Race Weekend Central

Who’s Hot & Who’s Not: NASCAR Implications Edition

2016 Chicago Cup Martin Truex Jr Burnout Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty / NKP)

Sunday brought us our first Chase race and for some drivers, the first race that had real implications for them since a win earlier this season. Due to some upcoming penalties that will likely be announced Wednesday, we don’t even know what all of those implications will be. HOT It remains to be seen if …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2016 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400

2016 Chicago Cup Martin Truex Jr Woohoo Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? Staying out on a late caution won this race a year ago, and while it was not the winning strategy this time around, there’s something to be said for trying to make something happen late, which was exactly the tack taken by Ryan Blaney and Kasey Kahne. While neither …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Martin Truex, Jr. Overcomes Adversity With Late Charge to Win at Chicagoland

2016 Chicago Cup Martin Truex Jr Woohoo Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

  Who’s in the headline – Martin Truex, Jr. overcame a tire issue under green flag conditions to put himself in position to make a run at the race win. A late-race caution and a strong pit stop resulted in Truex restarting outside the second row. An aggressive move to the outside allowed him to …

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Double Take: Yes, There Is Life Outside of the Chase

2016 Indianapolis Cup Ryan Blaney Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist/NKP)

Much of the conversation in NASCAR right now is focused on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chase field, and rightfully so. After all, one of those 16 drivers will end the season with the series championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway. But hey, look, there are still 24 other drivers who will take the green flag in Sunday’s race …

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4 Burning Questions: Will a Must-Winner Steal the Spotlight in Richmond?

2016 Richmond I Cup Kasey Kahne Racing Matthew T Thacker Nkp

Matthew T Thacker NKP

What Must-Win Driver Will Win on Saturday Night? While there are 13 NASCAR drivers who are locked into the Chase and can let it ride Saturday night at Richmond International Raceway, there are even more who enter with their seasons on the line. These men and women cannot count on points and have no mathematical chance of Chase …

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5 Points To Ponder: Was Cole Custer, John Hunter Nemechek Aggression Too Much?

2016 Atlanta Cwts Cole Custer Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

ONE: A Look At Those Locked In With Darlington in the books, the Chase field for the Sprint Cup Series has gotten substantially clearer. Of the 16 Chase spots, 12 have been tentatively filled by race winners who have clinched finishing the regular season in the top 30. These 12 drivers include, by order of …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Martin Truex Jr. Claims Second NASCAR Crown Jewel of 2016

2016 Nascar Sprint Cup Series, Darlington

(Courtesy: NKP / Nigel Kinrade)

Who’s in the headline: For the first time in his career, Martin Truex, Jr. has won multiple races in a single season. Kevin Harvick was the dominant car for the vast majority of Sunday night’s Southern 500, but pit road miscues put him behind in the final laps and he was unable to overcome the handicap. Truex, now …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2016 Bojangles Southern 500

2016 Darlington Raceway Martin Truex Jr Nscs Photo Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? In the “where did he come from” department, the best finish in the Hendrick Motorsports stable came from Kasey Kahne.  Kahne has been strong at Darlington in the past, so his seventh-place run shouldn’t be a surprise. But given the season Kahne’s had and how he took the stealth approach, the …

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Daily NASCAR Fantasy: Drafting Your Darlington Lineup

2016 Darlington Cup Jeffrey Earnhardt Zach Catanzareti

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to Darlington Raceway on September 4th for the Bojangles’ Southern 500. It’s another throwback weekend at the track “Too Tough to Tame” and nearly every team will be gunning to get its retro scheme into victory lane. Here are a few suggestions to keep in mind when constructing your …

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Kasey Kahne Frustrated, Not Giving up on 2016 Season

2016 Indianapolis Cup Kasey Kahne Helmet Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty / NKP)

When Kasey Kahne hopped over to Hendrick Motorsports at the beginning of the 2012 season, it was supposed to be a career-defining change. However, the last five seasons have been anything but perfect. Kahne, 36, is in currently his 13th full-time season. Statically, 2016 has been one of his worst seasons with few answers. Through 22 …

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Daily NASCAR Fantasy: Drafting Your Pocono Lineup

2016 Loudon I Cup Kurt Busch Close Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to Pocono Raceway on July 31st for the Pennsylvania 400. Kurt Busch made his way to victory lane at the “Tricky Triangle” back in June and will look to complete the sweep on Sunday. Joe Gibbs Racing and Team Penske have combined to win 14 out of the 20 …

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Rodney Childers Suspended Due to Lugnut Issue

2016 Pocono I Cup Kevin Harvick And Rodney Childers Anthony Lumbis Sr.

(Credit: Anthony Lumbis, Sr.)

On Wednesday morning, NASCAR released the weekly penalty report.  Once again, NASCAR has come down hard on a contending team due to lugnuts. Kevin Harvick‘s No. 4 Jimmy John’s Chevrolet was found to have loose lugnuts after the finish of Sunday’s Crown Royal Presents the Combat Wounded Coalition 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  As …

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