Race Weekend Central

2016 NASCAR Rewind: Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

2016 Kentucky Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

“My biggest concern was, ‘Is this it?’ After five weeks I couldn’t help but wonder, ‘Will I ever be the same again?” Dale Earnhardt, Jr.’s words, coming from an interview with Marty Smith of ESPN last week, just about summed up the questions surrounding him in 2016. Earnhardt was sidelined halfway through the season due …

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Friday Faceoff: What’s on NASCAR’s Horizon?

Nascar Champions Portraits

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

NASCAR announced Monster Energy as the new entitlement sponsor in its premier series, replacing Sprint.  Will Monster be a good fit for the series moving forward? Mark Howell, Senior Writer: Based on Monster’s (pardon the pun) track record in motorsports, the affiliation with NASCAR’s premier series will be a successful one. Based on sight of …

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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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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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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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Five Points to Ponder: The Junior Factor

ONE: The Earnhardt Factor The TV ratings numbers for NASCAR have been far from pretty during the playoffs. In fact, downright horrible might be a better description. We’ve seen significant drops in every race so far but please note at the time of writing Martinsville numbers were not available. The Chase opener at Chicagoland saw …

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Beside the Rising Tide: It Don’t Come Easy

2016 Nascar Sprint Cup Series, Talladega

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/ NKP)

The race is not always to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong…. – Ecclesiasticus – Sunday’s Talladega race was not at all what many of us expected or dreaded in the week leading up to the event. There were no big, huge smoking pig-piles of wrecks and blessedly nobody got hurt. Whether that …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Shines in the Broadcast Booth

2016 Nascar Talladega

(Photo: John Harrelson / NKP)

Talladega is always an interesting race weekend.  Where the camera focuses is less of an issue than normal because most of the field sticks together.  However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that everything is perfect. Hellmann’s 500 Sunday brought on another cutoff race for the Sprint Cup Series at Talladega.  Stomachs were churning, people dealt with …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not: Waiting For The Big One Edition

2016 Pocono Ii Cup Joey Logano John Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John Harrelson/NKP)

When it comes to restrictor place races at Talladega and Daytona, the big question is, when will the big one happen? As in, when will we see a big crash with at least seven or eight cars involved. If you were waiting on that to happen during Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at Talladega, then you …

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Bearden: Talladega Will Be Missed As a Chase Round Cutoff

2016 Nascar Sprint Cup Series, Talladega

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Sunday’s Hellman’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway didn’t need “The Big One” or Dale Earnhardt, Jr., in the field to put on its third-straight thrilling finale for the Chase’s Round of 12. Yet sadly, it’ll be the last time the race will get that distinction after a planned one-week date swap with Kansas Speedway beginning in …

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NASCAR Mailbox: The Future of Hendrick Motorsports Continues to be Uncertain

2016 Loudon I Cup Alex Bowman Greg Ives Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Jimmie Johnson soared to the lead at Chicagoland Speedway this past Sunday, showcasing speed that hasn’t been present with the No. 48 car in nearly a year. While some speculate that Johnson has lost his magic touch with the new Chase format, he was bringing his Hendrick Motorsports car to the front of the pack …

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