. 43? Though Aric Almirola attended the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation’s Catwalk for Cause on Wednesday evening, looking sharp and healthy as can be, he will not be piloting his racecar this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. In his place in the No. 43 Richard Petty …

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Truckin’ Thursdays: Ben Rhodes Heartbroken Yet Hopeful Headed into Charlotte

2017 Daytona I Cwts Ben Rhodes Eddie Triconis Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

It’s something no driver, especially one gunning for a first career win, wants to face. But it’s exactly what happened to Ben Rhodes on Friday night at Kansas Speedway. after a spirited battle with Kyle Busch for the race lead, Rhodes took his No. 27 Toyota and pulled it ahead by more than one second. …

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Pace Laps: Aric Almirola’s Wreck Changes the Game, Ben Rhodes Comes up Shy of First Victory

2017 Kansas I Cup Aj Allmendinger Aric Almirola Pack Racing Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Almirola Crash Changed The Game – Just one week ago, Aric Almirola stood inside Victory Lane at Talladega Superspeedway. He’d won his second XFINITY Series race in his last three restrictor plate attempts, following that up with a fourth-place effort in the Cup race. A season-long goal of making the playoffs suddenly …

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Tracking the Trucks: Kyle Busch Lucks Into Toyota Tundra 250 Win

2017 Talladega I Cup Kyle Busch John K Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John K. Harrelson/NKP)

In a Nutshell: After six long weeks off, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series returned to action Friday night at Kansas Speedway. Cup Series regular Kyle Busch emerged victorious in a caution-filled Toyota Tundra 250, pulling 2.622 seconds ahead of Johnny Sauter by the finish. On paper, it sounds like another Busch beating in NASCAR’s lower series. …

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Kyle Busch Capitalizes on Ben Rhodes’ Blown Motor to Win Toyota Tundra 250

Nascar Camping World Truck Series Toyota Tundra 250 Race

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Ben Rhodes dominated Friday night’s Toyota Tundra 240. His only problem? It was the Toyota Tundra 250. Rhodes’ expiring engine, giving up with eight laps left gift-wrapped Kyle Busch a much-needed NASCAR victory. Breezing by the wounded No. 27 Toyota, Busch scored his 47th career Camping World Truck Series win Friday night at Kansas Speedway. The driver of the …

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Beyond the Cockpit: Ben Rhodes on Balancing Business With Racing

2017 Daytona I Cwts Ben Rhodes Eddie Triconis Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Ben Rhodes is one driver you can bet will arrive at driver introductions with a smile on his face, especially in 2017, where he returns with Thorsport Racing for a second full-time season in the Camping World Truck Series. As part of the heavily populated young gun show in NASCAR, which has seemed to blossom thus …

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Tracking the Trucks: Kaz Grala Wins Plate Race NASCAR Survivor

Kaz Grala Credit Mike Neff

(Credit: Mike Neff)

In a Nutshell: During the latest edition of plate race NASCAR Survivor, it looked like the veterans had the votes to knock off the youngsters. But after a Demolition Derby-type affair, stalwarts like Matt Crafton and Johnny Sauter quickly learned they didn’t earn immunity from the dreaded Big One. Ben Rhodes got bumped on the backstretch by ThorSport …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Martinsville Exposes Cracks In NBC’s Coverage

Cup Martinsville Martinsville Speedway Jeff Gordon

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Martinsville Speedway typically brings close quarters, tire issues and some frayed tempers.  Last weekend, we got some of that.  As far as I know, no punches were thrown.  Two drivers clinched their spots in the Championship 4 at Homestead for their respective series and fans on hand got a good show…most of the time. Goody’s …

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Tracking the Trucks: Johnny Sauter Makes Late Charge to Victory at Martinsville

In a Nutshell: Contreras Motorsports put together a truck with the help of JR Motorsports for Chase Elliott to get some valuable seat time around Martinsville Speedway. Elliott responded by putting the truck on the pole and leading the most laps in the race. Johnny Sauter started fifth but methodically worked his way forward, making …

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