Race Weekend Central

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington

Denny Hamlin celebrates his win in the 2021 Southern 500 at Darlington. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? Denny Hamlin won the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington on Sunday night (Sept. 5) after narrowly holding off Kyle Larson in the final corner. Larson, Ross Chastain, Martin Truex Jr. and Kevin Harvick rounded out the top-five finishers. RETWEET to congratulate @DennyHamlin on his #Southern500 win at @TooToughToTame! What a final corner …

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Frontstretch 2-Minute Drill: Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington

The NASCAR Cup Series races the Track Too Tough To Tame in the 2019 version of Darlington Raceway's Southern 500. (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs zoom into action on Sunday (Sept. 5) both under the sun and under the lights at Darlington Raceway. A 6 p.m. ET start will encompass the entire evening for the Cook Out Southern 500. The “Lady in Black” hosts its second race of the year and the first race …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR DraftKings Forecast: 2021 Cook Out Southern 500

Martin Truex Jr. 2021 Darlington 1

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The NASCAR Cup Series begins its 2021 playoff chase with the Round of 16 at Darlington Raceway on Sunday, Sept. 5. Let’s get your daily fantasy NASCAR DraftKings rosters ready for the Cook Out Southern 500. It’s the second year in a row Darlington kicks off the Cup playoffs and boy, 2020’s race did not …

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4 Burning Questions: Who’ll Be Eliminated in Each Cup Playoff Round?

2021 regular season Cup champion Kyle Larson with trophy

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who will be eliminated in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs’ Round of 16? Michael McDowell has been disappointing in the second half of the regular season. He had a strong start to the season in addition to his Daytona 500 win, but he’s 28th in total points in the past 10 races among all Cup …

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5 Points to Ponder: Does Momentum Make Ryan Blaney a Championship Contender?

2021 Cup Daytona Ii Ryan Blaney Wins Nkp

Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

1. How much does momentum matter going into the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs? Asking for a friend named Ryan Blaney. (Note: Blaney and I are not actually friends, having spoken exactly once, but he is a likable gent.) The 27-year-old Team Penske wheelman entered the 2021 season never having won more than one race in …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona

Ryan Blaney Celebrating in victory lane after winning 2021 Coke Zero Sugar 400 NASCAR Cup race at Daytona, Jared C Tilton/Getty Images

(Photo: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images via NASCAR Media)

Ryan Blaney won the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona on Saturday night (Aug. 28) in overtime under caution after a last-lap wreck on the backstretch.

Up to Speed: Why This Year’s Cup Series Playoffs Will Be Different for Ryan Blaney

Ryan Blaney walks around Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Tex. (Photo: NKP)

#12: Ryan Blaney, Team Penske, Ford Mustang BodyArmor

Has anybody in NASCAR had a better two weeks than Ryan Blaney?  For the first time in his career, Blaney has won back-to-back Cup Series races.  The first win came at Michigan International Speedway on Aug. 22.  Then, he and the No. 12 team followed up that victory with a win at Daytona International Speedway …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR DraftKings Forecast: 2021 FireKeepers Casino 400

Kevin Harvick at New Hampshire NASCAR Cup race, NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The NASCAR Cup Series head to the Irish Hills of Michigan this week for the next-to-last race in the regular season. Let’s get your daily fantasy NASCAR DraftKings lineups set for Sunday’s (Aug. 22) race at Michigan International Speedway. The summer stretch of road races is done and it’s time for Cup teams to head …

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Martin Truex Jr., Auto-Owners Insurance Extend Partnership

2021 Kansas I Cup Martin Truex Jr car NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Auto-Owners Insurance will continue to sponsor Martin Truex Jr. through at least next season in the NASCAR Cup Series, Joe Gibbs Racing announced Aug. 19. It first partnered with Truex in July 2016 and teamed up with JGR starting in 2019. Truex drove the No. 19 Auto-Owners car to several victories, including two in 2019 …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: The Curbs Ruin NBC’s Day In Indianapolis

Kyle Busch races in the NASCAR Cup Sereies at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, August 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

In recent years, races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway have been a mixed affair. The Indianapolis 500 has generally been very competitive in recent years.  I’ve enjoyed the races, recent television coverage from NBC and I think most race fans would agree. For NASCAR, it’s been a downward trajectory since the repave in 2008. The 2008 …

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Martin Truex Jr. Quickest in Indianapolis Cup Practice

Martin Truex Jr. practices at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard, 8/14/2021 (Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Martin Truex Jr., one of the best road racers in the NASCAR Cup Series, took the top spot in practice on Saturday (Aug. 14), at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course. Truex’s lap at 98.021 mph topped the charts. Truex was one of three Gibbs machines in the top 10, but breaking those drivers up …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Go Bowling at The Glen

2021 Cup Watkins Glen Kyle Larson Wins Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? Kyle Larson won the Go Bowling at The Glen on Sunday (Aug. 8) after holding off a hard-charging teammate and leading the final 26 laps of the race. Chase Elliott, Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top-five finishers.  RETWEET to congratulate @KyleLarsonRacin on his WIN at @WGI!#NASCAR pic.twitter.com/BU9OJMLMEQ …

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