Race Weekend Central

Max Verstappen Avoids Media Critics, Takes Friday Practice Sessions in Canada

Max Verstappen Anp1

(Photo: Getty Images)

Max Verstappen silenced his critics following statements of head-butting anyone who criticized his driving by taking both Friday practice sessions in preparation for Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Canada. The Dutchman set the best time of the day in the second session by 0.130 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Kimi …

Read more

4 Burning Questions: 1,262 Miles in 1 Day

#4: Kevin Harvick, Stewart Haas Racing, Ford Fusion Jimmy John's, #11: Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Camry Fedex Express, #3: Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet Camaro Dow Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What is the future of the All-Star Race rules package? As expected either way, there has been a lot of chatter this week about the experimental restrictor plate package used in last weekend’s All-Star Race. The results have largely been positive among fans. It was generally regarded as the most exciting All-Star Race in years, …

Read more

Pace Laps: Harvick’s Historic Run, XFINITY Series Downhill Slide

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Ticketguardian 500 Ism Raceway, Phoenix, Az Usa Friday 9 March 2018 Kevin Harvick, Stewart Haas Racing, Ford Fusion Jimmy John's World Copyright: Matthew T. Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Harvick Having Historic Run Every once in awhile, an athlete reestablishes the level of greatness in their sport. NASCAR is no exception to the rule. There were Dale Earnhardt’s next-level championships in 1987 and 1994, Bill Elliott’s 1985 Winston Million and Jeff Gordon winning 13 races in 1998. More recently, …

Read more

Lewis Hamilton Wins Spain Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton Wins 2017 Japanese Grand Prix

Is it about to become five title for Lewis Hamilton?(Photo: Getty Images)

Lewis Hamilton capped off an excellent Formula 1 weekend in Spain by dominating practice, qualifying and, on Sunday afternoon (May 13), easily cruised to just over a 20-second gap over his teammate, Valtteri Bottas, to win the Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Barcelona- Catalunya. Max Verstappen, who ran into Williams’ Sergey Sirotkin, took third …

Read more

Happiness Is: The Pits, Baku & Plans

2018 Kevin Harvick Pit Stop Pit Crew Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

Life in the pits (Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

This week’s column is going to start with a bit of questioning regarding the management dealing with races.  Chronological order comes across as a good way to start. That means touching upon the peculiar start time for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond on Saturday night. Who exactly is the brain-child that …

Read more

F1 Midweek: Will Fernando Alonso Stay in F1 Beyond 2018?

2017 Indianapolis Indycar Fernando Alonso

Fernando Alonso in Indianapolis (Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Fernando Alonso has been a notable name in Formula One for the last 12 seasons. The Spaniard made history for Renault by winning world championships in 2005 and 2006. But why is the Spaniard now driving in a lot of other formula series?  Is it possible that if things do not work out for Alonso …

Read more

Lewis Hamilton Stuns Ferrari to Win Fifth Pole in Australia

Hamilton Hungarian Gp 2017 2

(Photo: Getty Images)

Lewis Hamilton proved Saturday afternoon that his Mercedes can still do damage to his competitors as the defending world champion turned in a Q3 time of 1:21:164 to take his fifth consecutive pole position at Melbourne’s Albert Park in preparation for Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix. Just over six tenths behind were the Ferrari duo of …

Read more

4 Burning Questions: Chase Elliott Vs. Denny Hamlin, Round 3?

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Pennzoil 400 Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, Nv Usa Friday 2 March 2018 Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro Napa Auto Parts World Copyright: Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Does karma happen? One of the new commercial spots produced prior to this season was a fairly standard advertisement for Hooters and driver Chase Elliott. It was a good enough ad the first 3,258 times it played during Fox’s broadcasts, but one shot in the ad stood out among all the rest. https://youtu.be/ZTxIqJcEeN8?t=20s This references …

Read more

Formula 1 2018 Season Preview: Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel at Five, or Someone Else?

Lewis Hamilton Wins 2017 Japanese Grand Prix

Is it about to become five title for Lewis Hamilton?(Photo: Getty Images)

Following Ferrari’s complete collapse of last season’s Formula 1 world championship loss to both Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes, Scuderia is coming into this weekend’s season-opening Grand Prix of Australia with new hope, plus some decent data, after two weeks of pre-season testing. Sebastian Vettel, who won this race last year, was dominant through the early …

Read more

5 Points to Ponder: A Lowe’s Blow

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Ticketguardian 500 Ism Raceway, Phoenix, Az Usa Sunday 11 March 2018 Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro Lowe's For Pros World Copyright: Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

ONE: A Lowe’s Blow The biggest NASCAR news last week came off the racetrack with an announcement Lowe’s will leave the sport at the end of this season. It’s a name brand that’s been synonymous with success in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Involved at the Cup level for two decades, they’ve been primary …

Read more

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas Help Launch New W09 for 2018

Lewishamiltonf1grandprixjapanpracticexlvrn22ekvwl

Lewis Hamilton (credit: Getty Images)

The AMG Mercedes Petronas Formula 1 team launched its new defender, the W09, Thursday morning (Feb. 22) at the Silverstone International Circuit in Northamptonshire, England. Unlike most of the 2018 F1 car launches so far, the team not only made a presentation of its car, but also did so with the assistance of drivers Valtteri …

Read more

5 Points To Ponder: Denny Hamlin’s Dirty Move Or Chase Elliott’s Defining Moment?

2017 Kansas Ii Cup Denny Hamlin Barry Cantrell Nkp

(Photo: Barry Cantrell NKP)

ONE: Dirty Moves Context and nuance are two words that have all but been lost in today’s society. You’re either on one side of an argument or you’re on the diametrically opposed side and never the two shall meet. Social media has fueled the acrimony, fanning the pungent flames of discourse almost to the point …

Read more