Race Weekend Central

Friday Faceoff: Who’s Sandbagging Who?

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Pure Michigan 400 Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Mi Usa Sunday 13 August 2017 Brad Keselowski, Team Penske, Miller Lite Ford Fusion World Copyright: Rusty Jarrett Nkp

(Photo: Rusty Jarrett/NKP)

Last weekend at Michigan International Speedway, Brad Keselowski had some harsh words for the factory Toyota teams, accusing them of sandbagging after NASCAR floated the possibility of taking equipment from teams for comparison tests to avoid changes from the sanctioning body to increase parity.  Is there any merit to Keselowski’s argument, and does it signal …

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Friday Faceoff: How Much Is Left in Jimmie Johnson’s Tank?

2017 Dover I Cup Jimmie Johnson Rick Hendrick Logan Whitton Nkp

(Photo: Logan Whitton/NKP)

19-year-old William Byron was named to replace Kasey Kahne at Hendrick Motorsports in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 2018. Are teams rushing youngsters through the ranks too fast in an effort not to lose them to another team, or are drivers more prepared at a younger age than in the past? Bryan Gable: William …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR Forecast Powered by DraftKings: Pure Michigan 400 Preview

2017 Watkins Glen Cup Martin Truex Jr Woohoo Rusty Jarrett Nkp

(Photo: Rusty Jarrett / NKP)

The DraftKings daily fantasy NASCAR game heads to the midwest this weekend for the Pure Michigan 400. The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will make its second stop at Michigan International Speedway this Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. After a few one-day shows, we’re back to a traditional schedule this week. Cars hit the track …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in NASCAR: Easy On The Gas Edition

2017 Watkins Glen Cup Martin Truex Jr Cole Pearn Celebrating Rusty Jarrett Nkp

(Photo: Rusty Jarrett/NKP)

It’s not often that a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race turns into a fuel mileage affair, but that was case on Sunday at Watkins Glen. The difficult thing about fuel mileage races for these drivers is that they have spent their entire careers being told and trying to figure out how to go as …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2017 I Love NY 355 at The Glen

Keselowski V Busch

(Photo: John K Harrelson/ NKP)

Who… gets the shoutout of the race? The Toyota machines of Martin Truex Jr. and Daniel Suarez are leading the headlines after Watkins Glen International, and it’s for a good reason. But fellow Toyota driver Matt Kenseth got lost in the shuffle, finishing second when the checkered flag flew, a career-best finish on a road course in his 17-year Monster …

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Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Day Ends Early in Watkins Glen

2017 Cup Watkins Glen Zach Catanzareti Dale Earnhardt Jr.

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

The bad luck for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in his farewell season just won’t turn around. Bringing his No. 88 AXALTA Chevrolet to the garage after 22 in the I Love New York 355 due to an internal issue, he was unable to rejoin the race, finishing 36th in his final scheduled road course race of his …

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5 Points to Ponder: Joe Gibbs Racing Back on Top

2017 Talladega I Cup Kyle Busch John K Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John K. Harrelson/NKP)

ONE: “Finally, eh?” – Kyle Busch breaks his Pocono drought as Toyota triumph Those were the words Kyle Busch spoke to his team after winning the Overtons 400 at Pocono and it sums everything up so well. It took Busch 26 starts at the Tricky Triangle to bag a victory and this one, his first …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 22 Down, One to Go as Kyle Busch Knocks Pocono Off of Winless List

2017 Cup Pocono Zach Catanzareti Kyle Busch

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Who’s in the headline – There are 23 racetracks on the Cup schedule. After Kyle Busch’s win at Pocono Raceway this weekend, he has a points-paying victory at every track on the current schedule except for Charlotte Motor Speedway. It had been 36 races since Busch won a Cup race but the much-maligned slump is finally …

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Up to Speed: Pointing Toward the NASCAR Playoffs

2017 Cup Pocono Zach Catanzareti Joey Logano

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

The second half of July has shaken up the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoff field.  Going into New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the 16-driver grid consisted of 10 postseason-eligible winners.  That left six spots open for drivers to get in on points. Two of those racers, Chase Elliott and Jamie McMurray, stood 89 and 74 points …

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Pocono Fan Fest Success from All Sides

2017 Cup Pocono Fan Fest Zach Catanzareti Kurt Busch

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Pocono Raceway held it’s first annual NASCAR Fan Fest Friday evening, with several top names in the sport coming out and interacting with the fans. From signing autographs to taking pictures and even pretending to be rap star Eminem, it was a positive experience for most folks in attendance. At the Fest, held at the Infield Block …

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NASCAR 101: 10 Longest Winless Streaks Among Full-Time Cup Drivers

2017 Dover Cup Zach Catanzareti Paul Menard

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Few things are more gratifying than breaking a negative streak. Bear that in mind if you wondered why Kasey Kahne‘s victory in the Brickyard 400 in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series last weekend found the driver and his team so elated in Victory Lane. Sure, it’s Indianapolis Motor Speedway, so a victory at the …

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Friday Faceoff: What’s the Biggest Move of NASCAR Silly Season 2017?

2017 Indianapolis Cup Trevor Bayne Austin Dillon Crash Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

The Cup race at Indianapolis featured some exciting moments, but also a lot of crashes, while the XFINITY Series tried a race package that included restrictor plates and air ducts in the front of the cars. Did the lower series put on the better show, and should Cup consider using the same package next year?  …

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