Race Weekend Central

Alex Bowman Wins 1st Cup Pole at Phoenix

Alex Bowman Bank Of America 500 2015 Charlotte Cup Mike Neff

(Photo Credit: Mike Neff, Frontstretch)

After announcing Friday morning that he didn’t know what 2017 had in store, Alex Bowman posted the top speed in qualifying (140.521 mph) at Phoenix International Raceway to win his first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pole. Bowman was among the top seven in all  three rounds of qualifying. His previous career-best start came last month …

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Entry List: AAA Texas 500 Puts Alex Bowman Back In No. 88

2016 Chicago Cup Kyle Larson Alex Bowman Racing Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competes at Texas Motor Speedway for the second time this season Sunday, running their second race in the Chase Round of 8. Just two races remain before that field gets cut to the Championship 4 that will compete in a winner-take-all race for the title at Homestead-Miami Speedway. 41 drivers …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not: NASCAR’s Kansas Clutch Edition

2016 Kansas Ii Cup Kevin Harvick Confetti Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

When you think about how a clutch works for a vehicle, when a driver pushes it down, while at the same time shifting gears and accelerating, most of the time it means it’s go time. That’s the case at this point in the season for the Sprint Cup Series. It’s go time and the teams …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Chris Buescher Impresses In Broadcast Debut

2016 Chicago Cup Chris Buescher Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Last weekend, we had three interesting races at Kansas Speedway.  They were different races, but each had their charms.  We also had three approaches to these races. Before we get going, FOX Sports announced a new online offering last Thursday.  Danielle Trotta and Kaitlyn Vincie will host a new digital show, Off Track, that will …

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4 Burning Questions: Is Kansas a Question-Mark Track in Its Own Right?

2016 Kansas Denny Hamlin Crash Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Kansas: Getting in Good Position for Talladega or a Question Mark in Its Own Right? As shown last week at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, just about any race in each round of the Chase can become the survivor race. Knowing that, will this weekend’s race at Kansas Speedway simply be a platform …

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Entry List: Alex Bowman Continues to Fill In for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the Hollywood Casino 400

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to Kansas Speedway for the second time this season as the Round of 12 in the Chase for the Sprint Cup continues. As of Tuesday, there are 40 cars entered, meaning all will make the field, barring any entry list updates. Joey Gase will pilot the No. 32 for …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Messy Weather, Messy NBC NASCAR Coverage

2016 Nascar Charlotte

(Photo: Russell LaBounty / NKP)

Last weekend was a mess for NBC Sports and NASCAR in general.  Both races scheduled for last weekend were postponed due to rains from Hurricane Matthew.  Friday was a complete washout with heavy rains, while Saturday saw the race called early enough that some were openly wondering why.  However, drizzle continued well into the night …

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Alex Bowman: ‘I’m Not Going to Let the Pressure Kill Me’

2016 Loudon I Cup Alex Bowman Jamiemcmurray Racing Russelllabounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty / NKP)

Just a few months ago, Alex Bowman would’ve slapped himself silly if he said he was going to be “a little frustrated” by qualifying second in a Sprint Cup Series race for Hendrick Motorsports. However, both on the track and off, the racer in ‘Bowman the Showman’ came out during Thursday night’s qualifying session at …

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4 Burning Questions: Will Tony Stewart’s Chase End in Dover?

2013 Dover Cup Tony Stewart Trophy Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Will Tony Stewart’s Chase End in Dover? Tony Stewart has been a tough driver to put an expectation sticker on in regards to this year’s Chase for the Sprint Cup. He’s like that piece of laundry you don’t know whether is a dark or a light. Where do you put it? Sitting 11 points below …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2016 Bad Boy Off Road 300

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? It’s never easy to drive in a fill-in role.  Four-time champion Jeff Gordon can attest to that after a stint filling in for former Hendrick Motorsports teammate Dale Earnhardt, Jr.  With the Chase underway, teams outside the championship picture rarely get much airtime. But over the last couple …

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Aric Almirola, Greg Biffle Hit with P3 Penalties for Lugnuts

Aric Almirola Indianapolis 2016 Cup Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

NASCAR’s weekly penalty report was delayed on Wednesday (Sept. 21) after the decision to hold an impromptu teleconference with less than a half- hour’s notice to announce changes to post-race inspection penalties.  Despite that, there were still a number of teams to be penalized. Aric Almirola and Greg Biffle‘s cars were found to have loose …

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