Race Weekend Central

Xfinity Breakdown: Cole Custer Makes His Case for Championship Favorite at Chicagoland

Before the Camping World 300 at Chicagoland Speedway, Tyler Reddick was the topic du jour. Due in part to his championship-winning run at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Reddick was though to be the best at running the high line, a necessity for getting around Chicagoland as fast as possible. The subtext was that if the defending Xfinity …

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NASCAR 101: Active Drivers Without a Cup Top 5

2010 Nascar Charlotte All Star Challenge

(Photo: Tyler Barrick/Autostock)

156 races. That’s how many starts it took for Matt DiBenedetto to have a top five in Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series competition. After a Cup career that began in 2015 and yielded four top 10s prior to 2019, DiBenedetto wheeled his No. 95 to a fourth-place run at Sonoma Raceway, scoring his first top …

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The Frontstretch 5: Ways to Improve a Driver’s Performance

2019 Michigan I Nxs Noah Gragson Michael Annett Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

1. Team Personnel Changes Sometimes all it takes is a new perspective for the team to help improve on areas they’ve been missing. A new (or reunited) crew chief can aid the driver by making adjustments on his car and strategizing a different way to win races. Take Michael Annett, for example. While he wasn’t …

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Eyes on Xfinity: Michael Annett Feeling Rejuvenated In 2019

Nascar Xfinity Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Maybe all it took was a number change and crew chief switch for Michael Annett to win his first race, but whatever the case, he is enjoying a career-rejuvenating year with JR Motorsports in 2019. Go back to 2018, when Annett, 32, didn’t earn his first top-10 finish until mid-August at Bristol Motor Speedway. Through the …

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Michael Annett Continues Superspeedway Form, Wins Xfinity Pole at Talladega

Michael Annett 2019 Moneylion 300 Pole Award Winner

(Photo: Christian Koelle)

Continuing his strong superspeedway form in 2019, Daytona winner Michael Annett topped both rounds of single-car qualifying at Talladega Superspeedway Saturday morning to win the pole for the MoneyLion 300. This is Annett’s first career Xfinity Series pole. Tyler Reddick, Ross Chastain, Ryan Sieg and Justin Haley rounded out the top five. Annett led a …

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5 Points to Ponder: 9 Races Into NASCAR 2019

2016 Cup Homestead Miami Speedway Joe Gibbs Roger Penske Zach Catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

ONE: NASCAR 2019 = 2-Team Tandem At The Top Forget NASCAR’s Big Three. This year, it’s the Big Two (owners, that is) leading the way in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Joe Gibbs Racing and Team Penske have flat out dominated the first nine races of the season. Ryan Blaney (Penske) and Erik Jones …

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Replication: Michael Annett, No. 1 Team Continuing Daytona Success in 2019

#1: Michael Annett, Jr Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro Chevrolet Pilot Flying J

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Michael Annett winning at Daytona, after going winless in nearly 230 career Xfinity Series starts, to begin 2019 was an accomplishment. But what’s been an even more impressive accomplishment thus far? Scoring three more top 10s in the six races since, sitting fourth in points and a prime contender to make noise in the Xfinity …

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Texas Runner-Up Tyler Reddick Leads 1st Dash 4 Cash Field to Bristol

2019 Las Vegas I Nxs Tyler Reddick Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The drop of the checkered flag over Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday afternoon set the first of four NASCAR Xfinity Series Dash 4 Cash fields. The top four finishing series regulars will battle it out at Bristol Motor Speedway next weekend for a $100,000 bonus. Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe and Michael Annett comprise …

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Tyler Reddick, Kyle Busch Lead Texas NASCAR Xfinity Series Practice For My Bariatric Solutions 300

2019 Atlanta Xfinity Zach Catanzareti Tyler Reddick

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

NASCAR Xfinity Series practice for the 2019 My Bariatric 300 at Texas Motor Speedway has been completed Friday (March 29). Reigning series champion and current points leader Tyler Reddick along with former series champion Kyle Busch led the way ahead of Saturday’s race. First practice Busch was in a Richard Childress Racing sandwich on the …

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Did You Notice?: NASCAR’s 2019 Daytona Dreams Realized… Or Forgotten?

2019 Phoenix I Cup Matt Dibenedetto Nkp

(Photo: NKP)

Did You Notice? … We’re now five races into the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season? The sport’s new handling package, qualifying debacles and Kyle Busch’s 200 have stolen the headlines since Daytona Speedweeks. It seems like a lifetime ago Denny Hamlin was celebrating in Victory Lane for the Daytona 500. But Hamlin has taken a …

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Friday Faceoff: Are the Daytona Winners Title Contenders?

2019 Daytona I Nxs Michael Annett Trophy Nkp

(Photo:NKP)

Kyle Busch seemed a bit miffed that he wasn’t able to challenge his teammate for the win in the Daytona 500. Do you think a driver should respect the need for a team car to win a race. or should they go for it, knowing that it could cost both drivers the win? Zach Gillispie: …

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Did You Notice?: How Buy-A-Ride NASCAR Wins Are Perceived?

2019 Daytona I Nxsmichae Annett Nkp

Did You Notice? … NASCAR’s final restrictor plate race reminded us why the sport is trying a different approach? Don’t get me wrong; the 2019 Daytona 500 exceeded expectations, especially after some shaky opening acts. Drivers were willing to break in an inside groove they’d been hesitant to try all Speedweeks to the tune of “it’s …

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