Race Weekend Central

Up to Speed: A Great Show in Daytona Exceeds Gloomy Expectations

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Suffice it to say that everything went better than expected during the 2019 Daytona 500. Up until Sunday, Speedweeks had featured a lot of uninspired racing.  Last week’s Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona International Speedway felt like the drivers who competed in that race were just going through the motions.  A mostly single-file race …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2019 Daytona 500

Kyle Busch 2019 Daytona 500

(Photo: Christian Koelle)

Who… should you be talking about after the race? Denny Hamlin carried the late J.D. Gibbs on his shoulder all the way back to Victory Lane.  Hamlin went winless in 2018, the first season in his career without a victory, but he erased that losing streak Sunday in NASCAR’s biggest race.  Showing everyone the best way …

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Matt DiBenedetto: ‘I’m Pretty Heartbroken’ After Late Race Wreck at Daytona

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Many people had Matt DiBenedetto on their fantasy teams for the Daytona 500. He proved those people right on Sunday (Feb. 17). It took DiBenedetto 141 races and a switch to Leavine Family Racing, but he had his coming out party in the Great American Race, leading a race-high 49 laps. In fact, he led …

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Bob Leavine on Joe Gibbs Racing Alliance: ‘We’ve Actually Gotten Help This Time’

Matt Dibenedetto Daytona 500 Practice

(Photo: Christian Koelle)

Matt DiBenedetto will take to the high banks of Daytona International Speedway on Sunday (Feb. 17) to kick off his era with Leavine Family Racing. But the LFR organization is starting a new era itself with a new manufacturer for them: Toyota. Entering its ninth season in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 2019, …

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Matt DiBenedetto’s Career Coming Full Circle in 2019 with Toyota, LFR

Matt Dibenedetto Daytona500 Mediaday

Matt DiBenedetto is back for 2019 where it all started: with Toyota. (Photo/Davey Segal)

Change is inevitable. In NASCAR, change is constant, normal and expected. Matt DiBenedetto has been no stranger to change at the Cup Series level. BK Racing and Go FAS Racing have been the first two stops in a three-year span for the Grass Valley, California native. But 2019 brings on a new challenge and the …

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The Underdog House: Open for Business

2019 Daytona Cup Zach Catanzareti Matt Dibenedetto

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Every Underdog Has His Day With the thunder of NASCAR engines once again disturbing the peace along International Speedway Blvd in Daytona Beach, the 2019 season is officially underway. The underdogs are back in action and each seeking to taste a little success. What success really means is as varied as the independent teams themselves, …

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Entry List: Daytona 500

2018 Daytona Cup Zach Catanzareti Ryan Blaney

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

The entry list for the 61st Daytona 500 has been released, and there’s a lot of changes for the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season. 42 cars are on the final version of the entry list. A maximum of 40 cars will take the green flag on race day. Old faces in new places …

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2018 NASCAR Driver Reviews: Matt DiBenedetto

2018 Cup Matt Dibenedetto Zach Catanzareti Michigan

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

If there is one word to describe Matt DiBenedetto‘s 2018 season, it would be grit. DiBenedetto and his No. 32 team did not light the world on fire by any means this past season, but once again outperformed expectations with aging equipment, a can-do attitude and a little bit of help from their fellow competitors. …

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Leavine Family Racing Adds Mike Wheeler as Crew Chief

2017 Kansas I Cup Mike Wheeler Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty / NKP)

Leavine Family Racing announced Tuesday (Nov. 27) that veteran crew chief Mike Wheeler will oversee the No. 95 Toyota Camry entry driven by Matt DiBenedetto in 2019. Wheeler has been the full-time crew chief for Denny Hamlin since 2015 and will continue to lead a Toyota team in 2019 with LFR. “We’re thrilled to have …

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The Underdog House: Wrapping Up NASCAR’s Small Teams For 2018

Aj Allmendinger 1000bulbs.com 500 Practice

(Photo: Christian Koelle)

Think Small If there is a lesson to be learned from the 2018 season and the underdog teams, it’s that the right combination of team and driver is everything. Perhaps the biggest example is one of a small-team driver moving into fully-funded equipment and flourishing, as Aric Almirola has when he moved from Richard Petty …

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NASCAR Mailbox: Should Homestead Forever Have the Honor of Hosting the Season Finale?

2018 Cup Martinsville Zach Catanzareti Jimmie Johnson

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Every season since 2002, Homestead-Miami Speedway has hosted championship weekend, providing some of the best racing on the NASCAR circuit.  Should Homestead always host the season finale or would it be better to have tracks bid to host the championship?  Is there a better track for a championship race, or is it the perfect site …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in NASCAR: Take 2 in Texas

Richard Childress and Austin Dillon together during a NASCAR Xfinity Series race in New Hampshire (Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

In what seemed inevitable since the season began, Kevin Harvick officially punched his ticket into the Championship 4 with an overtime victory in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series’ AAA Texas 500 on Sunday (Nov. 4) at Texas Motor Speedway. Stewart-Haas Racing’s Harvick joins Team Penske’s Joey Logano as drivers running for the title, ensuring …

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