Race Weekend Central

Up to Speed: Ryan Newman, the Veteran

In November 2000 at Phoenix International Raceway, Ryan Newman made his first start in what is now known as the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.  His engine expired after 176 laps, leading to a 41st-place finish.  Newman was 22 years old when he ran that race. Austin Dillon was eight years old and Kyle Larson …

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The 10: NASCAR Cup Series Power Rankings After Las Vegas

NASCAR headed west this weekend for a little viva Las Vegas. It’s no secret that any title fight worth the price of admission can be found in the neon glow of the Nevada desert. Martin Truex Jr. took on all challengers and delivered a knockout blow; he’s the first to win all three stages in …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not In NASCAR: Sunday Night Is Alright For Fighting

It took a while, but Sunday’s NASCAR race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway gave us the kind of finish we hoped for in what was mostly a calm day at the 1.5-mile track. Things got a little interesting at the end of each of the first two stages when Joey Logano, near the end of …

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Double Take: 17 Years in the Blink of an Eye

Rusty Wallace With Sterling Marlin 2004

(Photo: Sheryl Creekmore/NASCAR)

Seventeen years. That’s how long I’ve been a NASCAR fan. I watched a few races as late as 2000, even lived near Daytona International Speedway for a couple of years in the late 1990s, but only when I moved away did I really start to get into the sport that has grown to consume my life. …

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The 10: NASCAR Cup Series Power Rankings After Atlanta

2017 Atlanta Cup Joey Logano Pack Racing Barry Canrrell Nkp

(Photo: Barry Cantrell / NKP)

Following a wild opening weekend, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series moved to Atlanta Motor Speedway for round two. Daytona seemed to create more questions than it answered and many in the sport looked to Sunday’s race to restore order. The Folds Of Honor QuikTrip 500 did feature many of the usual favorites up front, …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Chase Elliott Formidable Driver, Forgettable In FOX Booth

2017 Atlanta Cup Denny Hamlin Racing Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

With Speedweeks complete, we finally got a good look at the new rules package for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Atlanta.  Admittedly, the result of the new package is very similar to what we had before.  Kevin Harvick kicked butt, but failed to win.  Of course, that’s the Cliffs’ Notes version of the …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Brad Keselowski Overcomes Loose Lug Nuts, Takes Advantage of Others Speeding to Win Atlanta

2017 Atlanta Cup Joey Logano Pack Racing Barry Canrrell Nkp

(Photo: Barry Cantrell / NKP)

Who’s in the headline – For most of the race Sunday, it looked like Kevin Harvick would be the the whole story of the QuikTrip Folds of Honor 500. Unfortunately for him, a pit road speeding penalty on Lap 311 put an end to the storybook day for the 2014 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series …

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Brad Keselowski Wins, Kevin Harvick Speeds in Atlanta

2016 Chicago Cup Brad Keselowski Helmet Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

Brad Keselowski held off Kyle Larson to win Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The win, his 22nd in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, gives Ford a second win to start the 2017 season. “You never know, that’s how these races are,” Keselowski said. “We had a lot of adversity …

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Chase Elliott Leads Final Cup Atlanta Practice

2017 Atlanta Chase Elliott Cup Zach Catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

What better place to be leading the charts than your home track? Georgia native Chase Elliott led the way in final Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice at Atlanta Motor Speedway with a lap time of 29.487 seconds [188.015 mph]. The Hendrick Motorsports driver, who starts 11th in Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500, enters …

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Did You Notice? … Chase Elliott Chasing Unrealistic Expectations

2016 Loudon I Cup Chase Elliott Jimmie Johnson Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Did You Notice? … Chase Elliott’s bitter pill to swallow after losing the Daytona 500? Elliott, whose dry gas tank cost him the lead with three laps remaining, dropped from first to 14th at the finish. Leaving without an interview from a reporter, he issued a brief statement through Hendrick Motorsports and Chevrolet saying the end was “disappointing.” …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not: NASCAR Wreck It Ralph (and Almost Everybody Else) Edition

2016 Daytona Ii Cup Kurt Busch John Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John Harrelson/NKP)

The season-opening Daytona 500 gave NASCAR fans a little bit everything. There was that last-lap pass for the lead, which is beginning to become a trademark for the Great American Race. There were plenty of battles for the lead and for positions throughout and a lot less riding around waiting for the end of the …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: FOX Deals with New Rules, Constant Wrecking

2017 Daytona I Nxs Airplane Russell Labounty Nkp

Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP

Finally, the season is underway.  Sadly, the three races last weekend ended up being the wreckfests that I feared.  The damaged vehicle policy created a real mess as teams weren’t allowed to fully fix their cars.  As far as I’m concerned, having that policy goes against the whole idea of getting drivers to race harder.  …

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