Race Weekend Central

Noah Gragson Falls Short at Phoenix: ‘We just missed it as a whole’

2021 Xfinity Phoenix Noah Gragson, No. 9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet (Credit: NKP)

Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

Noah Gragson didn’t have the speed to contend for the NASCAR Xfinity Series race win and championship on Saturday (Nov. 6) at Phoenix Raceway, but he wound up having a shot at the end, restarting inside the top five.

That’s when the No. 9 slid up and smacked the outside wall in turns 1 and 2. Miraculously, he stayed out and was able to salvage a 12th-place finish, falling short of the championship and finishing third in the overall standings.

Daniel Hemric Wins 1st Race & Xfinity Series Championship

2021 Xfinity Phoenix Daniel Hemric pre-race (Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images via NASCAR Media)

Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images via NASCAR Media

Daniel Hemric tied a NASCAR record by finishing runner-up 10 times in his Xfinity Series career. With two turns left and a championship on the line, he wouldn’t settle for No. 11. Hemric nudged fellow title contender Austin Cindric out of the way, then won a drag race to the line to earn the 2021 …

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4 Burning Questions: Who’s Saying Goodbye After 2021?

2021 Kansas I Cup Ross Chastain Kurt Busch racing NKP

Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

Who will win the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship? John Hunter Nemechek enters Phoenix Raceway with the most wins on the season but as the fourth seed after just barely getting to this round after a late crash at Martinsville Speedway. Nemechek is probably the most aggressive driver of these four and will do …

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Xfinity Breakdown: Daniel Hemric Advances, But Late Caution Thwarts Another Victory

Daniel Hemric Martinsville 2021 Xfinity pack racing NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Austin Cindric and AJ Allmendinger each entered Saturday’s (Oct. 30) NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Martinsville Speedway 47 points above the cutline. Race smart and complete all the laps meant they were likely racing for a championship next weekend. After stage two, both received the notification they were locked in the Championship 4 race at …

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Noah Gragson Wins Martinsville, Clinches Championship 4 Berth

2021 Martinsville Ii Nxs Noah Gragson Woohoo Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Noah Gragson had to win to advance to the Championship 4 Saturday night (Oct. 30) at Martinsville Speedway, and was willing to do anything to win the Dead On Tools 250. After driving and willing his way to the lead, he faced challenges from Daniel Hemric passing him late and battled to retake the lead …

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Xfinity Breakdown: John Hunter Nemechek Upsets Playoff Grid in Texas

2021 Texas Ii Nxs John Hunter Nemechek Victory Lane Logan Riely Getty

(Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)

The Andy’s Frozen Custard 335 at Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday (Oct. 16) produced a new winner for 2021, disappointment for a series journeyman and close racing that has become commonplace on mile-and-a-half tracks in recent years. John Hunter Nemechek stormed to victory through a combination of officiating adversity, tire strategy and a lot of …

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Brandon Brown Scores 1st NASCAR Xfinity Series Win at Talladega

Brandon Brown

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Brandon Brown upset the playoff field, stealing a win in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Talladega Superspeedway in Saturday’s (Oct. 2) Sparks 300. Brown scored his first career victory as the caution came out with 12 laps remaining due to ensuing darkness. While many teams and spotters were proving unable to see well, having the …

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Xfinity Breakdown: Josh Berry Spoils Playoffs With Vegas Victory

Josh Berry poses with his trophy after winning the Sept. 2021 race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Turn the clock back to March, race number four of the 2021 season, and you’ll see Josh Berry finished seventh in the first NASCAR Xfinity Series trip to Las Vegas Motor Speedway. At the time, it tied for his best result in a budding NXS career. In the months leading into Saturday’s (Sept. 25) Alsco …

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Josh Berry Wins Xfinity Alsco 302, JR Motorsports Sweeps Top 3 Spots

Josh Berry celebrates after winning the race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Saturday night (Sept. 25). (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Kaulig Racing has been the hot team in the NASCAR Xfinity Series of late, but JR Motorsports enjoyed a night with Lady Luck as Josh Berry took the victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to win the Alsco Uniforms 302 Saturday (Sept. 25). Justin Allgaier and Noah Gragson finished second and third, respectively, giving three …

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Eyes on Xfinity: Why Every Playoff Driver Can & Can’t Win the Title

2021 Xfinity Daytona II Finish Kaulig Racing 1-2-4, L-R Justin Haley, No. 11 Chevrolet, AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Chevrolet, and Jeb Burton, No. 10 Chevrolet (Credit: NKP)

Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

The time has arrived for the NASCAR Xfinity Series playoffs. This weekend in Las Vegas, the postseason gets underway. Even if there was no title at stake, racing purists of a certain type would be drawn in for one reason, that in the postseason, the field is void of any current NASCAR Cup Series drivers. …

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Frontstretch 5: Feuds That Could Brew Again in NASCAR Playoffs

NASCAR Brad Keselowski Kyle Busch

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

This past weekend’s events at Bristol Motor Speedway brought out the best of moods for spectators and the worst of moods for the drivers. New feuds were born and they all may be something for fans to keep an eye on as these playoffs continue. Chase Elliott and Kevin Harvick’s memorable post-race scrum at Bristol …

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Noah Gragson Grabs Pole for Bristol Xfinity Race

Noah Gragson wearing a hat and sunglasses, holding a water bottle, Bass Pro Shops/Black Rifle Coffee firesuit, Atlanta Motor Speedway, 2021 NASCAR Xfinity, NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The NASCAR Xfinity Series’ regular season finale is Friday night (Sept. 18) at Bristol Motor Speedway. Noah Gragson will wheel his No. 9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet from the pole in Thunder Valley. Gragson is on a two-race win streak, taking the checkered flag at both Darlington Raceway and Richmond Raceway. His JR Motorsports teammate Justin …

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