Race Weekend Central

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Kevin Harvick Finally Tastes Well Aged Victory at Sonoma

Harvick Sonoma Win 1

(Photo: Lesley Ann Miller/ NKP)

Who’s in the headline: In a race that saw strategies all over the board, 10 different leaders exchanged the lead 13 times, and questions about leaders having enough fuel to the make the finish emerged to make the Toyota/Save Mart 350 one of the most compelling races of the season. When the checkered flag flew, it …

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Daily Fantasy Forecast: Toyota-Save Mart 350 Preview

2017 Martinsville Cup Zach Catanzareti Ryan Newman

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series heads to Sonoma Raceway for the Toyota Save Mart 350 this Sunday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. Cars hit the track on Friday at 3:00 p.m. for first practice, and then at 2:45 p.m. on Saturday for Coors Light Pole Qualifying. Here are nine drivers to look out for during …

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Entry List: Toyota/Save Mart 350

2106 Sonoma Cup Pack Racing Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

We’re turning left and right this weekend, boys and girls. The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series heads west to wine country for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway for the first of two road course races of the 2017 season. There are 38 cars on the preliminary entry list, meaning the field will not be …

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2-Headed Monster: What Does Kasey Kahne Have Left?

2017 Kansas I Cup Kasey Kahne Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Kasey Kahne has had his fair share of success at NASCAR’s premier level, but none as of late. In fact, the driver of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet has 17 wins in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series over 14 seasons yet hasn’t won a race in almost three full seasons, 97 races to be exact. …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: NASCAR’s Tame Pocono 400 Turns Into Terrific Finish

2017 Pocono Cup Zach Catanzareti Ryan Blaney

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Who’s in the headline – For the third time this season, we have a first-time winner in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. It’s Ryan Blaney, who drove to the lead after a late-race restart with fresher tires than a dominant Kyle Busch. He then held off Kevin Harvick in a thrilling finish after Harvick closed in while Busch and …

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NASCAR Mailbox: How Important is Darrell Wallace Jr.’s Cup Debut for NASCAR’s Diversity Efforts?

2017 Atlanta Nxs Darrell Wallace Jr Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Finally. Finally. Finally. It took a long time, but Darrell Wallace Jr. is finally getting the call to race in NASCAR’s top division. Filling in for Aric Almirola in the famed No. 43, the move is certainly a powerful one as the sport looks to take advantage of having its first African-American driver compete in …

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Friday Faceoff: Are Kasey Kahne’s Cup Days Numbered?

2017 Kansas I Cup Kasey Kahne Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

After the Coca-Cola 600, should NASCAR consider adding an extra stage or otherwise giving more points for a few select races, such as the Daytona 500 and Southern 500, to make the sport’s most prestigious races its most important? Michael Massie: I would love stage racing to death if the breaks between stages were not …

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Great Clips Ending Sponsorship of Kasey Kahne After 2017

2017 Kansas I Cup Kasey Kahne Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Kasey Kahne is losing another major sponsor at the end of the season. Great Clips has exercised an option to end its deal with Kahne and Hendrick Motorsports once the season concludes at Homestead-Miami Speedway this November. The haircut company currently backs Kahne for 10 races a season and has been a part of his No. …

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Did You Notice?: How Quickly Indy 500, Coca-Cola 600 Winners Forgotten

2016 Xfinity Homestead Miami Speedway Austin Dillon Zach Catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Did You Notice? … By Wednesday, no one seems to care who triumphed on the greatest weekend in racing? That the biggest story from both the Indianapolis 500 and Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Coca-Cola 600 had nothing to do with who won? It’s not just that both races suffered through ratings declines (both were down 13 percent). Other sideshow-like …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in NASCAR: The Thrillin’ & Grillin’ Edition

Austin Dillon Crew Celebration Charlotte Cup 2017 Yvonne Leonard

(Photo: Yvonne Leonard)

The Sunday before Memorial Day is a long, yet a great day for auto racing fans. Whether it is breakfast while watching Monaco, lunch before taking in the thrilling Indy 500 or doing some grilling and then staying up late (in this case real late) to watch NASCAR’s 600-miler from Charlotte, there’s something for nearly …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud : Austin Dillon Good to the Last Drop in Coca-Cola 600

Austin Dillon Charlotte Cup Victory Lane 2017 Fiance Yvonne Leonard

(Photo: Yvonne Leonard)

Who’s in the headline: The Coca-Cola 600 took several different twists on Sunday evening/Monday morning. Through a crazy wreck to start the event, a rain delay for almost two hours and a dominating performance by Martin Truex Jr., it was Austin Dillon who took the No. 3 to Victory Lane for the first time in 17 …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Martin Truex Jr. Shakes Kansas Monkey As Aric Almirola Sustains Serious Injury

2017 Kansas I Cup Aric Almirola Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty / NKP)

Who’s in the headline – Handicapping Cup Series races is very difficult. With 40 cars in a full field, and 20 capable of winning on the right day, it can be like throwing darts to figure out a favorite. The odds at the drop of the green flag Saturday night had Ryan Blaney and Martin …

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