Race Weekend Central

Power Rankings: Dega Worth the Wait Edition

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

It was yet another long week for NASCAR, but this time it was not only weather that was the culprit. A case of mistaken identity when a knot wasn’t just a knot and was thought to be a noose led to an emotional Sunday (June 21) which was quickly doused by rain. The next day …

Read more

Couch Potato Tuesday: FOX, NASCAR Come Face-to-Face With a Social Crisis

A pack of NASCAR Cup race cars at Talladega, June 2020. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Last weekend was … something else. NASCAR found itself in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Thankfully, the noose in the garage was found not to have been intentionally planted there for intimidation purposes. That said, it was there. I checked my photos from last October in Talladega to see if I noticed anything. …

Read more

NASCAR Mailbox: What’s Up With Matt Kenseth?

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Since NASCAR returned to the track just over one month ago, we have seen some drivers show signs of improvement compared to before the break and others plummet in performance. Matt Kenseth came off the sidelines to drive the No. 42 for Chip Ganassi Racing, but it has not been all fun and games. He …

Read more

NASCAR 101: 8 Veteran Drivers Who Would Make Great Truck Competitors

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Over the past few years, the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series has produced some of the best racing in NASCAR, and the talent within isn’t too shabby, either. With the likes of Erik Jones, William Byron and Tyler Reddick quickly ascending the ranks from pickups to NASCAR Cup Series cars, the Truck Series has …

Read more

Did You Notice?: 2020 NASCAR Drivers On The Hot Seat

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Did You Notice? … Each of the sport’s superteams this season has a driver who’s running behind the curve? 12 races into the year, 2020 has been a year of parity across the sport. Four drivers have already won twice (and Denny Hamlin has won three times). A total of five drivers are tied for the series lead …

Read more

Power Rankings: 7 Hours of Miami Edition

2020homesteadncsracingnascarmedia(2)

(Photo: NASCAR Media/Getty Images)

It was a long week for NASCAR, but can someone tell me how an organization that makes Florida its home can think that scheduling a race at 3:30 p.m. ET in the middle of June is going to work in South Florida? I understand that television partners often make the call, but even they should …

Read more

Up to Speed: Is the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Field Already Set?

2019 Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Playoffs Field Of 16 Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Given how the 2020 NASCAR season has played out so far, the Cup Series playoff has felt like almost an afterthought.  Nevertheless, the Cup Series regular season is almost halfway complete.  Sunday’s race at Homestead-Miami Speedway was the 12th event of the revised Cup schedule in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Only 14 races …

Read more

Power Rankings: Hotlanta Edition

2020atlantancskevinharvickcheckersnascarmedia

(Photo: NASCAR Media/Getty Images)

One thing we can say about last Sunday’s (June 7) race at Atlanta Motor Speedway is that it will be most remembered for what happened during pre-race. But it would have been impossible to create a race more memorable than the words and imagery we saw from NASCAR over the weekend. While I have always …

Read more

Matt Kenseth Not Adapting as Quickly as He Hoped for Chip Ganassi Racing

Matt Kenseth Darlington

(Photo: Chip Ganassi Racing)

Less than two months ago, Matt Kenseth wasn’t planning on racing in NASCAR this season or maybe ever again. Now he finds himself five races into his Cup Series season with Chip Ganassi Racing. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know Kenseth replaced Kyle Larson after the former driver of the No. 42 …

Read more

Up to Speed: Role Reversals for Joey Logano & Chase Elliott

2020bristolncsjoeyloganovschaseelliottfacenascarmedia

(Photo: NASCAR Media/Getty Images)

Bristol Motor Speedway never disappoints.  A battle for the lead that seemed to stretch over the entire last 200 laps ended with an electrifying finish.  First, it looked like Denny Hamlin was in position to win, but a jam up with several lapped cars sent the No. 11 into the wall and brought out the …

Read more

Power Rankings: Monster Marathon Edition

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Every year it seems that we have the debate about whether NASCAR needs a 600-mile race. You can holler out “OK, Boomer,” but I think it is very important to have some of the classic NASCAR races stay at their classic lengths. There was a time this was a test of man and machine, and …

Read more

The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2020 Coca-Cola 600

2017newhampshiremencsmattkensethfacenkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who… should you be talking about after the 2020 Coca-Cola 600? Brad Keselowski was going to come up short in the 2020 Coca-Cola 600.  He’d had a great restart with 46 laps to go, taking advantage of track position up front. However, Chase Elliott squeaked by and then took off in clean air, leaving Keselowski …

Read more