Race Weekend Central

Couch Potato Tuesday: Daytona Serves as a FOX Showcase

2018 Chevrolet Daytona Xfinity Zach Catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Last weekend in Daytona was quite ridiculous.  Lots of on-track action and lots of wrecking.  That said, my guess is that a lot of my readers were up and down on the broadcasts themselves. Daytona 500 We can’t start off the column without talking about the overnight ratings for the race.  Quite simply, they stink.  …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2018 Daytona 500

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker / NKP)

Who’s in the headline The clash on Sunday last week had the world abuzz with how uneventful the racing would be at Daytona for the 500. Apparently, someone forgot to tell the drivers. 24 lead changes, seven caution flags for on-track incidents, 14 leaders and the three winningest car numbers in the sport on the …

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Up to Speed: Wild & Young Racers Steal the Show at Daytona

2018 Daytona Cup Zach Catanzareti Erik Jones

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

If the Daytona 500 is any indication, the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup season could be one of the wildest in years. Granted, making any predictions about an entire season based only on the first race is a dangerous game.  The Daytona 500 is unlike any other race on the NASCAR schedule, and restrictor plate …

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Darrell Wallace Jr. And Family Emotional After Runner-Up Finish in Daytona 500

2018 Daytona Cup Bruce Nuttleman Darrell Wallace Jr.

(Photo: Bruce Nuttleman)

At first, Darrell Wallace Jr. was all smiles, entering the Daytona International Speedway media center joking around. But a few seconds later, his mom ran up to him, crying out of joy for her son. “I waited so long for this, baby,” Desiree Wallace, his mom, shouted in his arms.” “It feels like I won,” …

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Darrell Wallace Jr. Tops Daytona 500 Final Practice

2018 Daytona Cup Bruce Nuttleman Darrell Wallace Jr.

(Photo: Bruce Nuttleman)

Coming off a third-place finish in Thursday night’s Can-Am Duel, Darrell Wallace Jr. soared to the top of the leaderboard in final practice for Sunday’s Daytona 500 in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Wallace turned a lap of 196.954 mph, .099 seconds ahead of Daniel Suarez (196.528 mph). The No. 19 Toyota led both …

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Are the Can-Am Duels Still Necessary?

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Russell LaBounty / NKP)

The stars of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series duked it out on Thursday night (Feb. 15) in the Can-Am Duels to determine Sunday’s starting lineup for the Daytona 500. Only 40 cars entered the Great American Race this year, so for the first time in a long time, no one was sent home. In the …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2018 Can-Am Duels at Daytona

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Barry Cantrell / NKP)

Who’s in the headline –   The Can-Am Duels at Daytona didn’t have the frenetic activity and tension as the laps wound down but there was still plenty of drama as the races unfolded. When it was all said and done, Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott took the checkered flags first in the Duels and they …

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Darrell Wallace Jr. Pushes Ryan Blaney to Win the First Cam-Am Duel

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Logan Whitton/ NKP)

Alex Bowman started the first Can-Am Duel at Daytona International Speedway on the pole, but was quickly shuffled out on the first lap. The three Team Penske cars maneuvered to the top of the field and claimed the top-three spots, with Brad Keselowski initially leading before Joey Logano took over. Two-time Daytona 500 champion Jimmie …

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2-Headed Monster: Is Only 40 Cars Entered In The Daytona 500 A Cause For Concern?

Da1q6318

Is there reason to worry about the car count?

Sky Falling: The Doomsday 500 OK, the headline might be a bit of an over-exaggeration and a hyperbole to what this situation means, but it still is a bad sign that only 40 cars entered the Daytona 500. Of course, the first issue that arises with the small entry list is that all of the …

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5 Points To Ponder: 2018, The Year Of Your All New NASCAR

ONE: The New Guys When you write a weekly NASCAR column, even the shortest offseason in professional sports ends up feeling long without the constant drumbeat of minute-by-minute racing news. Sure, there’s a few weeks when you’re happy you don’t have to write a column or think about cars going fast and turning left. But, …

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Beside the Rising Tide: All the Young Dudes

2016 Kentucky Cup Chase Elliott Logan Whitton Nkp

(Photo: Logan Whitton/NKP)

The season hasn’t even gotten started yet and already, Kyle Busch is feeling aggrieved and voicing his displeasure (doesn’t he know doing so is the sole province of the media?) As usual, the NASCAR Media Tour itself was largely lost in an avalanche of words and predictions concerning the upcoming Super Bowl. Living here in the …

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