Race Weekend Central

Pace Laps: Monday Morning Mayhem at Darlington, Cole Custer Picks Up Surprise Win

2019 Darlington pack racing NKP Xfinity

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Erik Jones Performs Under Pressure Erik Jones spent 2016 as Toyota’s hottest NASCAR prospect in the sport’s lower levels. He moved up to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 2017, winning Rookie of the Year while knocking 2003 series champion Matt Kenseth out of a ride. 2018 was looked …

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Xfinity Breakdown: Denny Hamlin Goes Back to Front to Back

2019 Darlington Nxs Cole Custer Trophy Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

It’s not too often that the key moment in a race at Darlington Raceway happens well after the checkered flag waves. Then again, Denny Hamlin has been making Xfinity Series events at The Track Too Tough to Tame into foregone conclusions for years, winning five of them and racking up a career average finish that …

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Bringing Back Buckshot: Denny Hamlin Disqualified, Cole Custer Wins at Darlington

2019 Darlington Nxs Cole Custer Car Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Cole Custer scored his sixth win of the season after initial race winner Denny Hamlin was disqualified, capping off the first race of throwback weekend at Darlington Raceway. Saturday’s (Aug. 31) race saw Hamlin outrun a challenge from Custer to take the checkered in the Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200, but the No. 18 failed …

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Cole Custer, Noah Gragson Lead Xfinity Practice Sessions at Darlington

Nascar Xfinity Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Cole Custer and Noah Gragson led the two practice sessions for the Xfinity Series at Darlington Raceway on Friday afternoon (Aug. 30). In the first practice, Custer led the field with a speed of 167.307 mph. Denny Hamlin was second but will have to go to a backup car after he brushed the wall in …

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The 12: NASCAR’s Top Up-and-Coming Drivers

2019 Texas Gots Tyler Ankrum Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

After the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series took a back seat to enjoy the off week, all focus turned to stars of the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series as they navigated the twists and turns of Road America and Canadian Tire Motorsports Park. With the added attention, many competitors in …

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Beside the Rising Ride: Man at the Top 2

2019 Phoenix I Cup Ricky Stenhouse Jr Nkp

(Photo: NKP)

The Peter principle is a longtime cautionary career warning. It states that within a hierarchy, men or women will tend to rise to their level of incompetence. Thus, a hotshot entry level management new hire might do a bang-up job drawing notice and praise from his superiors. As such, he gets a promotion further up …

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Eyes on Xfinity: Cole Custer Believes He’s Ready for Cup

Nascar Xfinity Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

At the beginning of 2019, many people were wondering when Cole Custer was going to break out for Stewart-Haas Racing. Through the opening five months of the NASCAR Xfinity Series season, he’s done just that. Custer, 21, is in his third full-time season in the Xfinity Series with SHR. In the first two seasons, he …

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Xfinity Breakdown: Now For Something Completely Different at Iowa

Nascar Xfinity Series U.s. Cellular 250

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Christopher Bell was doing it again on Saturday afternoon in the U.S. Cellular 250. Winner of the previous two NASCAR Xfinity Series events at Iowa Speedway, Bell led more than 230 laps, made no mistakes and generally looked unbeatable when he was out in front in clean air. His chief rival this season, Cole Custer, …

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Christopher Bell, Cole Custer Lead Iowa Xfinity Practices

2019 Loudon Nxs Cole Custer Christopher Bell Big Three Car Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Two of the NASCAR Xfinity Series “Big 3” led the two practice sessions at Iowa Speedway on Friday (July 26), and the third member wasn’t far behind. Christopher Bell and Cole Custer led the two practice sessions. In the first practice, Bell led the field with a speed of 129.646 miles per hour. In the …

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5 Points to Ponder: NASCAR’s Rookie Driver Disappearing Act and Cleaning Up the Playoff Bubble

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

ONE: Can Kevin Harvick’s Win Kickstart Stewart-Haas Racing? There’s no doubt Kevin Harvick’s Sunday victory (July 21) at New Hampshire Motor Speedway lifts a monkey off the back of Stewart-Haas Racing. After eight Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victories in 2018, a career high, it took Harvick 20 races to win his first. If nothing …

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Cole Custer Earns NASCAR Xfinity Series Pole at New Hampshire

2018 Xfinity Dover Zach Catanzareti Cole Custer

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

On a hot and steamy day in Loudon, N.H., Cole Custer won the pole for Saturday afternoon’s (July 20) ROXOR 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. It’s Custer’s 11th career Xfinity pole and fifth this year. “I didn’t know it was going to a pole lap, honestly,” Custer said after qualifying. “I thought I could’ve …

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Christopher Bell, Justin Haley lead NASCAR Xfinity Practice at New Hampshire Motor Speedway

2018 xfinity new hampshire zach catanzareti joe gibbs racing ryan preece

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Christopher Bell and Justin Haley led two NASCAR Xfinity Series practice sessions Friday, July 20 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Both drivers enter qualifying in strong position to win the pole for the 2019 ROXOR 200 in Loudon, N.H. Bell was the quickest in opening practice with a lap of 128.087 mph. The defending race …

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