Race Weekend Central

The Underdog House: Which Small Sprint Cup Team Blew Us Away At Chicago?

2016 Chicago Cup Landon Cassill Joey Gase Racing Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

Think Small. That’s the motto for this column as I take a larger look at the teams still trying to make a name for themselves in the Cup Series despite fewer resources and a far more difficult mountain to climb. Writer’s Note: What follows is another fresh look for this column, one I expect to stick with.  There are …

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Ty Dillon Subbing For Regan Smith at Chicagoland

2016 Kentucky Cup Ty Dillon Logan Whitton Nkp

(Photo: Logan Whitton / NKP)

With Regan Smith at home in North Carolina, anticipating the birth of his second child, NASCAR XFINITY Series regular Ty Dillon has been tapped to sub. Dillon will slide behind the wheel of Tommy Baldwin Racing’s No. 7 Chevrolet in today’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. The team announced the news on social media Sunday …

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Death Wish Coffee to Sponsor Ty Dillon at Dover

Richard Childress Racing announced on Wednesday that they reached a deal that will see Death Wish Coffee, a Round Lake, N.Y.-based brand of coffee, serve as the primary sponsor of the No. 95 Chevrolet of Ty Dillon that will run under the banner of Circle Sport-Leavine Family Racing at Dover in October.  Death Wish Coffee is a …

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2-Headed Monster- Does Ty Dillon Deserve a Full-Time Cup Ride?

Ty Dillon

Photo: Zach Catanzareti

“I’m ready to make that step (into the Sprint Cup Series). I feel confident as a driver that I can go and compete inside the top 10, top 15 in the Sprint Cup Series if I get a full-time gig.” Those words were spoken by Ty Dillon prior to the XFINITY Series Food City 300 …

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Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin Among Teams Warned After Bristol Violations

2016 Pocono Cup Kyle Busch Zach Catanzareti

Photo: Zach Catanzareti

With the recent laser inspection issues the past few weeks, NASCAR has yet again handed down multiple infractions to teams across the Sprint Cup and XFINITY series. Wednesday’s penalty listing for the Sprint Cup Series included a first warning issued to Denny Hamlin‘s Joe Gibbs Racing team, along with teammate Kyle Busch‘s fourth written warning …

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Matt Kenseth Docked 15 Points Following Loudon Win

2016 Loudon I Cup Mattkneseth Woohoo Matthew T Thacker Nkp

The race-winning team from Loudon was penalized following post-race inspection. Matt Kenseth’s No. 20 team was docked 15 points and crew chief Jason Ratcliff was fined $25,000 for failing laser inspection following the New Hampshire 301. Multiple teams were warned for failing pre-qualifying inspection. The No. 1 of Jamie McMurray, No. 3 of Austin Dillon, …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: NASCAR TV Creates Dale Jr. Sub Narrative

Sometimes, you have to sit back and think about things.  Today’s critique marks the 600th combined TV critique for Frontstretch between Couch Potato Tuesday (and its former title, Talking NASCAR TV) and The Critic’s Annex.  Where does the time go?  Crikey. New Hampshire Motor Speedway hosted a Joe Gibbs Racing benefit last week.  It says …

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Pace Laps: Weighing Martin Truex, Jr.’s Positives and Ty Dillon, Alex Bowman Duel at Loudon

2016 New Hampshire Motor Speedway Martin Truex Jr. Photo Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Sprint Cup: Positives over Negatives for Truex, Jr. The end of the day at New Hampshire Motor Speedway saw yet another disappointed what-could-have-been result for Martin Truex, Jr. The driver who has become known for missing out on race wins in his career – even with some of the fastest equipment in the field – …

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XFINITY Breakdown: Kyle Busch Crushes the Field Again

Priority

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker / NKP)

Kyle Busch’s Saturday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway was all about the numbers.  He started at the front of the field in position number one.  He led 190 of 200 laps, and even cleared 17,000 laps led in his XFINITY career.  A series of pit stops for two tires kept him at the top of …

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Alex Bowman Not Worried About Ty Dillon Controversy

2016 Kentucky Cup Ty Dillon Helmet Logan Whitton Nkp

(Photo: Logan Whitton/NKP)

On Lap 77 of the XFINITY Series race, Alex Bowman lost control of his racecar exiting turn 2, coming down the track and spinning Ty Dillon into the outside fence, ultimately sending the No. 3 car to the garage. In Dillon’s TV interview, he exposed his displeasure of racing against Bowman, who is filling in for …

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The Underdog House: Tracking NASCAR’s Small Teams from Kentucky to New Hampshire

2016 Pocono I Cup Ty Dillon Car Anthony Lumbis Sr.

(Photo: Tony Lumbis Sr.)

So… what makes a small team? Yep, I addressed this last week, but again, we’ll give it one more time for those race fans who missed the last edition. I’m frequently asked how I categorize NASCAR’s teams, and I’m sure lots of people have a different definition, but I look at a couple of things …

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