Race Weekend Central

NASCAR 101: The 5 Longest Active Careers in the Cup Series

2018 Cup Richmond Zach Catanzareti Matt Kenseth

Old Guy Matt Kenseth does not have the longest current Cup career (Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Though he’s known these days more for his role on TV broadcasts, Hermie Sadler continues a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career that dates back over two decades this weekend when he steps into Premium Motorsports’ No. 7 car at Martinsville Speedway. Sadler, brother of multi-time NASCAR winner and XFINITY Series regular Elliott Sadler (well, …

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The Underdog House: First, You Must Finish the Daytona 500

2018 Daytona Cup Zach Catanzareti Darrell Wallace Jr Bubba Wallace

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Think Small Turn 3 was dubbed “Calamity Corner” years back at Daytona International Speedway, and during Sunday’s 60th Daytona 500, it was the place that saw dreams end and hopeful runs begin for many Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series underdogs. The final 10 laps, specifically, gave us a roller coaster of stories pit-balling between the …

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The Underdog House: Small NASCAR Teams Finding Relief – Sort of – Approaching Daytona 500

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Daytona 500 Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fl Usa Sunday 11 February 2018 Matt Dibenedetto, Go Fas Racing, The Hurricane Heist Ford Fusion World Copyright: Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Think Small While most of the sport’s television time goes directly toward big teams with great speed and large personalities — and rightfully so, to an extent — Sunday’s 60th running of the Daytona 500 will have a heavy populous of tiny organizations. Many of these small NASCAR teams, despite being huge underdogs can actually …

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The Underdog House: Surviving NASCAR Talladega… Sort Of

2017 Talladega Ii Cup Michael Mcdowell Brad Keselowski Racing Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

Think Small One thing that struck me when I first started in NASCAR was that if you spent enough time looking, you could see fans at a race who supported every driver in the field.  T-shirts, hats, and bumper stickers were among the ways they proclaimed their loyalty. Fast forward a couple of decades, and …

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NASCAR 101: 25 Years In Between Cup Starts

Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Go Bowling 400 Kansas Speedway, Kansas City, Ks Usa Friday 12 May 2017 Dale Earnhardt Jr, Hendrick Motorsports, Mountain Dew Dew S A Chevrolet Ss And Carl Long World Copyright: Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

This weekend at Talladega Superspeedway marks the first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series start of the season for Mark Thompson. It’s also his first start of the decade… and his first of the century. Thompson, 66, is likely familiar to those who follow the ARCA Racing Series or even the last few seasons of the …

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Did You Notice?: Tackling The Unpredictability of Talladega And NASCAR Silly Season

2017 Talladega I Cup Ricky Stenhouse Jr Pack Racing Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo Matthew T. Thacker / NKP)

Did You Notice? …. Talladega is truly the Russian Roulette of the NASCAR playoffs? This race has now had a green-white-checkered finish three years running. Last fall, two top title contenders (Brad Keselowski and Martin Truex Jr.) failed to finish in surprising fashion (engine failure). Later in that race, a driver who would soon announce his retirement (Brian Scott) …

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Entry List: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Alabama 500

2017 Talladega I Cup Ryan Blaney Pack Racing Matthew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

One race down, two to go in the Round of 12 for the NASCAR Playoffs. This weekend, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series heads from Charlotte Motor Speedway to the behemoth of Talladega Superspeedway for the 49th annual Alabama 500. There are 40 cars on the preliminary entry list, meaning the field will be at full …

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NASCAR 101: The 10 Oldest Drivers on the NASCAR Circuit

2015 Xfinity Jeff Green Elkhart Lake Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist NKP)

There was this very dumb, extremely unfounded story going around the Internet earlier this week claiming that Matt Kenseth was going to be retiring, either immediately or at the end of the season, depending on who you asked. It was debunked almost immediately, with the actual press conference Wednesday (April 19) being some actual good …

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Daniel Suarez Wins Pole for the 2015 Subway Firecracker 250 at Daytona

2015 Dover I Nxs Daniel Suarez Car Cia

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2015)

The last time the NASCAR Xfinity Series was at Daytona International Speedway, the No.18 Arris Toyota was sliding out of control in turn 4, triggering a multi-car pileup. Five months later, Daniel Suarez, who has steadily shown improvement in his rookie season, will start on the pole for Saturday night’s running of the Subway Firecracker …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: FOX Clams Up When Drivers Cry Out On NASCAR Qualifying

Sprint Unlimited 2015 Daytona (2) Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

I take it that you heard the rumbling sound coming out of your speakers this past weekend. That’s right; NASCAR is back, and not a moment too soon. The offseason always seems interminable. As I stated last week, 2015 will look relatively similar to 2014 here in Couch Potato Tuesday, but with some changes. For …

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