Race Weekend Central

NASCAR Drivers Continue Reaction to National Anthem Protests

American Flag Dover

(Photo: Dustin Albino

Friday at Dover International Speedway marked the first time NASCAR was in action following Sunday’s national anthem controversy at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.  Sparked by comments from Richard Childress and Richard Petty, quotes that suggested firing employees who protested the anthem a Monday morning tweet from Donald Trump thrust NASCAR into the political conversation. At Dover, …

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Danica Patrick Not Interested in Return to IndyCar

2017 Atlanta Cup Danica Patrick Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Two weeks ago, it was announced Danica Patrick was out of the No. 10 car following the 2017 season, leaving her future in limbo. With eight races to go of her fifth full-time season in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, she’s only focused on bettering herself in NASCAR, not heading back to her old …

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5 Points to Ponder: A Sluggish Start to the NASCAR Playoffs — Why?

2017 Michigan Ii Cup Jimmie Johnson Helmet Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

ONE: Sluggish Start to NASCAR’s 10-Race Playoff It’s fair to say for NASCAR that it hasn’t been the compelling start to the 2017 playoffs the powers that be at Daytona Beach, Fla.,  would have wanted. We’ve had two poor races with limited-to-no excitement. There hasn’t been a great deal of passing, not really any it seems …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: NBCSN Starts NASCAR Playoffs With A Snoozer

2017 Chicago Cup Martin Truex Jr Burnout Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

Let’s just get this over with right now: playoff time is not the best time for NASCAR TV.  Somehow, it produces the exact opposite scenario compared to most other sports.  The focus of the broadcast narrows to the point where it drives viewers away, not toward the television. Sunday’s Tales of the Turtles 400 was …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Martin Truex Jr. Slimes His Way to First Win of the Playoffs

2017 Chicago Cup Martin Truex Jr Slimed Logan Whitton Nkp

(Photo: Logan Whitton / NKP)

Who’s in the headline – The best driver and team for the vast majority of 2017 has been Martin Truex Jr. and the No. 78. They made another statement in the first race of the playoffs with a dominating performance over the second half at Chicagoland Speedway. Truex already has the playoff points necessary to waltz …

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2017 Frontstretch Podcast Powered by DraftKings – Episode 27: Where Do We Go?

13 21 February, 2016, Daytona Beach, Florida Usa Kasey Kahne, Aric Almirola ©2016, Logan Whitton / Nkp

(Photo: Logan Whitton /NKP)

Episode 27: Where Do We Go? Frontstretch Podcast with Dustin Albino, Joseph Wolkin and Zach Catanzareti In this week’s episode brought to you by DraftKings, Dustin, Joseph and Zach look at the Silly Season turned hilarious and where we think Danica Patrick, Kasey Kahne and others will end up. Also, we look at the top contenders heading into the Monster Energy …

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Voice of Vito: Reflections on Richmond, Sponsor Drama & Danica Patrick’s Future

Darlington Cup 2017 Martin Truex Jr Throwback Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

If you were looking for some late-season NASCAR drama, you got it dumped over your head in bucketfuls this week. From ambulances gone awry to calling out the sanctioning body for the timing of caution flags to CEOs spouting off about the icon of icons in motorsports, it was the type of perpetuating storyline that …

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Kevin Harvick on Danica Patrick: ‘The Sport Changes, People Come & Go’

26 February 1 March 2015, Hampton, Georgia Usa Kevin Harvick And Danica Patrick © 2015, Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Another piece fell in the NASCAR Silly Season this week, as it was announced that Danica Patrick will not return to Stewart-Haas Racing for the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. For Kevin Harvick, teammate to Patrick at SHR since 2014, this was a big piece that fell into place, as the 35-year-old has shifted …

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Did You Notice?: NASCAR Needs to Throw Caution to the Wind

Reed Sorenson 2014 Richmond Toyota Owners 400 Caution Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

Did You Notice? … NASCAR needs to throw caution to the wind? It’s been a crazy last day of Silly Season for the sport, but let’s not bury the lead of on-track competition gone awry at Richmond Raceway. The sport was put under fire for not only an ambulance blocking pit road under caution, causing damage …

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Danica Patrick Leaving Stewart-Haas Racing

2017 Kansas I Cup Danica Patrick Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Danica Patrick will no longer be competing under the Stewart-Haas Racing banner following the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season. The 35-year-old driver took to Facebook Tuesday afternoon (Sept. 12) to announce the news of her departure from the only full-time team she has driven for in NASCAR’s premier division. “It has been my …

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Did You Notice?: 12 NASCAR 2017 Storylines With 12 Races Left

2017 Watkins Glen Cup Matin Truex Jr Car Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

Did You Notice? … The past few days marked the last off weekend of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season? Starting Sunday at Darlington, we’ve got 12 races in a row which culminates with the crowning of the champion at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November. In a season filled with mixed reviews, there’s still plenty of …

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Adventure of a Lifetime: A Look At A Child’s First NASCAR Race

2017 Pocono Cup Fan Kylie Phillips Karrie Phillips

(Photo: Karrie Phillips)

Think back to your first NASCAR race. The first racecar you saw, the first pair of earmuffs you put on, perhaps the first time you felt your ribcage vibrate solely from the horsepower of rumbling stock cars. From that point on, for millions, they’ve been hooked on the most popular racing series in America. July’s …

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