Race Weekend Central

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Echopark Texas Grand Prix at COTA

Chase Elliott races in the rain at Circuit of the Americas (COTA). May 2021 Cup (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? Chase Elliott won the Echopark Texas Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas on Sunday (May 23) after heavy rain and poor track conditions halted the COTA race early with 14 laps remaining.   Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Ross Chastain and AJ Allmendinger rounded out the top-five finishers. Let the celebration begin! @chaseelliott and …

Read more

Did You Notice?: Winners & Losers If Brad Keselowski Buys Into Roush Fenway Racing

Brad Keselowski stands by his No. 2 Team Penske Ford at Kansas Speedway (May 2021). (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Did You Notice? … Brad Keselowski will reportedly purchase an interest in Roush Fenway Racing? First reported by Motorsport’s Jim Utter, the deal would make the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series champion part owner and driver of the No. 6 Ford in 2022. The rumor has been around for a few weeks but public support of the story has …

Read more

5 Points to Ponder: 2021 NASCAR Manufacturer Parity Among Ford, Chevy & Toyota

All three NASCAR manufacturers (Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota) battle at Kansas Speedway. (Photo: NKP) Ryan Blaney, Martin Truex Jr, Chase Elliott

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

1: NASCAR manufacturer parity … At the top 12 races into the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, it’s clear three organizations have separated from the rest of the pack. Joe Gibbs Racing (with Darlington Raceway winner Martin Truex Jr.), Team Penske and Hendrick Motorsports are the sport’s new Big 3, sweeping 10 of the top …

Read more

The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 Goodyear 400

Kyle Larson and Chris Buescher race at Darlington Raceway, Goodyear 400, May 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who… should you be talking about after the Goodyear 400? Martin Truex Jr. dominated Sunday (May 9), leading 248 of 293 laps at Darlington Raceway on the way to his 30th career victory. Truex becomes the 28th driver in NASCAR history to win 30 or more races and sits sixth among active drivers in career wins. Truex …

Read more

5 Points to Ponder: Milestone Moments

Matt DiBenedetto raceswith Austin Dillon in the Buschy McBusch Race 400 at Kansas Speedway, May 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

1. Next Gen We’ll get our first “official” look at the Next Gen car this Wednesday as all three OEMs, Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota, reveal their own unique looks for the 2022 Cup season. The Gen-7 car project, delayed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is designed primarily to lower costs for teams …

Read more

NASCAR Stat Sheet: Kyle Busch Takes the Cake on His Birthday

Kurt Busch, Ryan Newman and Kevin Harvick get ready for the Buschy McBusch Race 400 at Kansas Speedway, May 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

In 2009, Kyle Busch became the first driver since Cale Yarborough in 1977 to win a Cup race on his birthday. However, after winning this weekend at Kansas Speedway, Busch is the only driver in series history who is undefeated on his special day. Since Busch joined the Cup tour in 2005, a race has …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Buschy McBusch Race 400 at Kansas

Kyle Busch stands on car in victory lane after Kansas Cup spring 2021 race NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? Kyle Busch fittingly won the Buschy McBusch Race 400 at Kansas on Sunday (May 2) after a series of chaotic late restarts.  Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, Matt DiBenedetto and Chase Elliott rounded out the top-five finishers. Nothing but wide open pasture for @KyleBusch as he took the ? at @kansasspeedway! #BuschyMcBusch400 pic.twitter.com/PYi8ltPLLt — …

Read more

The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 Buschy McBusch Race 400

Kyle Busch bows after winning 2021 Kansas spring Cup race James Gilbert Getty

(Photo: James Gilbert/Getty Images via NASCAR Media)

Who … should you be talking about after the race? Kyle Busch won on his birthday at Kansas Speedway Sunday (May 2) afternoon, keeping his streak of consecutive seasons with a win alive at an astounding 17 years. The victory alone should scare his competition, considering it took until the waning weeks of 2020 for …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 GEICO 500 at Talladega

#2: Brad Keselowski, Team Penske, Ford Mustang MoneyLion, #37: Ryan Preece, JTG Daugherty Racing, Chevrolet Camaro Kroger/Reese’s, #4: Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford Mustang Busch Dog Brew, #10: Aric Almirola, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford Mustang Smithfield, #23: Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing, Toyota Camry DoorDash

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? Brad Keselowski won the GEICO 500 at Talladega on Sunday (April 25) after leading just one lap all day. William Byron, Michael McDowell, Kevin Harvick and Matt DiBenedetto rounded out the top-five finishers. No stopping @keselowski today! The No. 2 car is going back to Victory Lane at @TALLADEGA! pic.twitter.com/LlyRDphhNZ — NASCAR (@NASCAR) …

Read more

The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 GEICO 500

A pack of NASCAR race cars running the GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, April 2021. Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who … should you be talking about after the race? Brad Keselowski led exactly one of 191 laps on Sunday (April 25), but it was the only one that mattered. Keselowski passed Matt DiBenedetto as the white flag flew, leading the field to the checkers for his sixth Talladega Superspeedway victory, tying Jeff Gordon and …

Read more

Stock Car Scoop: Can NASCAR Make Talladega Superspeedway Racing Safer?

William Byron, Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman wreck during a Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway in April 2021.

(Photo: James Gilbert/Getty Images via NASCAR Media)

The NASCAR Cup Series traveled to the largest track on the circuit this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway (April 24-25). While there was no Big One this time, Joey Logano made headlines by flipping with one lap to go in stage one of the 2021 GEICO 500. Following Logano’s interview, criticizing the safety of the current …

Read more

Matt DiBenedetto Takes 5th After Near Win at Talladega

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

If Matt DiBenedetto felt like he was experiencing Talladega déjà vu, he cannot be blamed despite leading the field heading into the only overtime restart of Sunday’s GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Certainly the 10th round of the NASCAR Cup Series season started off promising for DiBenedetto and his No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford …

Read more