Race Weekend Central

2017 Frontstretch Cup: Go Bowling 400 Predictions

2016 Kansas Ii Cup Matt Kenseth Kyle Busch Racing Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty / NKP)

Welcome to our 10th year of our NASCAR Frontstretch Cup staff predictions! Each week, our experts attempt to tell you who the winner of each Cup race will be. Take a look to see who your favorite writers think will win it all (or at least score some points) this week! Think you can out-prognosticate …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR Forecast: Go Bowling 400 Preview

2017 Las Vegas Cup Kevin Harvick Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Next up for daily fantasy NASCAR players is Kansas Speedway. The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series heads to the 1.5-mile oval for the Go Bowling 400 this Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. Cars hit the track on Friday at 11:30 a.m. for first practice. Then, at 6:45 p.m. that same day they have Coors Light Pole …

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The 10: NASCAR Cup Series Power Rankings After Talladega

2017 Talladega I Cup Ricky Stenhouse Jr Pack Racing Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo Matthew T. Thacker / NKP)

The high banks of Talladega Superspeedway were the site of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series event this past weekend. The GEICO 500 brought much of what we’ve come to expect from the 2.66 mile tri-oval in Alabama. Close action. Different faces at the front of the field. Airborne cars. Enough bent sheet metal to …

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Double Take: Ford’s Fiery Start Comes at Toyota’s Expense

2017 Richmond I Cup Pack Racing Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

Ford has been on fire in 2017. With Joey Logano picking up his first win of the season at Richmond International Raceway last weekend, the Blue Oval now has four victories through the first nine races of the season, including the sport’s crown-jewel event at Daytona International Speedway in February. The fact these four wins …

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The 10: NASCAR Cup Series Power Rankings After Richmond

2017 Richmond I Cup Joey Logano Burnout Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker / NKP)

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series hit the Richmond International Raceway for another round of short track action this weekend. Rarely can a race be summed up in one or two words, but if we were to try, penalty-fest would be a top prospect. Between speeding on pit road and running over the commitment cone… …

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Up to Speed: Rules Overshadow Racing in Richmond

2017 Richmond I Nxs Darrell Wallace Jr Pack Racing Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew Thacker / NKP)

NASCAR fans at Richmond International Raceway saw some great racing this weekend.  However, they also saw two races with wacky endings.  Both the XFINITY Series race on Saturday and Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series event had twist endings that were bought about by rule violations.  NASCAR made good calls in some instances, bad calls …

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Furniture Row Racing Leads the Way in Opening Cup Practice at Richmond

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Food City 500 Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tn Usa Saturday 22 April 2017 Martin Truex Jr, Furniture Row/denver Mattress Toyota Camry World Copyright: Matthew T. Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker NKP)

Early into the opening practice session of the weekend at Richmond International Raceway, the Furniture Row Racing duo of Martin Truex Jr. and Erik Jones jumped to the top of the leader board, where they stayed the remainder of the 90-minute session. Truex led the way, posting a lap at 124.178 mph, more than two-tenths of …

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The 10: NASCAR Cup Series Power Rankings After Bristol

2017 Bristol I Cup Joey Logano Pack Racing John K Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John K. Harrelson/NKP)

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series hit the high banks of Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday for the Food City 500. Or at least, that was the plan initially. But April showers brought Monday horsepower, as the race was washed out for the weekend and postponed to Monday afternoon. It was disappointing for those race …

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5 Points to Ponder: Should Kyle Larson Feel Good or Bad About 2017?

2017 Texas I Cup Kyle Larson Logan Whitton Nkp

(Photo: Logan Whitton/NKP)

ONE: Pit Road Speeding During the first 300 laps at Bristol Motor Speedway, not a single Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver got busted for speeding. The pits were so tame, the only major incident was a commitment line violation by rookie Gray Gaulding. If that name’s your front page headline, after answering the obvious question of “Who’s that?” …

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Martin Truex Jr. Upbeat Following Bristol Performance

2017 Nascar Monster Energy Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

An eighth-place run may seem decent for a driver of Martin Truex Jr.’s stature, but not this week. Bristol Motor Speedway has been a tough one for Truex in his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career. He hadn’t grabbed a win, had no laps led since 2013 and no top 10s since 2012. Two of …

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Jimmie Johnson Breaks Through for Bristol Win

2017 Texas I Cup Jimmie Johnson Helmet Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty NKP)

Kyle Larson and Martin Truex Jr. may have led the most laps at Monday’s Food City 500, but it was Jimmie Johnson’s day again in 2017. Breaking through the tight battle in the top five, Johnson beat Clint Bowyer to the line to win the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. The win is …

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5 Points to Ponder: NASCAR Seven Races Into 2017

2016 Indianapolis Cup Danica Patrick Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

ONE: Toyota’s Tough Start Toyota, coming off its first NASCAR Cup manufacturer’s title, has tumbled out of the gate in 2017. Just two drivers – Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch – sit inside the top 10 in points, and only Truex has earned a victory thus far this season. Joe Gibbs Racing in particular has …

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