Race Weekend Central

5 Points to Ponder: Who Will Be NASCAR’s Fantastic Fourth?

2017 Kansas Ii Cup Denny Hamlin Kyle Larson Racing Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

ONE: Who can challenge NASCAR’s big three? Conventional wisdom — and dominant form on track — suggests Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. will be three of the four drivers that compete for a championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 18, 2018. Of course, plenty can happen in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Martin Truex Jr. Rides Clean Air to Pocono Victory

2018 Pocono Cup Zach Catanzareti Martin Truex Jr.

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Who’s in the headline Martin Truex Jr. started the Pocono 400 by winning the first stage and ended it with a trip to Victory Lane. After a strong early performance, the jack falling on a pit stop left him 14th and it took most of the race to work back through traffic. Truex’s misfortune, combined with a …

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Denny Hamlin, Alex Bowman’s Days Unravel Due to Late Crash

2018 Las Vegas I Cup Alex Bowman Face Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin and Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman both had good runs going Sunday (June 3) at Pocono Raceway.  The two drivers were battling for 11th with 14 laps to go in the Pocono 400 when Hamlin appeared to clip the apron in Turn 1.  As a result, Hamlin got loose and washed …

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4 Burning Question: What Is the Future of Engines in NASCAR?

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Ticketguardian 500 Ism Raceway, Phoenix, Az Usa Sunday 11 March 2018 Kurt Busch, Stewart Haas Racing, Ford Fusion Mobil 1/haas Automation And Brad Keselowski, Team Penske, Ford Fusion Alliance Truck Parts World Copyright: Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

What is the future of engines in NASCAR? This past week, Brad Keselowski suggested in a column on NASCAR.com that the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series should implement what’s essentially a hybrid engine, using an electronic component similar to Formula 1’s KERS system. The KERS system, in layman’s terms, gives the engine a short speed …

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Tech Talk: Mike Wheeler Talks Suspension, Brakes & Shifting for Pocono

Martinsville Cup Mike Wheeler 2018 Mike Neff

Crew chief Mike Wheeler on the No. 11 box

After the longest race of the season, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series prepares to head to one of the four longest ovals on the schedule. The triangle-shaped Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa., offers very unique challenges for the teams and crew chiefs. Mike Wheeler is preparing the No. 11 for Denny Hamlin to …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR FanDuel Forecast: Pocono 400

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Folds Of Honor Quik Trip 500 Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, Ga Usa Friday 23 February 2018 Ryan Blaney, Team Penske, Dex Imaging Ford Fusion World Copyright: Nigel Kinrade Nkp

Ryan Blaney (Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

NASCAR heads to Pocono Raceway this weekend for the Pocono 400. Sunday’s race is the first of two Tricky Triangle races on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series schedule. FanDuel debuted its new daily fantasy NASCAR contest at Talladega Superspeedway a few weeks ago and it will continue throughout the 2018 season. Sign up here …

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Denny Hamlin Paces Single NASCAR Cup Practice Session Thursday at Charlotte

2018 Charlotte I Cup Denny Hamlin Car Amy Henderson

Denny Hamlin is a solid pick this weekend (Photo: Amy Henderson)

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series held a single practice Friday at Charlotte Motor Speedway ahead of Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600. Denny Hamlin led the pack with a top speed of 190.134 mph, the only driver to top the 190 mark. Most teams made mock qualifying runs to set up for tonight’s time trials. Ryan Blaney …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR FanDuel Forecast: Coca-Cola 600

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

NASCAR heads to Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend for the Coca-Cola 600. Sunday night’s race (May 27) is the longest and one of the most prestigious on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series schedule. FanDuel debuted its new daily fantasy NASCAR contest at Talladega Superspeedway a few weeks ago and it will continue on throughout …

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Beyond the Cockpit: Joe Gibbs ‘Can’t See Myself Doing Something Else’

2016 Xfinity Charlotte

(Photo: John Harrelson / NKP)

He’s a three-time Super Bowl-winning head coach. He’s a four-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship-winning car owner. Oh, and he also has two XFINITY Series titles. Legendary car owner Joe Gibbs loves what he does. He thrives off the family environment he created at Joe Gibbs Racing, and for this 77-year-old, there is no …

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The 10: Cup Series Power Rankings After the All-Star Race

#47: A.j. Allmendinger, Jtg Daugherty Racing, Chevrolet Camaro Kroger Clicklist, #22: Joey Logano, Team Penske, Ford Fusion Shell Pennzoil Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series ran its All-Star race on Saturday. Kevin Harvick has been the most dominant driver this season and kept that momentum going into the All-Star race by winning three of the four stages, including the final one to earn the victory. The annual exhibition race gave drivers a chance to …

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Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in NASCAR: Dust In The Wind

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Pennzoil 400 Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, Nv Usa Friday 2 March 2018 Ryan Blaney, Team Penske, Ford Fusion Menards / Pennzoil World Copyright: Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series regular season is basically halfway over, as Saturday night’s KC Masterpiece 400 at Kansas Speedway was the 12th of 26 races before the playoffs. At any rate, the 2018 season is one-third complete, with the score by manufacturers sitting at Ford 7, Toyota 4, Chevy 1. Just before the …

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Up to Speed: A Surprising List of Winless Drivers in 2018

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Pennzoil 400 Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, Nv Usa Friday 2 March 2018 Brad Keselowski, Team Penske, Ford Fusion Discount Tire World Copyright: Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

Last year’s spring race at Dover International Speedway remains the most recent victory for Jimmie Johnson.  The No. 48 team reeled off three wins early in 2017 but struggled to run up front for the rest of the season.  Given Johnson’s past record of success, it is surprising that he has not found the path …

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