Race Weekend Central

NASCAR Stat Sheet: Larson-y in Sonoma As the No. 5 Team Steals Another Trophy

Kyle Larson celebrates his NASCAR Cup Series victory at Sonoma raceway, June 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Kyle Larson is one of the more naturally capable drivers in motorsports today. Since landing on one of the best teams in NASCAR prior to the start of the year, he’s made the most of his second chance. Along the way, Larson has been racking up the stats. Leading laps, winning stages, and finishing well …

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Up to Speed: Will a Teammate Battle Decide the 2021 NASCAR Championship?

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Teammates in NASCAR often have to walk a fine line.  Drivers who compete for the same multi-car organization usually show a certain level of on-track courtesy to each other.  However, racing in NASCAR does not have the same level of comprehensive cooperation among teammates that you sometimes see in other motorsports.  Racers are expected, and …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma

Kyle Larson celebrates at Sonoma with HANS device on Photo NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? Kyle Larson won the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at his hometown track, Sonoma Raceway, on Sunday (June 6) after holding off two of the sport’s best road racers on two late restarts.  Chase Elliott, Martin Truex Jr., Joey Logano and Kyle Busch rounded out the top-five finishers. Winning in NorCal makes today even sweeter …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 Toyota/Save Mart 350

Kyle Larson in victory lane at Sonoma's Toyota/Save Mart 350 (June 2021). (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who … should you be talking about after the Toyota/Save Mart 350? Is Kyle Larson finally living up to his potential? He’s always had the talent to win but has struggled to close. For the second week in a row, Larson left no doubt whether he could finish out races, dominating the Toyota/Save Mart 350 …

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Stock Car Scoop: Is Kyle Larson the Cup Title Favorite for 2021?

Kyle Larson celebrates at Sonoma with HANS device on Photo NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The NASCAR Cup Series traveled to Sonoma Raceway Sunday (June 6) for the first time in two years. Hometown driver Kyle Larson finally cashed in on his fourth straight pole position at his home track, winning the first road course race of his Cup career. It’s also the first time Larson has posted back-to-back victories …

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Kyle Larson Leads 57 Laps, Survives Late-Race Carnage to Win at Sonoma

2021 Sonoma Cup Kyle Larson Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

With 30 laps to go at Sonoma Raceway on Sunday (June 6), the trio of Kyle Larson, Martin Truex Jr. and Chase Elliott had gapped the rest of the field by at least 10 seconds, and Larson led fourth-place Joey Logano by almost 18. Then the cautions started flying. A mostly tame return to Northern …

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Frontstretch 2-Minute Drill: Toyota Save Mart 350 at Sonoma

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The NASCAR Cup Series will spend its Sunday (June 6) afternoon winding its way through wine country in the hills of California. It’s the first time in two years that Sonoma Raceway has hosted a series race, with COVID-19-related travel restrictions and concerns preventing NASCAR from venturing out to the track in 2020. Martin Truex …

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Friday Faceoff: Has Ryan Newman Had a Hall-of-Fame Career?

Ryan Newman at 2021 spring Phoenix Cup race NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Chip Ganassi Racing No. 42 in the NASCAR Cup Series has just two top-five finishes since Kyle Larson’s tenure ended more than a year ago. What’s wrong at CGR, and what should be done? Josh Roller: The No. 42 with Ross Chastain behind the wheel is heading in the right direction in 2021, despite only …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Memorial Day Spectacular Brings Lukewarm Action, Questionable Decisions

NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 green flag 2021 Charlotte Motor Speedway NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Memorial Day Weekend is a busy time for race teams and for many people. Typical years have big Memorial Day celebrations. A lot of those events have been wiped out because of either the COVID-19 pandemic, or by weather (nothing quite like 48 degrees for a high the day of the Indianapolis 500). For race …

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James Davison Puts on Perfect Performance on Virtual Chicago Street Circuit

James Davison driving on the virtual Chicago Street Course eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series Justin Melillo

(Photo: Justin Melillo via iRacing/NASCAR Media)

In the final eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series event for NASCAR on FOX, James Davison took home the victory at the fictional (for now) Chicago Street Course, the first time any cars have been on this brand new circuit on Wednesday night (June 2). The race also featured the Next Gen Car for the second …

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Kyle Larson Grabs Sonoma Cup Pole

Kyle Larson No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports car at 2021 Charlotte Cup Coca-Cola 600 race NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The NASCAR Cup Series is California dreamin’ as it makes the trip out west to Sonoma Raceway. Kyle Larson is on the pole for Sunday’s (June 6) Toyota/Save Mart 350. The No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports driver took the position after a dominant performance in the Coca-Cola 600 last Sunday. Larson’s Hendrick teammates Chase Elliott and …

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Zach’s Turn: Does NASCAR Need to Address Minimum-Speed Issues?

NASCAR Cody Ware Ryan Preece 2021 Coca-Cola 600

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The discrepancy between NASCAR’s fastest and its slowest appeared to be on full display during Sunday’s (May 30) Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. As leaders like Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott stormed around the 1.5-mile racetrack, lapped cars like David Starr and Josh Bilicki seemed to be on screen getting passed — or used …

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