Race Weekend Central

Frontstretch 2-Minute Drill: EchoPark Texas Grand Prix at COTA

2021 Cota Cup Tyler Reddick Practice Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Nearly 3.5 miles and 20 turns await the NASCAR Cup Series on Sunday (May 23) at Circuit of the Americas in Austin. So, too, does a decent chance of rain, which hovers around 40-50% for the duration of the EchoPark Texas Grand Prix. Sunday marks the first time NASCAR’s premier touring series has visited the …

Read more

Tyler Reddick Claims First Career Cup Pole at COTA

2021 Cota Cup Tyler Reddick Pole Winner Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

For just the second time this season, qualifying returned to a NASCAR Cup Series race weekend…this time at Circuit of the Americas. With the series’ debut at the track in the EchoPark Texas Grand Prix just hours away on Sunday (May 23), Tyler Reddick led the way after finishing eighth in Saturday’s Xfinity Series race …

Read more

Xfinity Breakdown: Unable to Be Wrangled, Kyle Busch Dominates COTA

2021 Xfinity COTA Kyle Busch, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (Credit: NKP)

Kyle Busch on track at COTA (Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The inaugural NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Circuit of the Americas started with Kyle Busch leading the field to green. Many have grown accustomed to Busch’s ability to smack the field with his performance, and in Saturday’s Pit Boss 250 at COTA, Rowdy didn’t hold back. Not only did Busch lead 35 of 46 laps, …

Read more

NASCAR 101: Analyzing the Circuit of the Americas With Tyler Reddick

Kyle Busch at COTA

(Photo: Speedway Motorsports, CMS & Harold Hinson Photography)

After opening in Oct. 21, 2012, Circuit of the Americas, or COTA, adds to its motorsports history when it hosts its inaugural NASCAR race weekend May 22-23, 2021. As the third-largest track on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule, trailing the 4.048-mile Road America road course and Daytona International Speedway’s 3.61-mile road course layout, the 3.41-mile, …

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

William Byron’s No. 24 Among 4 Cup Teams Penalized After Dover

William Byron with crew chief Rudy Fugle before 2021 Daytona Road course Cup event Photo NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Four NASCAR Cup Series crew chiefs have been given monetary fines following the post-race inspections for the Drydene 400 at Dover International Speedway last weekend, May 16. The crew chiefs of the Nos. 24, 8, 17, and 37 of William Byron, Tyler Reddick, Chris Buescher and Ryan Preece, respectively, were each forced to pay a …

Read more

5 Points to Ponder: The Road Ahead

Chase Elliott practices at COTA

March 2, 2021: Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski and Martin Truex Jr at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, TX. ( +CMS-HHP-Harold Hinson)

1. The “Road” Ahead For the second half of the 2021 regular season, the Cup Series regulars face an eclectic mix of tracks, including a doubleheader at Pocono Raceway (the only two-fer of this year), a brand new circuit in Nashville, and, count ’em, five road courses. Of the quintet, three road courses are new …

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

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Goodyear 400 at Darlington

Martin Truex Jr. celebrates in victory lane with trophy after Goodyear 400 throwback Darlington weekend 2021 spring Cup Chris Graythen/Getty

(Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images via NASCAR Media)

What happened? Martin Truex Jr. won the Goodyear 400 at Darlington on Sunday (May 9) after leading 248 of 293 laps for his third win of the 2021 season. Kyle Larson, Kyle Busch, William Byron and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top-five finishers at NASCAR’s Throwback Weekend. One of the best burner-outers in the game …

Read more

Up to Speed: Don’t Count Richard Childress Racing Out of the Playoff Picture

Richard Childress and Austin Dillon together during a NASCAR Xfinity Series race in New Hampshire (Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

In the spirit of NASCAR’s throwback weekend at Darlington Raceway, think back to the 2017 season. It’s the last time Richard Childress Racing put multiple cars in the Cup Series playoffs. Can they do it again in 2021? Back then, both drivers punched their tickets to the postseason with victories.  Veteran Ryan Newman stole a …

Read more

NASCAR 101: The 5 Best — & 5 Worst — Throwback Paint Schemes

2020 Darlington III fall Reed Sorensen throwback car NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

It’s throwback weekend at Darlington Raceway. The concept seems to be starting to wear out just a bit. In fact, the vast majority of Cup throwbacks this year are either bad or just average. All of the truly great NASCAR schemes have been done to death, and very few sponsors want to actually throwback to …

Read more

Frontstretch Podcast: Tyler Reddick Talks Playoff Chase, Fatherhood; Darlington Throwback Preview with Steve Waid

Tyler Reddick stands next to his car at 2021 spring Kansas Cup race NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

In his second full-time season at the Cup Series level, Tyler Reddick is getting comfortable with Richard Childress Racing as he hunts for a playoff spot. He joins Davey Segal on the podcast this week to discuss his season to date, hunting for a playoff spot and how the Chevrolet engine program has improved with …

Read more