Race Weekend Central

The Underdog House: Small NASCAR Teams Finding Relief – Sort of – Approaching Daytona 500

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Daytona 500 Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fl Usa Sunday 11 February 2018 Matt Dibenedetto, Go Fas Racing, The Hurricane Heist Ford Fusion World Copyright: Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Think Small While most of the sport’s television time goes directly toward big teams with great speed and large personalities — and rightfully so, to an extent — Sunday’s 60th running of the Daytona 500 will have a heavy populous of tiny organizations. Many of these small NASCAR teams, despite being huge underdogs can actually …

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The Underdog House: Small NASCAR Teams Still Fighting Hard

2017 Kansas I Cup Aric Almirola Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty / NKP)

Think Small With just one race to go in 2017, it’s been a mixed bag of a season for the sport’s smaller teams.  Furniture Row Racing has set the gold standard for them. It’s taken a one-car, outsider organization to the top echelon of NASCAR’s elite teams within five years. That’s a model others can …

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Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Entry List: Can-Am 500

2017 Kansas Ii Cup Kyle Busch John K Harrelson Nkp

(Photo: John K. Harrelson/NKP)

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series heads west this weekend to Phoenix International Raceway for the 30th annual Can-Am 500. It’s an elimination race in the Round of 8 as this event sets the Championship 4 for Homestead-Miami Speedway. Coming off last weekend’s late-race pass of Martin Truex Jr. at Texas Motor Speedway, Kevin Harvick has …

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The Underdog House: Surviving NASCAR Talladega… Sort Of

2017 Talladega Ii Cup Michael Mcdowell Brad Keselowski Racing Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

Think Small One thing that struck me when I first started in NASCAR was that if you spent enough time looking, you could see fans at a race who supported every driver in the field.  T-shirts, hats, and bumper stickers were among the ways they proclaimed their loyalty. Fast forward a couple of decades, and …

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Entry List: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Alabama 500

2017 Talladega I Cup Ryan Blaney Pack Racing Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

One race down, two to go in the Round of 12 for the NASCAR Playoffs. This weekend, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series heads from Charlotte Motor Speedway to the behemoth of Talladega Superspeedway for the 49th annual Alabama 500. There are 40 cars on the preliminary entry list, meaning the field will be at full …

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Entry List: Chevrolet Silverado 250

2016 Camping World Truck Mosport

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

While the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR XFINITY Series are at Darlington Raceway, the Camping World Truck Series will have a standalone event north of the border. The CWTS stars will head to Canadian Tire Motorsports Park for the Chevrolet Silverado 250 on Sunday, Sept. 3. 33 trucks were originally entered attempt to qualify …

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NASCAR 101: International Racers in 2017

2017 Fontana Cup Daniel Suarez Rusty Jarrett Nkp

(Photo: Rusty Jarrett/NKP)

NASCAR is looking for some international flavor, and its diversity program is attempting to sway the sport in a direction similar to the Verizon IndyCar Series. International stock car drivers are rare, and ones with the funding to bring them to America to race in one of NASCAR’s top three series is a feat that’s …

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Entry List: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero 400

Elliott Leads Daytona 500

(Photo: Barry Cantrell/NKP)

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series returns to Daytona this weekend for the Coke Zero 400. The entry list for the race has been released and there’s a number of notable changes after the road course event at Sonoma last weekend. A full field of 40 cars will contest the 160-lap, 400-mile race that’ll be broadcast …

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The Underdog House: NASCAR About to Get Silly?

2017 Kansas I Cup Michael Mcdowell Car Barry Cantrell Nkp

(Photo: Barry Cantrell/NKP)

Think Small Track surfaces aren’t the inly thing heating up as summertime hits full swing.  NASCAR’s Silly Season is coming, and while so far, it’s been confined to rumblings and rumors, there’s potential for things to blow up.  While most of the speculation concerns the bigger teams in the sport, including who will fill the …

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Premium Motorsports Tabs D.J. Kennington for Daytona International Speedway

2017 Daytona Cup Zach Catanzareti Dj Kennington

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Canadian D.J. Kennington is going south of the border again to drive in the the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. But this time, it’ll be with a different team after attempting the first two restrictor plate events with Gaunt Brothers Racing. Next month, he’ll run the No. 15 for Premium Motorsports at Daytona International Speedway. …

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The Underdog House: Small Teams Thriving and Surviving in Daytona

2017 Daytona Cup Zach Catanzareti Joey Gase Bk Racing Corey Lajoie

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Think Small Well, Daytona is in the rearview mirror. Depending on who you ask, that’s either a real bummer or can’t come too soon, depending on how the race went. The thing about plate tracks is that they’re such an opportunity for teams to compete—if they’re lucky and avoid trouble.  They can also become exercises …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2017 Can-Am Duels at Daytona

Denny Hamlin Checkered Flag Daytona Cup 2017 Mike Neff

Who’s in the headline – With all but two positions filled for the Daytona 500, the Can-Am Duels are more about who races their way in rather than who wins. Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin won the Duels, but the story was Corey LaJoie and DJ Kennington racing their way into the Great American Race. …

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