Race Weekend Central

Kyle Busch Slays Field for 2nd Kentucky Win

Kyle Busch

Photo: Zach Catanzareti

By how fast Kyle Busch drove in Friday’s Alsco 300, it’s quite the surprise that it’s his first victory at Kentucky Speedway in 12 years. Leading 185 of 201 laps, Busch – outside of a constant threat by teammate Erik Jones – had the field covered en route to his 81st XFINITY Series win and …

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Double Take: No Video Game Cover Jinx for NASCAR Stars

2016 Dover I Cup Carl Edwards Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Garrison Hearst. Dorsey Levens. Daunte Culpepper. Michael Vick. Troy Polamalu. No, these aren’t obscure drivers from NASCAR’s past. They’re all football players, one-time superstars of the NFL who were chosen at one point to be the cover athlete of EA Sports’ Madden video game franchise. And they all saw their careers go south following the honor. …

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Iowa Winner Sam Hornish, Jr. Among Teams Penalized by NASCAR

2016 Iowa Speedway Nxs Sam Hornish Jr. Burnout Photo Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Another race winner was hit with a penalty by NASCAR on Wednesday. Sam Hornish, Jr.’s No. 18 XFINITY Series team was among six penalized for having modified body panels. The issue was caught in post-race inspection. The No. 1 team of Elliott Sadler, No. 7 team of Justin Allgaier, No. 20 team of Erik Jones, …

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Hidden Talent: Chase Format Highlights XFINITY Series Woes

2016 Michigan International Speedway Nxs Alex Bowman Erik Jones Field Photo Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

For the 14th time in 2016, the NASCAR XFINITY Series paddock roared to life for a race on Sunday at Iowa Speedway. For the 10th time, that race ended without a series regular in Victory Lane. Sure, Iowa was a little different tale than the usual – Sam Hornish, Jr. earned a redemptive victory in …

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Ben Kennedy Sweeps XFINITY Series Practices in Iowa

2016 Camping World Truck Kansas

(Photo: Russell LaBounty / NKP)

Joe Gibbs Racing has made the competition elevate its performance, wining eight races in the XFINITY Series in 2016. In the first practice session at Iowa Speedway, it was Ben Kennedy who had the edge over the JGR train of drivers, with a late lap of 132.448 mph, over a tenth of a second quicker than second …

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Joe Gibbs Racing Sweeps XFINITY Series Practice Sessions at Pocono

2016 Atlanta Nxs Kyle Busch Car Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty NKP)

For the first time in XFINITY Series history, race cars logged laps on Pocono Raceway. Joe Gibbs Racing led the way, topping the charts in both practice sessions on Thursday. Practice One:  Defending Sprint Cup champion Kyle Busch led the opening practice at 170.171 mph, over a tenth of a second faster than his closest competition, …

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Eyes on XFINITY: JR Motorsports on the Rise?

2016 Phoenix I Nxs Eliott Sadler Racing Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

In recent weeks, a stronger sense of parity appears to be emerging in the XFINITY Series. Thanks to Kyle Busch spending a few weeks away from NASCAR’s second-tier division, some new faces have had the opportunity to reach victory lane.  Erik Jones has notched two wins in the last five races, one of which came …

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XFINITY Breakdown: Sadler Snaps Two-Year Drought at Talladega

2016 Elliott Sadler Woohoo Talladega Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Elliott Sadler had a very happy birthday on Saturday.  After going winless in the XFINITY Series for the last two years, Sadler claimed a victory at Talladega Superspeedway in the Sparks Energy 300.  It is Sadler’s second NXS win at Talladega, one he earned after making two impressive saves on the final lap and hanging …

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Elliott Sadler Wins In Wild Talladega Finish

2016 Elliott Sadler Woohoo Talladega Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

It took a wild finish, a big crash and a long review, but Elliott Sadler finally returned victory lane. Not bad a bad way to celebrate a 41st birthday. Sadler got the better end of a late-race crash with Joey Logano and benefitted from the caution flag coming out before being passed by Brennan Poole to …

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2-Headed Monster: Heat Races … Are They Worth It?

2016 Richmond I Nxs Erik Jones Car Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russel LaBounty/NKP)

NASCAR is in the midst of a brand-new experiment this season: heat races in the XFINITY Series. NASCAR has used heat races before in the Camping World Truck Series at Eldora, using multiple races to set the starting lineup for the main event, but until 2016 the NXS ran full-length events, lap one to lap …

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Eyes on XFINITY: Has Elliott Sadler Finally Found the Right Team?

Elliott Sadler

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Believe it or not, Elliott Sadler has not won an XFINITY race in two years.  The site of that last victory is Talladega Superspeedway, where the NXS drivers will race this weekend.  Sadler will be one of many drivers hoping to take advantage of the opportunity that restrictor plate racing brings for surprise winners.  While it would …

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Inside Texas Motor Speedway’s Parity Streak

2014 Texas Ii Cup Jimmie Johnson Guns Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2014)

If you could sum up all of the changes that NASCAR has made to the cars, the series, the rules in the last 15 years in one word, it would be parity. It’s no fun to see one driver dominate the win column like Jeff Gordon did in the 1990s. It’s no fun to see …

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