Race Weekend Central

Frontstretch 5: Top Predictions for NASCAR Championship Weekend at Phoenix

Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin talk on pit road before the 2021 Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway. (Photo: Getty Images)

(Photo: Logan Riely/Getty Images)

This is it. No more messing around. Twelve drivers. Three champions. Nine losers. Every fan and every NASCAR Camping World Truck, Xfinity and Cup Series team has waited for this weekend to come since February. We’ve seen the good, bad, ugly and everything in between happen from then until now. Some drivers have met our …

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Dropping the Hammer: Kyle Larson’s Big Championship ‘What If?’

Kyle Larson at Kansas Speedway

(Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images for NASCAR Media)

It could happen. I know it. You know it. Kyle Larson knows it. Larson has won nine of 35 races this year, five more than his previous best in 2017. He’s led 2,474 laps, the most in a season since Jeff Gordon totaled 2,320 during his 2001 title run. He’s won three races in a …

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NASCAR Stat Sheet: Martinsville Top-Dog Alex Bowman Sizzles, Denny Hamlin Left Feeling Burnt

Alex Bowman at 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Michigan race

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

It was only five years ago but my how the landscape of NASCAR has changed. It has arguably changed more for no single individual than it has for Alex Bowman.

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Martinsville NASCAR Playoff Race

#48: Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro Ally celebrates winning the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville.

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? Alex Bowman won the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Sunday (Oct. 31) after bumping Denny Hamlin out of the way and surviving an overtime restart. Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr. and William Byron rounded out the top-five finishers. RETWEET to congratulate @Alex_Bowman on his WIN at @MartinsvilleSwy! #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/qNd6DVbKpO — NASCAR on …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 Xfinity 500

Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin talk on pit road before the 2021 Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway. (Photo: Getty Images)

(Photo: Logan Riely/Getty Images)

Who … should you be talking about after the Xfinity 500? 2021 has been a breakout year for Alex Bowman. The 28-year-old posted three early wins and advanced to the Round of 12 in this year’s playoffs before stumbling a bit. At Martinsville Speedway, he put an exclamation point on the deal after a late-race …

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Martin Truex Jr. Overcomes Multiple Scares to Claim Final Championship 4 Spot

2021 Martinsville Ii Cup Martin Truex Jr Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Martin Truex Jr. had several scares on Halloween but overcame them to grab the final spot in the Championship 4 by just three points. Truex started fourth and finished fourth in the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 31), but the results fail to tell the tale of his up-and-down day. “I …

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Frontstretch 2-Minute Drill: Xfinity 500 at Martinsville

2019 Martinsville Mencs Racing Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The penultimate race of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway is upon us, and pretty much everything is still up in the air. Kyle Larson has won three straight races, including sweeping both events in the Round of 8 thus far at Texas Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway. He’s led a combined 386 …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR DraftKings Forecast: 2021 Xfinity 500

2021 Martinsville I Cup Chase Elliott Martin Truex Jr NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Just two NASCAR Cup Series races are left in the 2021 season, starting with this Sunday (Oct. 31) at Martinsville Speedway. Let’s get your daily fantasy NASCAR DraftKings rosters ready for the Xfinity 500. Seven drivers will fight for three spots this weekend, as Kyle Larson won the last three races and secured his position …

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New Year, Same Story, Different Result? Kyle Larson Hopes So

Kevin Harvick and Kyle Larson make contact in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway, September 2021 televised on NBCSN. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

2020 was a difficult year for everyone. NASCAR led the charge back from the initial COVID craziness and the fans were thrilled. As the year unfolded for the sport, Kevin Harvick was clearly the cream of the crop. In the playoffs, the Round of 8 saw his team stumble, fall and fail, resulting in him …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Kansas Provides Better Racing, New Issues for NBC Sports

Martin Truex Jr.’s No. 19, Chase Elliott’s No. 9, Alex Bowman’s No. 48 and Joey Logano’s No. 22 race four-wide at Kansas Speedway in the fall 2021 NASCAR Cup series race, NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

After a fairly unsatisfactory race at Texas Motor Speedway, viewers got a much more enjoyable race to watch Sunday (Oct. 24) at Kansas Speedway. However, there were problems early. Hollywood Casino 400 Knowing that the race started about 14 minutes after the Formula 1 race, then almost immediately got red-flagged due to lightning, I do …

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Up to Speed: A Good Bad Day for Kyle Busch at Kansas

Kyle Busch at 2021 NASCAR Cup Series race on Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Kyle Busch’s rocky path through the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs took another unexpected turn at Kansas Speedway. Entering Sunday’s (Oct. 24) race, Busch was on the playoff bubble, just eight points above the cut line. It was a slim margin, but not necessarily a reason to panic. Once among his worst tracks, Busch had finished …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Kansas NASCAR Playoff Race

Kyle Larson and No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports crew points up in victory lane, Sean Gardner/Getty

(Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

What happened? Kyle Larson won the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on Sunday (Oct. 24) for his third consecutive victory. Chase Elliott, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top-five finishers. You earned it today, @KyleLarsonRacin! Retweet to congratulate the @TeamHendrick driver on an impressive win at @kansasspeedway! pic.twitter.com/stXuaHpqu7 — NASCAR …

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