Race Weekend Central

NASCAR Nuggets: Cup Drivers Talk Playoffs, New Packages & New Teams

Kyle busch smiling at NASCAR Cup Michigan race, NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Hours before the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, Aug. 28, 20 drivers of the NASCAR Cup Series stopped by the media bullpen to answer a few questions. One by one, Cup drivers stopped by the gates and spoke about the past, present and future of their careers. There were plenty …

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Cup Series Returns to Darlington After Turn 2 Repave

NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington

(Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

When the NASCAR Cup Series begins its playoff run this weekend, it’ll do so at Darlington Raceway. It will be just the third time this year the series has made a return trip to a track this season, following visits to Atlanta Motor Speedway and the regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway. But the 1.366-mile …

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Friday Faceoff: Can Kurt Busch Win With 23XI?

Kurt Busch walking at road america

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Chris Buescher was disqualified from his second-place finish in the NASCAR Cup Series at Daytona International Speedway for a post-race infraction due to an unapproved track bar mount. Does the punishment fit the crime? Josh Roller: Not enough information was shared by NASCAR to determine whether or not a disqualification was appropriate or not. What made …

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4 Burning Questions: Who’ll Be Eliminated in Each Cup Playoff Round?

2021 regular season Cup champion Kyle Larson with trophy

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who will be eliminated in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs’ Round of 16? Michael McDowell has been disappointing in the second half of the regular season. He had a strong start to the season in addition to his Daytona 500 win, but he’s 28th in total points in the past 10 races among all Cup …

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Zach’s Turn: Darlington Highlights Intersection of Old & New as Playoff Opener

Darlington Raceway NASCAR

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Darlington Raceway is an obvious historic landmark for NASCAR. That is part of what makes the 71-year-old facility the perfect start of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, which kick off at the 1.33-mile South Carolinian oval Sunday (Sept. 5) with the 72nd annual Cook Out Southern 500 at 6 p.m. ET. Although the 10-week playoffs …

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Dropping the Hammer: 23XI Racing is Kurt Busch’s NASCAR Endgame

Kurt Busch and Denny hamlin

Kurt Busch team owner Denny Hamlin (23XI Racing)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Kurt Busch’s move to 23XI Racing was announced appropriately. The news was trumpeted in a 37-second video posted on social media, complete with Busch stepping off a private jet and walking to the No. 45 Toyota he will drive in 2022. “And you thought I was leaving,” Busch says over the …

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Kurt Busch to Join 23XI Racing in 2022, Drive the No. 45

Kurt Busch with 23XI Racing

Kurt Busch poses with his No. 45 Toyota for the 2022 season (23XI Racing)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — 23XI Racing announced Friday (Aug. 27) that Kurt Busch would join the team in 2022, driving the No. 45. The 2004 Cup champion will become teammates with Bubba Wallace on the team that is co-owned by Denny Hamlin and NBA legend Michael Jordan. “I cannot begin to express my gratitude for …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Gateway a Nightmare for FS1, Michigan Skewed by Finish

Pack racing in the Firekeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway, August 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

This past weekend was the final split race weekend of the season. The NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series teams were at Michigan International Speedway. Meanwhile, the Camping World Truck Series shared a bill at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway with the NTT IndyCar Series. The two venues brought in completely different races. FireKeepers Casino …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 Firekeepers Casino 400

Kurt Busch looks on at 2021 Cup Circuit of the Americas. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who … should you be talking about after the race? When Ryan Blaney shot to the lead on the final restart, it was easy to think it wouldn’t stick. The final eight laps were the only ones he’d led all day, and he had the dominant Hendrick cars of William Byron and Kyle Larson behind …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan

2021 Michigan Cup Ryan Blaney Trophy Sean Gardner Getty

(Photo: NASCAR via Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

What happened? Ryan Blaney won the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan on Sunday (Aug. 22) after leading the final eight laps, holding off William Byron in the closest finish ever at Michigan. Byron, Kyle Larson, Kurt Busch and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top-five finishers.  Winning is fun. Ryan @Blaney soaked it all in after …

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Dropping the Hammer: Michael McDowell Uncertain of 2022 Plans Despite Daytona Win

Michael McDowell and Bubba Wallace (Credit: NKP)

Michael McDowell raced with Bubba Wallace in 2021. Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

It’s mid-August and Michael McDowell doesn’t yet know his plans for the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season. But that’s typical for McDowell. Every season he’s competed in the Cup Series, including his time with Front Row Motorsports which began in 2018,  McDowell has been on a year-to-year deal. But in previous years, McDowell wasn’t the …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR DraftKings Forecast: 2021 Verizon 200 at the Brickyard

Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin racing each other during the Go Bowling at the Glen at Watkins Glen International, 8/8/2021 (Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

NASCAR Cup Series drivers hope to kiss the bricks this weekend but this time at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Let’s get your daily fantasy NASCAR DraftKings rosters ready for Sunday’s (Aug. 14) Verizon 200 at the Brickyard! It’s the Cup Series’ second consecutive road course event after Kyle Larson earned his fifth win …

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