Race Weekend Central

Who’s Hot and Who’s Not: The Jimmie Johnson is Freaky Fast Edition

2017 Bristol I Cup Jimmie Johnson Checkered Flag Kohn K Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John K. Harrelson/NKP)

It took an extra day and some long-awaited, not-so-rainy weather, but for Jimmie Johnson the winning was worth the wait. Not that Johnson needs to do anything to be considered one of the top three or four NASCAR drivers of all time, but now he is just one win short of matching Cale Yarborough’s 83 …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Darrell Waltrip Violates Scout Law at Martinsville

2016 Martinsville I Cup Overhead View Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Martinsville Speedway, oldest track in NASCAR and the one of the slowest.  This weekend, we got a different type of action at Martinsville.  Goodyear, with some help from warmer temperatures, finally came up with something that would lay down rubber on the concrete for what seems like the first time in ever.  As a result, …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Brad Keselowski Survives Beating, Banging and Trading Paint to Win Martinsville

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Who’s in the headline – Rusty Wallace won at Martinsville Speedway six times drivng for Roger Penske. He last won a grandfather clock for Penske in 2004. Since then, it had been an agonizing drought for Team Penske. Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski have both come very close in Southern Virginia, but failed to seal …

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Jamie McMurray Cuts Tire, Crashes out Early in Martinsville

2017 Martinsville Cup Zach Catanzareti Jamie Mcmurray

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Sunday’s STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway went from good, bad to terrible for Jamie McMurray. Starting sixth, McMurray drove up to the second spot before losing a couple spots before the first caution on Lap 70. The ensuing restart saw McMurray get hit by Jimmie Johnson after a three-wide move by Ryan Blaney. And within …

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5 Points to Ponder: The Re-Emergence of Chip Ganassi Racing

2014 Indycar Sonoma Chip Ganassi Credit Linn Ladner

(Photo: Linn Ladner)

ONE: Chip Ganassi Racing Chip Ganassi Racing has gone through both spurts of ultra-competitive greatness and the lulls of being a field filler. However, the organization as a whole has almost never looked better. We’ve all heard plenty about Kyle Larson and the wondrous start he is off to in 2017. Larson came into this …

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Up to Speed: Can Chip Ganassi Racing Sustain its Speed?

Kyle Larson Auto Club Win

2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400 Auto Club Speedway, Fontana, CA USA Sunday 26 March 2017 Kyle Larson World Copyright: Barry Cantrell/NKP

After three consecutive second-place finishes, Kyle Larson is a winner in 2017.  Larson’s victory at Auto Club Speedway, the second of his career, virtually guarantees him a spot in the playoffs and allows the No. 42 team to extend their championship lead. The four straight top-two finishes are a sign that Larson is poised for a …

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The 10: NASCAR Cup Series Power Rankings After Las Vegas

NASCAR headed west this weekend for a little viva Las Vegas. It’s no secret that any title fight worth the price of admission can be found in the neon glow of the Nevada desert. Martin Truex Jr. took on all challengers and delivered a knockout blow; he’s the first to win all three stages in …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Another NASCAR Driver Turned A+ Analyst On FOX?

2017 Cup Charlotte Media Tour Zach Catanzareti Jamie Mcmurray

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

This past weekend, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup and XFINITY Series were at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for 700 miles of action.  It was an interesting time. Before we get started, it appears that FOX Sports 1 has begun to shift NASCAR Race Hub to 7 p.m. on weeknights as opposed to the 6 p.m. …

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Chase Elliott Wins First Daytona Can-Am Duel

Chase Elliott And Alan Gustafson 2017 Daytona 500

2017 NASCAR Cup - Daytona 500 Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL USA Sunday 19 February 2017 Chase Elliott World Copyright: {Nigel Kinrade}/NKP

Pole-sitter Chase Elliott ended the first Duel the same way: with the rest of the field chasing him. After starting up front in the opening Can-Am Duel 150-mile race Thursday evening, Elliott wound up in Victory Lane, scoring 10 regular season points. It’s the first time NASCAR’s Daytona qualifiers have counted toward the standings since 1971. …

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2016 NASCAR Rewind: Jamie McMurray

Jamie Mcmurray

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

For the first 11 years of the chase era, Jamie McMurray was the bridesmaid. McMurray simply could not make the chase. No matter how many openings there were. No matter how often he won or didn’t win. Jamie Mac was always on the outside looking in. He missed the chase in almost every conceivable fashion. …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Sudden Shift Hands Johnson Record-Tying Title

Jimmie Johnson

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Who’s in the headline – The elite level of NASCAR has increased by 50%. There are many gauges to judge the greats but championships are a huge differentiator. Jimmie Johnson took advantage of circumstances that fell his way, led the final three laps, and notched his seventh career title. Johnson shares the headline with Tony …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in NASCAR: Trick or Treat Edition

Jimmie Johnson Sunlight Burnout Martinsville Cup 2016 Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

The first race in the third round of the Chase was a bit of a treat for some drivers and teams and maybe a bit of trick for others trying to become one of the four drivers to compete for the title in Homestead later this month. And of course, one of those drivers is …

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