Race Weekend Central

NASCAR Top 10 Storylines 2017: A Changing Of the Guard as NASCAR Greats Retire

Dale Jr Truex

(Photo: Logan Whitton / Harrelson Photography Inc.)

There is a massive generational shift occurring in NASCAR. Eventually, it had to happen. Few sports offer the opportunity to compete at a top level for over a decade. But NASCAR is different, as those reading this topic have likely figured out. Everything from the structure of how NASCAR is operated to how events happen …

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2017 NASCAR Cup Team Review: Hendrick Motorsports

2017 Talladega Ii Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr Pole Nigel Kinrade Nkp

Hendrick Motorsports entered the 2017 season with momentum. Jimmie Johnson came into the season as the defending Cup Series champion, earning their seventh title in ten years and their first under the new format. After what appeared to be a lost regular season for the organization in 2016, Johnson’s push to the top gave the …

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The Frontstretch 5: Ways to Say Goodbye

Cup 2017 Homestead Zach Catanzareti Dale Earnhardt Jr. Matt Kenseth

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

1. Dale Earnhardt Jr. More than 15 years after being thrust into NASCAR’s brightest spotlight after the untimely death of his father, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has grown up and come into his own. He connected with fans in a way that’s become increasingly rare in sports: as a genuine, relatable person.  His Southern drawl and …

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5 Points to Ponder: The Right NASCAR Champion

2017 Kansas Ii Cup Martin Truex Jr Woohoo John K Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John K. Harrelson/NKP)

ONE: The Right Champion Congratulations to Martin Truex Jr. on winning an emotional, and richly deserved, first Cup Series title. All year long, the No. 78 has been the class of the field so it’s fitting he should win the final race, his eighth victory of the campaign, to get it done. This time last …

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Beside The Rising Tide: Is It Still Over? Are We Still Through?

2017 Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Stp 500 Martinsville Speedway, Martinsville, Va Usa Sunday 2 April 2017 Matt Kenseth, Tide Toyota Camry World Copyright: John K Harrelson/nkp

(Photo: John K Harrelson/NKP)

If you live in the northeast, you know the sound, especially if you live beneath a tin roof like I do in my humble abode. At first, it just sounds like rain drops, but there’s a peculiar metallic ting sound that can only mean one thing… ice pellets. A close look out the window reveals …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Dale Earnhardt Jr. & NASCAR Championship Overkill On NBC

2017 Kansas Ii Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr John K Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John K. Harrelson/NKP)

On Sunday, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season came to a conclusion at Homestead-Miami Speedway.  It’s pretty obvious what the main topics of discussion were on this day. NBC brought Bob Costas down to Homestead to basically serve as the broadcast’s host.  However, his only real role of note was to interview Dale Earnhardt …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not In NASCAR: Championship Edition

2017 Kansas I Cup Danica Patrick Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

As often happens in all levels of different sports, the team (and in this case the driver) that was the best for the whole season ended up winning the title. Martin Truex, Jr. capped off a truly storybook season on the track with his eighth victory of the season Sunday at Miami-Homestead. He was a …

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Rick Hendrick Like a Father Figure to Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., Rick Hendrick Hugging

(Photo: Dustin Albino)

It was obvious that Dale Earnhardt Jr. was going to be emotional heading into Sunday’s Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. However, the most emotional was when the 18-year Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series veteran was greeted by team owner Rick Hendrick right before he climbed into the No. 88 machine. Earnhardt spent the final …

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. On Concussions: ‘It Caught Up With Me’

2017 Homestead Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr. Phil Allaway

(Photo: Phil Allaway)

“It caught up with me.” Dale Earnhardt Jr. stepped into his No. 88 machine at the start of the 2017 Daytona 500, worrying whether or not he would finish the sport’s most prestigious race. NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver was making his comeback after missing half of the 2016 season thanks to a second diagnosed concussion …

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4 Burning Questions: Are People Ready for a Double-Departure in Homestead?

Matt Kenseth and Dale Earnhardt Jr. share a laugh, Matthew T. Thacker/NKP

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

Are People Ready for Double-Departure from Matt Kenseth and Dale Earnhardt Jr.? Postrace Sunday could be a busy, hectic time for reporters, fans and even emotions. Not only could we have a champion and a race winner each celebrating, but Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Matt Kenseth could also be two separate stories needing a follow-up. …

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Friday Faceoff: Who Gets It Done at Homestead?

2016 Kansas I Cup Martin Truex Jr Dale Earnhardt Jr Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

After the dust cleared at Phoenix, it will be Martin Truex, Jr., Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski duking it out for the championship at Homestead.  Who takes home the trophy? Amy Henderson: Truex is ready to close it out and has the car to do it.  And if anyone else does win it, …

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Did You Notice?: An Entire Generation Of NASCAR Bids Farewell

2017 Nascar Monster Energy Cup Series, Daytona

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Did You Notice? … How quickly NASCAR has undergone a changing of the guard? Two more of the sport’s full-time drivers, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Matt Kenseth, bid farewell to the sport this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. They’ll be the cherries on top of what has been a mountainous shift towards NASCAR’s youth movement. Here’s a …

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