Race Weekend Central

Who’s Hot & Who’s Not: NASCAR Implications Edition

2016 Chicago Cup Martin Truex Jr Burnout Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty / NKP)

Sunday brought us our first Chase race and for some drivers, the first race that had real implications for them since a win earlier this season. Due to some upcoming penalties that will likely be announced Wednesday, we don’t even know what all of those implications will be. HOT It remains to be seen if …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2016 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400

2016 Chicago Cup Martin Truex Jr Woohoo Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? Staying out on a late caution won this race a year ago, and while it was not the winning strategy this time around, there’s something to be said for trying to make something happen late, which was exactly the tack taken by Ryan Blaney and Kasey Kahne. While neither …

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Pace Laps: Hendrick’s Return and a Hot XFINITY Title Fight

2016 Chicago Nxs Paul Menard Dexter Bean Brett Moist Nkp

Sprint Cup: Banner Day Greets Hendrick Motorsports in Chicagoland: “Where have they been? Are they saving for the Chase? Will they even advance to the Round of 12?” All these questions following Hendrick Motorsports into the 2016 Chase for the Sprint Cup may have been answered following the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400 at Chicagoland …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Martin Truex, Jr. Overcomes Adversity With Late Charge to Win at Chicagoland

2016 Chicago Cup Martin Truex Jr Woohoo Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

  Who’s in the headline – Martin Truex, Jr. overcame a tire issue under green flag conditions to put himself in position to make a run at the race win. A late-race caution and a strong pit stop resulted in Truex restarting outside the second row. An aggressive move to the outside allowed him to …

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Chase Elliott Unsurprised After Losing Race to Late Caution

2016 Nscs Chase Elliott Nhms Photo Russel Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

Chase Elliott wasn’t caught unaware by the late-race caution that costed him a victory in Sunday’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400. In fact, he expected it. “Nothing is yours until it’s over,” Elliott said. ” I mean, that is part of life, man.  You are not dumb, we have all watched this stuff long enough …

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Martin Truex, Jr. Pulls Out 3rd Win of 2016 at Chicagoland

2016 Kansas I Cup Martin Truex Jr Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

In the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400, it was only appropriate for the race winner, Martin Truex, Jr., to pounce like a ninja to grab the victory. On an overtime restart with two laps to go, Truex, who restarted fourth, ripped around the outside of Kasey Kahne and Ryan Blaney to win at Chicagoland Speedway for …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not: NASCAR Chase Preview Edition

2016 Daytona Ii Cup Carl Edwards Denny Hamlin Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Just trying to figure who is going to win NASCAR’s 2016 championship is a difficult proposition. Sure there are some favorites, but in this 10-race format anyone can get hot at any time and any one can go cold at any time due to any number of circumstances. At any rate, here’s a look at …

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Pace Laps: Chase’s Mixed Emotions and Jones’ Frustrations

2016 Michigan Ii Cup Chase Elliott Alex Bowman Racing Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Sprint Cup: Mixed Feelings for Chase Elliott Heading into Chase – Making the Chase in your rookie season? How can that not be a confidence boost? Well, for Chase Elliott, who has been documented as being hard on himself following near-wins this season, simply making the Chase for the Sprint Cup Series championship on try …

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Denny Hamlin Out-Runs Chaos to Win Richmond

2106 Sonoma Cup Denny Hamlin Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

When cars are crashing around the checkered flag, you know it’s been a wild night of racing. For Denny Hamlin, most of the chaos in Saturday night’s Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway happened in his mirror, as the pole-sitter drove to victory at his home track. Leading 189 laps, Hamlin held off …

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5 Points To Ponder: Was Cole Custer, John Hunter Nemechek Aggression Too Much?

2016 Atlanta Cwts Cole Custer Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

ONE: A Look At Those Locked In With Darlington in the books, the Chase field for the Sprint Cup Series has gotten substantially clearer. Of the 16 Chase spots, 12 have been tentatively filled by race winners who have clinched finishing the regular season in the top 30. These 12 drivers include, by order of …

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Frontstretch 5: Drivers 25 or Younger Who Could Win Sprint Cup Titles

2016 Michigan Ii Cup Kyle Larson Chase Elliott Racing Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

If this season has any theme, it’s that this sport is alive and well with young talent who have bright futures. So far across NASCAR’s three national series, rookies have won multiple races, posed a legitimate threat for their own series championship, and pulled into Victory Lane for the first time. While Kyle Larson isn’t …

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5 Points to Ponder: Clint Bowyer Struggles On

2016 Phoenix I Cup Clint Bowyer Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Two-Thirds Down: With the conclusion of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway, we’re now exactly two thirds through the longest season in all of professional sports. Just a pair of races remain (Darlington Raceway and Richmond International Raceway) before the circuit gets down to the serious business of the playoffs. And …

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