Race Weekend Central

Frontstretch Podcast: What’s New is Old

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker / NKP)

In the latest episode of the 2018 Frontstretch Podcast, we do a full Daytona 500 review with Dustin Albino, Mike Neff and Zach Catanzareti, while also previewing the weekend ahead at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The trio gives an in-depth look at how Austin Dillon claimed the Great American Race, while also discussing the significance of Darrell Wallace Jr. running well …

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Did You Notice?: The New Dale Earnhardt, Debunking NASCAR’s Decline

2018 Daytona Cup Daytona 500 Zach Catanzareti Austin Dillon

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Did You Notice? … The way fans reacted to Austin Dillon’s last-lap punt of Aric Almirola to win the Daytona 500? I ran a poll after the race on Twitter and 67 percent of fans surveyed thought Dillon was over the line. It didn’t matter what Almirola said after the fact (he doesn’t blame Dillon at …

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The Frontstretch 5: Things We Know After Daytona

2017 Richmond Ii Cup Dale Earnhardt Jr Aric Almirola Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

1. Aric Almirola is an excellent plate racer This fact isn’t news to those who have been paying attention to the new driver of the No. 10. But for so many, Daytona was the first time Almirola made an appearance on the radar. Remember, Almirola’s only Cup win to date came at Daytona in 2014. …

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The 10: Cup Series Power Rankings after Daytona

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Daytona 500 Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fl Usa Sunday 18 February 2018 Ryan Blaney, Team Penske, Menards/peak Ford Fusion And Paul Menard, Wood Brothers Racing, Omnicraft Auto Parts Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford Fusion World Copyright: Rusty Jarrett Nkp

(Photo: Rusty Jarrett/NKP)

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series was in Daytona this weekend for the 60th running for the Daytona 500. As the sun rose Sunday morning, it ushered in the 2018 season with one of the most anticipated Great American Races in recent memory. The field was filled with a good mix of young drivers challenging …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Daytona Serves as a FOX Showcase

2018 Chevrolet Daytona Xfinity Zach Catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Last weekend in Daytona was quite ridiculous.  Lots of on-track action and lots of wrecking.  That said, my guess is that a lot of my readers were up and down on the broadcasts themselves. Daytona 500 We can’t start off the column without talking about the overnight ratings for the race.  Quite simply, they stink.  …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in NASCAR: Legacies Continue

2016 Xfinity Homestead Miami Speedway Austin Dillon Zach Catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

That was some ending. Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney dominated the race, but on the final lap of the 2018 Daytona 500, in overtime, Richard Childress Racing driver Austin Dillon spun Aric Almirola out of the lead to take the second victory of his career in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. He was followed by …

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Austin Dillon and Team Celebrate with Tattoos After Daytona 500 Win

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Daytona 500 Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fl Usa Sunday 11 February 2018 Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing, Dow Chevrolet Camaro World Copyright: Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

After winning the biggest race of his life on Sunday, Austin Dillon and his team decided to celebrate the Daytona 500 win in a unique way by getting tattoos on their backsides.  According to Dillon, his tattoo includes the Daytona 500 logo with the word “champ” below it. “You’ll never be able to see it,” …

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20 Years After Dale Earnhardt Sr., Austin Dillon Wins 2018 Daytona 500

Austin Dillon Burnout 2018 Daytona 500 Bruce Nuttleman Fs

(Photo: Bruce Nuttleman)

“20 years of effort. 20 years of trying.” Indeed, 20 years after Dale Earnhardt’s Daytona 500 win, owner Richard Childress and grandson Austin Dillon made history once again in the No. 3 car. Dillon surged into the lead on the final lap at Daytona International Speedway, turning Aric Almirola on the backstretch to surge into …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2018 Daytona 500

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker / NKP)

Who’s in the headline The clash on Sunday last week had the world abuzz with how uneventful the racing would be at Daytona for the 500. Apparently, someone forgot to tell the drivers. 24 lead changes, seven caution flags for on-track incidents, 14 leaders and the three winningest car numbers in the sport on the …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2018 Daytona 500

2018 Daytona Cup Daytona 500 Zach Catanzareti Denny Hamlin Darrell Wallace Jr.

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? Before a multi-car pileup with a lap remaining, there were a couple of cars in the top 10, sometimes the top five, that fans don’t see there very often.  Matt DiBenedetto, driving for tiny Go FAS Racing, and Brendan Gaughan, driving for part-time owner Mark Beard, were looking …

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Up to Speed: Wild & Young Racers Steal the Show at Daytona

2018 Daytona Cup Zach Catanzareti Erik Jones

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

If the Daytona 500 is any indication, the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup season could be one of the wildest in years. Granted, making any predictions about an entire season based only on the first race is a dangerous game.  The Daytona 500 is unlike any other race on the NASCAR schedule, and restrictor plate …

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Daniel Hemric Nabs Daytona XFINITY Pole

Nascar Xfinity Series

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker / NKP)

Daniel Hemric laid down a blistering lap to win the NASCAR Daytona XFINITY Series pole. He’ll lead the way in the PowerShares QQQ 300 at Daytona International Speedway Saturday afternoon (Feb. 17). Hemric swept both rounds of qualifying after being the fastest car in final practice. The No. 21 Chevrolet was the only car to …

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