Race Weekend Central

The 10: NASCAR Cup Series Power Rankings After Bristol

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Ticketguardian 500 Ism Raceway, Phoenix, Az Usa Friday 9 March 2018 Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Camry Skittles Sweet Heat World Copyright: Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series made its first stop in “Thunder Valley” for the Food City 500 on Sunday. The race began as the threat of rain continued to loom, and precipitation interfered with the race three times on Sunday, creating what looked like a long day at the Bristol Motor Speedway. After a …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2018 Food City 500

2018 Las Vegas I Cup Darrell Wallace Jr Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Who…gets my shoutout of the race? Still don’t think Darrell Wallace Jr. is the real deal?  Were you watching Monday? Wallace’s 16th-place finish is absolutely not indicative of the day he had, at one point powering his No. 43 past the likes of Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski. That put him up front where he …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR DraftKings Forecast: Food City 500

2018 Kevin Harvick Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

Kevin Harvick (Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

NASCAR heads to Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend for Sunday’s Food City 500. The half-mile track is one of the toughest on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series schedule. The factors that go into building a winning fantasy team at a short track are much different than those at an intermediate or superspeedway. First off, …

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Did You Notice?: A Monster Move For NASCAR Sponsorship

2018 Daytona Cup Zach Catanzareti Kurt Busch Monster Energy

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Did You Notice? … Monster Energy could be the last title sponsor in NASCAR Cup Series history? Tuesday’s one-year extension, through 2019 was huge for a sport that has been hemorrhaging corporate sponsorship at the team level. Adding Monster for one more year after months of indecision finally gives them some financial news to boast about. …

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5 Points To Ponder: Joey Logano’s Comeback Year?

2018 Las Vegas I Cup Joey Logano Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

ONE: Mario Andretti, A True Racing Legend On the Thursday prior to last weekend’s second race of the season at ISM Raceway, the IndyCar community celebrated: “A Night To Remember.” It was the 25th anniversary of racing great Mario Andretti’s final IndyCar victory. Now 78 years old (his last win came at age 53) one of …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Kyle Busch Triumphs In Texas For First 2018 Win

2018 Kyle Busch Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who’s in the headline After three seconds and a third in the last four Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races, Kyle Busch finally put it all together Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway. Holding off a hard-charging Kevin Harvick down the stretch, Busch became the fifth MENCS winner of 2018 in the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500. …

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The Big 6: Questions After the 2018 O’Reilly Auto Parts 500

2018 Cup Texas Jamie Mcmurray Car Rick Lunkenheimer

(Photo: Rick Lunkenheimer)

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? With finishes of 16th, 19th, 36th, 26th, 17th and 26th to open the season ahead of last weekend’s Easter break, Jamie McMurray was looking rough nearly a quarter of the way through NASCAR’s regular season. Sitting 26th in Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series points with little sign of …

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Multi-Car Pileup Leads to Short Red Flag in Texas

2018 Cup Texas Aric Almirola Wrecked Beth Lunkenheimer

(Photo: Beth Lunkenheimer)

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series endured its largest wreck since February’s Daytona 500 Sunday (Apr. 8) at Texas Motor Speedway. Jimmie Johnson, who was the only Chevrolet driver to qualify in the top 10, was among seven drivers collected in a big wreck on lap 179 in the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500. The carnage …

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Daniel Suarez, Jimmie Johnson Pace Pair of MENCS Practices at Texas

2017 Richmond Ii Cup Daniel Suarez Rusty Jarrett Nkp

(Photo: Rusty Jarrett/NKP)

Daniel Suarez and Jimmie Johnson led the pair of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practices Saturday at Texas Motor Speedway. With dramatically colder temperatures than on Friday, 12 drivers ran faster than Friday’s pole speed. Suarez posted a 198.998 mph lap in first practice, narrowly edging Denny Hamlin. William Byron, who will start in the …

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4 Burning Questions: Did Stewart-Haas Racing Steal Jimmie Johnson’s Golden Horseshoe?

2018 Las Vegas I Cup Jimmie Johnson Helmet Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

So just who really is No. 1? FOX Sports unveiled its list of the top 50 drivers in NASCAR history this week, and to say it drew some attention would be quite the understatement. Fans and industry insiders alike were aghast at the positioning of several legendary drivers, not to mention the presence of a …

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The Frontstretch 5: NASCAR Teams Who Need a Turnaround in 2018

2018 Cup Martinsville Zach Catanzareti Ricky Stenhouse Jr

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Hendrick Motorsports Just a few weeks ago, it was easy to explain the organization’s struggles: it was too early to tell; Chevrolet is behind the curve – which may still be the case; the team has two new drivers. And the thing is, all of that is completely true. But looking at the big picture, …

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NASCAR Mailbox: What Can We Expect Out of Jimmie Johnson Moving Forward

2018 Las Vegas I Cup Jimmie Johnson Helmet Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Professional athletes who have won multiple championships enter each new season with high expectations. It’s part of an athleteʻs mentality — once a winner, always a winner. But that might not always be the case, especially in NASCAR. The competition changes. Teams changes. A driver’s capability changes. Even the cars change. For Jimmie Johnson, a …

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