Race Weekend Central

Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr. Participating in COTA Tire Test

2017 Us Grand Prix

(Credit: F1 Media)

In preparation for the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at Circuit of the Americas, Cup drivers Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski and Martin Truex Jr. will test Goodyear tires at the 3.41-mile road course, NASCAR announced Feb. 25. The March 2 session is not open to the public. The three drivers represent the three Cup manufacturers; …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 O’Reilly Auto Parts 253 at the Daytona Road Course

2021 Daytona Rc Cup Bell Victory Lane Nkp

What happened? Christopher Bell won the O’Reilly Auto Parts 253 at the Daytona road course on Sunday (Feb. 21), making it back-to-back first time winners to open the 2021 Cup Series season (the first time since 1950 that has happened). Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, Kurt Busch and Brad Keselowski rounded out the top-five finishers. ? …

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Up to Speed: The Pressure to Win in NASCAR 2021 is Already On

Nascar Cup Series

#21: Matt DiBenedetto, Wood Brothers Racing, Ford Mustang Motorcraft/Quick Lane

Raise your hand if you thought that, two races into the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, the two race winners would be Michael McDowell and Christopher Bell.  If you made that prediction a few weeks ago, a fellow race fan might have assumed that you’d spent too much time around the gasoline fumes on pit …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR DraftKings Forecast: 2021 O’Reilly Auto Parts 253

Chase Elliott battles with Austin Dillon in 2021 Daytona Clash Photo Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Is this weekend deja vu in NASCAR? It is for many Cup Series teams who competed in the Busch Clash less than two weeks ago. They return to Daytona International Speedway to turn left and right on the road course Sunday, Feb. 21 at 3 p.m. ET. This layout is much longer than some other …

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Up to Speed: Can Denny Hamlin Finally Win a Championship in 2021?

Denny Hamlin car on track (Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Denny Hamlin set out to do something nobody else has done before: win three consecutive Daytona 500s. Despite leading six times for a race-high 98 laps, the three-peat was denied with a fifth-place finish. But the story of Hamlin’s 2021 season goes far beyond the Great American Race. He will get to experience the highs …

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Here’s Who’s Dropping to the Back in the 2021 Daytona 500

Erik Jones, Martin Truex Jr. and Kurt Busch racing in the Busch Clash

#19: Martin Truex Jr., Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Camry DeWalt #1: Kurt Busch, Chip Ganassi Racing, Chevrolet Camaro AdventHealth #43: Erik Jones, Richard Petty Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro RP Funding

Two more Daytona 500 entries will start the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season from the rear of the field on Sunday (Feb. 14) at Daytona International Speedway. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. and Richard Petty Motorsports’ Erik Jones will fall to the back prior to the green flag for the Daytona 500. Jones will …

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Martin Truex Jr. Extends Contract With Joe Gibbs Racing

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Martin Truex Jr. will continue racing for Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series, as he has signed a contract extension with the team, JGR announced Feb. 10. He’ll keep driving the No. 19 Toyota Camry for at least another year, though the full details of the agreement were not released. “Extending Martin’s agreement …

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Up to Speed: Will Clint Bowyer Stay Candid in the Broadcast Booth?

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Lost in the conclusion of the 2020 NASCAR season was the rather abrupt departure of Clint Bowyer from the driver’s seat.  Bowyer, who was wrapping up his 15th full-time season as a Cup Series racer, faced an uncertain future with Stewart-Haas Racing.  Despite some speculation that SHR’s driver lineup would not change for 2021, Bowyer …

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2021 NASCAR Preseason Power Rankings, No. 7: Martin Truex Jr.

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Martin Truex Jr. started the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season hopeful after back-to-back runner-up finishes in the championship standings, preceded by winning the 2017 Cup championship. But with new crew chief James Small atop the No. 19 pit box, Truex didn’t perform as well in the COVID-19-affected 2020 season. He won at Martinsville Speedway but …

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2020 NASCAR Team Reviews: Joe Gibbs Racing

2020 Review Jgr

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

For a team that won more than half of the races in the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series season, Joe Gibbs Racing had every reason to be confident in its lineup for 2020. Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch all won at least five races in 2019 (seven, six and five, respectively) while Erik …

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Power Rankings: Chase Went to Chase Edition

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Oftentimes, NASCAR gets the short end of the deal — faces a lot of criticism, but they deserve a tip of the old Frontstretch hat for managing to get a full season in during trying times. No other major American sport was able to accomplish this feat. There is no hiding the fact that I’m …

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Fire on Fridays: How Will Success Be Judged in This Era of NASCAR?

Nascar Champions Portraits

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

The era of a good points day is officially over. Has been for awhile now. Points do matter. After all, if Kevin Harvick gains more than the one stage point at Texas Motor Speedway and Martinsville Speedway than he did, odds are he’s Championship 4 bound in the NASCAR Cup Series this year. But he didn’t, …

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