Race Weekend Central

Up To Speed: Tempers Flare and Insults Fly Following Action-Packed Auto Club 400

2016 Phoenix I Cup Joey Logano Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

I’ve said before that it’s rare that fans and competitors alike agree on anything, let alone nearly unanimous on the quality of a product. However, this is becoming more the case week in and week out. With few exceptions, the drivers are happy with the new package, the fans enjoy the racing it produces, and …

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Beyond the Cockpit: Kasey Kahne’s Optimistic Approach with Hendrick Motorsports in 2016

As soon as he made it to “the show,” Kasey Kahne made headlines week-in and week-out. At the time, there may not have been a driver considered to be as hot on and off the track. Heck, he even won a contest on Fox for being the sexiest driver. After Ray Evernham partnered with George Gillett, …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: FOX Shows Slight Improvement, While ESPN Tries to De-emphasize St. Pete

2016 Phoenix I Cup Denny Hamlin Pack Racing Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Greetings, everyone.  Did you like Sunday’s finish in Phoenix?  It was a good one.  I thought Kevin Harvick was a sitting duck, but he managed to pull it out just in time. Last weekend saw two races in Phoenix, plus the season opener in St. Petersburg for the Verizon IndyCar Series. Good Sam 500k On …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud – Kevin Harvick Beats His Way to Eighth Career Phoenix Victory

2016 Phoenix I Cup Kevin Harvick Team Celebration Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Who’s in the headline – There are two things in life that are certain: death and taxes. Closely behind that is Kevin Harvick winning at Phoenix International Raceway. For the eighth time in his career and the sixth time in the last eight races, Harvick was the first car under the checkered flag. What happened – …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud – Brad Keselowski Cashes in With Late-Race Pass to Win at Las Vegas

2016 Las Vegas Cup Brad Keselowski Burnout Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T Thacker / NKP)

Who’s in the headline – It had been 33 races since Brad Keselowski visited Victory Lane. Keselowski took the checkered flag first in Fontana last year in the fifth race of the season. On Sunday, he led the race three times but only led a total of 24 laps. The win put a third different manufacturer in …

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. Tops First 500 Practice

Dale Earnhardt Jr Bank Of America 500 2015 Charlotte Cup Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff, Frontstretch)

Some things never change: An Earnhardt led Daytona practice. Dale Earnhardt Jr. paced the first Sprint Cup practice for the Daytona 500 on Saturday morning with a fast lap of 194.116 mph. Joining Earnhardt in the top 5 were defending 500 champion Joey Logano (193.853), 2009 and 2012 race winner Matt Kenseth (193.782), rookie Chase …

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Panasonic Toughbook Continues Partnership With Hendrick Motorsports

2015 Michigan I Cup Jeff Gordon Car Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

On Tuesday, Hendrick Motorsports announced that Panasonic Toughbook will continue their partnership with the team in 2016, but will shift over to Kasey Kahne‘s team following the retirement of Jeff Gordon (Note: Gordon’s car with the Toughbook colors from last year is pictured above). The company will be featured on the No. 5 Chevrolet at …

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NASCAR Announces Eligible Drivers for Sprint Unlimited

Sprint Unlimited Daytona

(Credit: NASCAR)

On Monday, NASCAR announced the eligibility criteria for this year’s Sprint Unlimited, scheduled for Feb. 13.  While winning a pole during the previous season will get you into the race, it’s not the only way into the 75-lap show.  Regardless of circumstances, 25 cars will start the 187.5-mile race. The first criteria to qualify for …

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2015 NASCAR Rewind: Kasey Kahne

2015 Watkins Glen Cup Kasey Kahne Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

Kasey Kahne looked to the 2015 season as a reboot. With his longtime crew chief Kenny Francis replaced by Keith Rodden, the change was meant to invigorate a career that had become middling. With a finishes of 12th and 15th in 2013 and 2014, respectively, Kahne seemed to be a driver in his mid-30s who …

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Quicken Loans Joins Kasey Kahne and Hendrick Motorsports in 2016

2015 Darlington Cup Kasey Kahne Face Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

Kasey Kahne and Hendrick Motorsports will have a new partner as they head into the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. The team announced that Quicken Loans will sponsor Kahne in three races throughout the season and serve as an associate sponsor for the other 33 points-paying events. The Detroit-based company is no stranger to …

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Tweet ‘N’ Greet: Denny Hamlin Finds Interesting Message on Coke Bottle

2015 Loudon Ii Cup Denny Hamlin Eew Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

Took me 2 minutes 17 seconds to get lunch today! #freakyfast @jimmyjohns pic.twitter.com/Wj7LBBHR9r — Kevin Harvick (@KevinHarvick) November 16, 2015 What did Kevin Harvick have for lunch on Monday? Of course, a Jimmy Johns sandwich. The Sprint Cup Series driver was also blown away by how quickly he received his order. BREAKING: DH will do a …

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Hendrick Motorsports Drivers to Honor Jeff Gordon at Homestead

2015 Phoenix International Raceway Nscs Jeff Gordon Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Each driver at Hendrick Motorsports will pay tribute to longtime NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Jeff Gordon as he makes his final Sprint Cup Series start in Sunday’s Ford EcoBoost 400 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. Gordon will end a career that started 24 years ago at the Atlanta Motor Speedway in 1992. The entire Hendrick …

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