Race Weekend Central

2020 NASCAR Cup Series Preseason Power Rankings

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(Credit: Christian Koelle, Frontstretch)

For the first time here at Frontstretch, our staff banded together to vote on who it thinks will be the top drivers of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season in a preseason power rankings format. Each participating staff member sent a 30-driver ranking before the beginning of the season, taking into account not only 2019 successes …

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2019 NASCAR Driver Reviews: Matt DiBenedetto

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(Photo: Christian Koelle)

Matt DiBenedetto was a driver that many did not expect to be a true contender in 2019 in the NASCAR Cup Series, but the expectation was for a much-improved season compared to his last few at the top level of NASCAR. Throughout the season, he proved himself to be a great driver and showed what …

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2019 NASCAR Top Storylines: The Pay-to-Play Trend

2019 Atlanta Cup Landon Cassill Car Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Money buys a lot of things in NASCAR. It buys speed, or at least the parts and pieces to make speed happen. It buys alliances between teams that can also lead to more speed. It buys advertising time that gets sponsors and drivers exposure. Money also buys rides. It’s a trend that has been on …

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The Underdog House: Buescher Going Home Again

2019 Daytona Cup Zach Catanzareti Chris Buescher

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Top of the Class When the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series turned its final lap of 2019 on Sunday, it was fitting that the highest underdog was Chris Buescher. One could have their pick of a multitude of reasons why it was appropriate that his 16th-place finish made him the top dog. First, no underdog …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in NASCAR: Monster Ending Goes Out with a Whimper

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Well, the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season is over, and Kyle Busch has won his second title, overcoming teammates Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr, and Kevin Harvick of Stewart-Haas Racing, as they all had problems of one sort or another (documented elsewhere by my colleagues). While Busch did run the full season …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Phoenix Championship Coverage Was Ridiculous

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

We now know the names of all 12 drivers that will be fighting for the championships this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Once everyone gets to Florida, it will be all championship, all the time. TV-wise, will that be any different than what we got in Phoenix on Sunday? Bluegreen Vacations 500k Based on what we …

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The Underdog House: DiBenedetto of the Desert

Denny Hamlin and Matt DiBenedetto are solid picks for the 2021 Busch Clash Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Top of the Class For the second week in a row, Matt DiBenedetto is the top underdog in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race. This time, it was his 13th-place finish at ISM Raceway that earned him the highest spot on our underfunded pedestal. As the season winds down, it’s easy to forget just …

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The Underdog House: Messin With Texas

2019 Texas Mencs Matt Dibenedetto Car Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Top of the Class Matt DiBenedetto has shown flashes of brilliance this year, but it is the steady mid-pack results that really highlight how 2019 has been a year of improvement for the California native. The No. 95 Leavine Family Racing driver was again the top underdog at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday (Nov. 3) …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR DraftKings Forecast: 2019 AAA Texas 500

2019 Cup Texas Zach Catanzareti Denny Hamlin

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series teams head to the Lone Star State for the AAA Texas 500 Sunday, November 3. It’s the 34th of 36 events that comprise the 2019 season. They say everything’s bigger in Texas and this NASCAR weekend is no different. It’s the second race in the Round of 8 and …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR FanDuel Forecast: AAA Texas 500

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Everything is bigger in Texas, and that includes the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at Texas Motor Speedway this weekend. The AAA Texas 500 will air on NBCSN on Sunday, Nov. 3, at 3 p.m. EST. Texas is a 1.5-mile oval, but it’s not quite the cookie cutter that other intermediate tracks are …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR FanDuel Forecast: First Data 500

Denny Hamlin and Matt DiBenedetto are solid picks for the 2021 Busch Clash Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Round of 8 kicks off with short track racing at Martinsville Speedway this Sunday, Oct. 27, for the First Data 500. The race airs on NBCSN at 3 p.m. EST. Martinsville is the essential short track. This half-mile flat track affectionately known as “The Paperclip” resembles the local short tracks that many of the …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR DraftKings Forecast: 2019 First Data 500

2019 Kansas Mencs Denny Hamlin Checkers Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

It’s time for short track racing once again. The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series kicks off the Round of 8 at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, Oct. 27 with a three-race sprint to determine the Championship 4. The green flag for the First Data 500 will wave shortly after 3 p.m. ET with television coverage provided …

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