Race Weekend Central

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Out At Least Another Two Weeks; Jeff Gordon to Sub

2014 Indianapolis Cup Jeff Gordon Brick Kiss Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

While one star won’t be racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend and Pocono Raceway the next, another star will be stepping out of retirement to fill in. Dale Earnhardt, Jr., who missed Loudon last weekend due to concussion-like symptoms, will again miss the Sprint Cup shows this weekend at Indy and the following week …

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NASCAR Mailbox: Better Racing Leading to Higher Fan Engagement

2016 Pocono I Cup Pack Racing Turn 3 Anthony Lumbis Sr.

(Photo: Anthony Lumbis, Sr.)

One race past the halfway mark of the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, the overall reception of competition has been quite positive. With closer competition and fewer negatives about the quality of the product, fans have been quite impressed with the majority of races in 2016. While the on-track product is still not where drivers …

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Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Dealing with Balance Issues and Nausea Amidst Concussion Tests

Dale Earnhardt Jr

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

After missing the New Hampshire 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway due to concussion-like symptoms, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. made his first public comments after announcing he would miss the race last Wednesday. Earnhardt, 41, spoke on Dirty Mo Radio, providing an update on his health within his podcast, “The Dale Jr. Download.” Providing comments for the …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Matt Kenseth New Hampshire Win Tainted By Failed Inspection?

2016 Loudon I Cup Mattkneseth Woohoo Matthew T Thacker Nkp

Who’s in the headline: The old adage of only having to lead one lap seems to be the way Matt Kenseth does business. It rang true again this weekend as Kenseth started 18th and took over 250 laps to get to the point. Once there, he endured three restarts over the final 31 circuits and strolled to victory in a …

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Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Made The Right Decision

2016 Talladega I Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr Carl Edwards Crash Logan Whitton Nkp

(Photo: Logan Whitton/NKP)

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. may be out with a head injury, but one thing was clear after a busy Friday at New Hampshire: he’s still using his head. The driver’s decision to sit out, however long was embraced by his team at Hendrick Motorsports and showcased a healthy choice to protect this athlete’s body long-term from further harm. These days, …

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Jeff Gordon to Replace Dale Earnhardt, Jr. at Indianapolis if Needed

2015 Nascar Indy Brickyard

(Photo: Russell LaBounty / NKP)

Hendrick Motorsports General Manager Doug Duchardt announced Jeff Gordon could return to NASCAR if called upon by the team next week at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, subbing for an injured Dale Earnhardt, Jr. “I’m not going to speculate on what-ifs and all that stuff,” Duchardt said of Earnhardt’s situation during a Friday morning press conference at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. “As …

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Did You Notice? … Hendrick Motorsports’ Rough Road?

2016 Charlotte All Star Cup Rick Hendrick Nigel Kinrade Nkp

How Did Hendrick Do in Comparison to Kyle Busch? (Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Did You Notice? … The struggles of Hendrick Motorsports this season getting more pronounced? The team’s night at Kentucky Speedway ended with none of HMS’ four cars in serious contention; Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was the best of the bunch in 13th place. For the second straight week, the entire four-car fleet ran outside the top 10, the …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Inside Tony Stewart’s Stunning Sonoma Victory

2106 Sonoma Cup Tony Stewart Woohoo Close John Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John Harrelson/NKP)

Who’s in the headline – Friday, Tony Stewart said, “driving a Sprint Cup car does not make me happy right now.” Wonder how he feels after a trip to Victory Lane? Based on that winning look on his face my guess is “ecstatic” after a last-lap, last-turn re-pass of Denny Hamlin earned Smoke his first victory since Dover in June 2013. …

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NASCAR Mailbox: Which XFINITY Series Drivers are Underrated?

2016 Fontana Nxs Blake Koch Racing Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

The NASCAR XFINITY Series season is well under way, and while the Sprint Cup drivers continue to dominate NASCAR’s version of Triple-A, there are some folks who are making a name for themselves. Obviously, the top-tier teams will continue to be the ones that perform the best, especially given they have the funding to compete with …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Jeff Gordon Gets Disrespected

2016 Michigan I Cup Aj Allmendinger Pack Racing John Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John Harrelson / NKP)

Michigan International Speedway brought the unveiling of the new ultra-low downforce package, one that Darrell Waltrip described as having a smaller rear spoiler than at any time in the past 40 years.  It’s a little hard to ascertain.  It’s not like restrictor plates, which can be tracked thanks to Jayski’s Plate chart. FireKeepers Casino 400 …

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NASCAR Mailbox: Should the Regular Season Points Leader Be Rewarded?

2016 Charlotte I Cup Jimmie Johnson Kevin Harvick Racing John Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John Harrelson / NKP)

NASCAR’s playoff format has been controversial since its inception in 2004. Love it or hate it, the new Chase has done a tremendous job at attracting a younger generation and providing a level of excitement that could go unseen amidst a dominant season by one driver. However, tradition is still important in a sport with …

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The Frontstretch 5 (Plus 1): First-Time Winners in NASCAR’s Longest Race

2007 Charlotte I Cup Casey Mears Trophy Kiss Nigel Kinrade Autostock

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

David Pearson, 1961 Pearson was the first of six drivers to take home his first trophy in NASCAR’s longest race, winning in 1961. Pearson would also become the first of four first-time winners in the 600-miler to go on to win Cup titles, and he’s the winningest driver in this group, visiting Victory lane another …

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