Race Weekend Central

Couch Potato Tuesday: Round of 12 Brings Heavy Playoff Focus to Las Vegas

NASCAR racing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, September 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Las Vegas Motor Speedway began the Round of 12 in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, and things got a little more serious since it is likely to be the least looney race of the round. Even with fewer intermediate tracks in the playoffs now, it’s still critical to put up a decent finish here since …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After NASCAR Playoffs in Las Vegas

2021 Cup Las Vegas Denny Hamlin, No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, Wins NASCAR Playoffs race (Credit: Meg Oliphant/Getty Images via NASCAR Media)

Photo: Meg Oliphant/Getty Images via NASCAR Media

Who … should you be talking about after the NASCAR Playoffs Race in Las Vegas? Denny Hamlin once again showed Sunday night (Sept. 26) why he was a championship contender one year ago. For only the second time this season, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver earned a NASCAR Cup Series win. It was a fairly …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Las Vegas NASCAR Playoff Race

2021 Cup Las Vegas Pack Racing Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford (Credit: NKP)

Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

What happened? Denny Hamlin won the South Point 400 at Las Vegas on Sunday night (Sept. 26) after leading a race-high 137 laps, including the final 39. Chase Elliott, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Blaney rounded out the top-five finishers. "Vegas Baby!" ? Take a look at @dennyhamlin's final lap to win at …

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Entry List: 2021 South Point 400

#22: Joey Logano, Team Penske, Ford Mustang Shell Pennzoil

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

After a dramatic finish to the Round of the 16, the NASCAR Cup Series continues the playoff charge in the Round of 12 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this Sunday, Sept. 26 with the South Point 400. Thirty-eight cars are entered for 40 spots, certifying each driver a starting spot barring any last minute changes. …

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Joey Gase Honoring Davey Allison, Driving No. 28 at Talladega

Joey Gase on the phone at 2021 Daytona 500 NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Joey Gase will honor Davey Allison with a commemorative paint scheme when NASCAR visits Talladega Superspeedway later this month. Gase will drive the No. 28 in both the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity series races at Talladega, Gase announced April 6. The schemes celebrate the life of Allison, who died in a July 1993 helicopter crash, …

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Entry List: 2021 Pennzoil 400

Las Vegas Cup 2020 race

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

After three weeks in Florida, the NASCAR Cup Series heads west to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the Pennzoil 400. There are 38 cars entered for this race, meaning all will qualify, barring any last-minute additions. Among the notable entries are Joey Gase in Rick Ware Racing’s No. 15 Chevrolet and Justin Haley in the …

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Here Are the Changes to the Daytona Road Course Entry Lists

Pack Racing during the 2021 Busch Clash

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

In what will likely become a recurring segment at Frontstretch each week, we’ll run down the driver- and team-related changes to the NASCAR entry lists since they were initially posted, in this case last Saturday, Feb. 13. NASCAR Cup Series (Daytona International Speedway road course) –Garrett Smithley will make his season debut this weekend, driving the …

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The Underdog House: Michael McDowell Proves Every Dog Has His Day

Michael McDowell wins 2021 Daytona 500, Chase Elliott close second, Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Top Dog 10 years after the unthinkable happened when Trevor Bayne won the 2011 Daytona 500, the unthinkable happened again. After 14 years and 358 starts driving for underfunded teams in the NASCAR Cup Series, 36-year-old Michael McDowell is a Daytona 500 champion with Front Row Motorsports. McDowell had been caught up in a 16-car …

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2020 NASCAR Team Reviews: Rick Ware Racing

2020 Review Ware

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

It’s no secret that Rick Ware Racing doesn’t contend for wins every week, but 2020 was still a year to be celebrated for the team. Going into its fifth season of NASCAR Cup Series racing, RWR has undergone massive growth since entering the the top level of NASCAR back in 2017. At the beginning of …

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