Race Weekend Central

Gray Gaulding, BK Racing Deal Up in Smoke: How Their Futures Impact NASCAR

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Go Bowling 400 Kansas Speedway, Kansas City, Ks Usa Saturday 13 May 2017 Gray Gaulding, Bk Racing, Dr Pepper Toyota Camry World Copyright: Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade NKP)

On paper, BK Racing is a small, underfunded Toyota team, and Gray Gaulding is a teenager many NASCAR fans had never heard of before this season. But in their quest for survival, a closer look at their deal turned sour opens a Pandora’s Box of financial questions for modern-day stock car racing. It’s a different type of …

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The Underdog House: Sponsorship Changes on the Horizon?

2017 Richmond I Cup Michael Mcdowell Pack Racing Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

Think Small With Target pulling out of motorsports after this year, it leaves just two NASCAR teams on the circuit using a single primary sponsor for all 36 races. Jimmie Johnson‘s No. 48 has backing from Lowe’s (and Kobalt Tools, manufactured and sold by the store) while the No. 11 run by Denny Hamlin has FedEx.  That leaves …

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Landon Cassill Gets New Crew Chief, Front Row Motorsports Makes Changes

2017 Kansas I Cup Landon Cassill Car Barry Cantrell Nkp

(Photo: Barry Cantrell NKP)

Front Row Motorsports announced management changes Monday morning that shook up their Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series teams. Donnie Wingo, who was the crew chief for Landon Cassill’s No. 34 Ford, has been named Competition Director of the two-car organization effective immediately. Wingo, who’s got 30+ years of experience as a head wrench moves into an oversight …

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The Underdog House: NASCAR About to Get Silly?

2017 Kansas I Cup Michael Mcdowell Car Barry Cantrell Nkp

(Photo: Barry Cantrell/NKP)

Think Small Track surfaces aren’t the inly thing heating up as summertime hits full swing.  NASCAR’s Silly Season is coming, and while so far, it’s been confined to rumblings and rumors, there’s potential for things to blow up.  While most of the speculation concerns the bigger teams in the sport, including who will fill the …

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The Underdog House: NASCAR’s Vicious Cycle

2017 Dover I Cup Aj Allmendinger Pack Racing Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Think Small It’s hard for small teams to get noticed.  This is something that’s been discussed over and over  and continues to create a vicious cycle for these teams: Lack of money leads to lack of performance, and lack of performance makes sponsors shy away, leading to a lack of money…you see the problem here? …

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Kyle Larson Quickest in 1st Cup Practice at Michigan

2017 Pocono Cup Zach Catanzareti Kyle Larson

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

The drivers of NASCAR’s top division were out and about at Michigan International Speedway, flying around the 2-mile track at upwards of 215 mph late Friday morning. Chip Ganassi Racing driver Kyle Larson set the pace during the first practice session prior to the FireKeepers Casino 400, clocking in a time of 35.857 seconds, equating …

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The Underdog House: Small Teams Impress at Talladega

2017 Talladega I Cup Cole Whitt Car John K Harrrelson Nkp

(Photo: John K. Harrelson/NKP)

Think Small This past weekend’s action at Talladega illustrated again what can happen when the racing is more in the hands of the drivers. There were several different names at the top eager to display their talent.  Aric Almirola nearly pulled off the weekend double, and David Ragan overcame crash damage to finish in the …

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The Underdog House: Changes in the NASCAR Ranks

2017 Richmond I Cup Michael Mcdowell Pack Racing Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

Think Small The 2017 season is at the quarter mark after nine races, and some trends are taking shape.  Wood Brothers Racing has established itself at the top of the class, which was to be expected after the team increased its alliance with Team Penske this year. Even within the group, the haves and have …

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The Underdog House: The Great Equalizer

2017 Bristol I Cup Jeffrey Earnhardt Car Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

Think Small Short tracks are popular with race fans because there is almost always some action somewhere in the field.  Cars are close together, tempers flare and drivers are aggressive.  Another reason to enjoy this type of racing is that short tracks (Bristol and Martinsville more so than Richmond) usually level out the playing field …

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Did You Notice?: Jimmie Johnson’s Other Big Milestone

2016 Nascar Charlotte

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

Did You Notice? … The other milestones Jimmie Johnson could be chasing soon? Sure, the eighth championship stands out above all others. But Johnson’s 81st victory a little over a week ago came as a reminder he’s entering exclusive territory. That Texas triumph marked the 16th straight year Johnson has earned at least one Cup Series …

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The Underdog House: NASCAR’s Best-Kept Secret

2017 Texas I Cup Cole Whitt Matt Dibenedetto Racing Logan Whitton Nkp

(Photo: Logan Whitton/NKP)

Think Small It feels like NASCAR’s small teams get a bad rap right from the start from some fans and even media.  Too often, they’re lumped into a “backmarkers” category, often mocked for their poor performance compared to rivals.  To hear some people talk, you’d think they went out every week and ran in the 20’s …

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Report: Front Row Motorsports Spent Millions To Buy Charter, Left RTA

2015 Bristol Ii Cup Brett Moffitt Car Credit Amy Henderson

(Photo: Amy Henderson, Frontstretch)

Sports Business Daily reported that Front Row Motorsports, the two-car team that currently fields the Fords of Landon Cassill and David Ragan, spent around $2 million for the charter they purchased from BK Racing over winter break. The team has since leased the charter to new Monster Energy Cup Series team TriStar Motorsports for an …

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