Race Weekend Central

The Underdog House: Virginia Is for Lovers, Not Underdogs

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Top Dog When covering underdog teams, there’s always a distinct possibility that looms over each and every race. That possibility is the potential for every Cinderella at the ball to wind up with a broken glass slipper. Or perhaps more appropriate, the ugly, well-funded stepsisters might steal all of the glass slippers. Such was the …

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Tommy Joe Martins’ Crew Chief Suspended for Shady Rays 200

Tommy Joe Martins

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Tommy Joe Martins will be without regular crew chief Daniel Johnson this Thursday, June 9, at Kentucky Speedway. Johnson was suspended on Tuesday (July 7) in reaction to the rear axle coming off of Martins’ No. 44 Chevrolet at last weekend’s race on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. No …

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Xfinity Breakdown: Harrison Burton Leads Laps that Paid in Homestead

Harrison Burton Homestead 2020

(Photo: NASCAR Media/Getty Images)

As the laps wound down on Saturday’s (June 13) NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the victory appeared to be going to Noah Gragson. With under 10 laps to go, the No. 9 Chevrolet led by over 10 seconds. However, that was erased when Ryan Sieg spun with seven laps to go. After the …

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Xfinity Breakdown: 2020 Alsco 300 at Charlotte

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(Photo: NASCAR Media/Getty Images)

It was the Kyle Busch show once again in the Xfinity Series. Leading a race-high 94 laps, Busch, in his No. 54 Toyota Supra, won the first two stages with ease, bounced back from a speeding penalty in the final stage, and made a bold pass on Austin Cindric on the final lap to claim …

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Eyes on Xfinity: Excitement Upon Returning to Racing

Nascar Xfinity Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Twelve days. Twelve freaking days. Last Thursday (April 30), NASCAR announced the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series season would resume at Darlington Raceway on Tuesday, May 19, in its first of two races at the venue this season. The track will also host its scheduled Labor Day Weekend event. While there are many opinions on whether …

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A Shrinking World Offers Opportunity to Break Free from NASCAR Hegemony

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(Photo: Randy Lanning)

It’s been a struggle to commentate the past few weeks, and not just because there is no racing taking place to commentate on. Since a 2010 season that saw me on the road 35 weekends covering anything and everything I could for Frontstretch, I’ve often found that I do my best thinking on the road. …

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Frontstretch Podcast: Coronavirus Halts NASCAR & Tommy Joe Martins Talks Financial Impact on Family Team

Nascar Xfinity Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

In this week’s edition of the Frontstretch Podcast, Dustin Albino and Mike Neff discuss NASCAR’s decision to postpone the season until the second weekend of May due to the coronavirus pandemic. Was it the right decision to postpone the Atlanta race weekend after drivers, teams and haulers made the trip to Atlanta? Are we surprised NASCAR followed CDC (Center …

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Noah Gragson, Harrison Burton Lead NASCAR Xfinity Practices in Fontana

2019 Kentucky Nxs Noah Gragson Driver Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Noah Gragson and Harrison Burton were fastest in the two NASCAR Xfinity Series practice sessions at Auto Club Speedway on Friday afternoon (Feb. 28), under sunny skies in Southern California. In the first practice, Gragson was quickest with the top speed of 177.139 miles per hour. Austin Cindric was second, followed by Daniel Hemric, Brandon Jones …

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Tommy Joe Martins Running Full-Time in Xfinity Series for Martins Motorsports in 2020

Nascar Xfinity Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Due to a tweet Monday night (Dec. 23) from Tommy Joe Martins, speculation was raised concerning his immediate future. Sources close to Martins have confirmed he will be returning to his family-operated organization — Martins Motorsports — for a full-time season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2020. Martins, 33, has never competed full time …

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2019 Xfinity Series Review, Pt. 2: Midpack Improvements

Nascar Xfinity Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

While the NASCAR Xfinity Series playoff drivers were the center of attention for most of the season (the same 12 drivers were top 12 in points from the third race on), some of the best racing came in the middle of the pack. And quite honestly, a lot of the midpack drivers had solid years, …

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Tommy Joe Martins, MBM Motorsports Part Ways For 2020

Nascar Xfinity Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Tommy Joe Martins announced he will not return to MBM Motorsports for the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. The 32-year-old revealed the information Sunday evening (December 8) in a social media update to followers on Twitter. Martins noted the split was amicable despite initially planning to run half the year with the team. He stated …

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Eyes on Xfinity: Tommy Joe Martins Adapting to Change at MBM Motorsports

Nascar Xfinity Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The month of August has been all about change for Tommy Joe Martins, who competed in his first four races for MBM Motorsports, owned by fellow driver Carl Long. Martins, 32, announced at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in late July that it would be his last race weekend with BJ McLeod Motorsports. Dating back to …

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