Race Weekend Central

Stock Car Scoop: 2021 Schedule Announcements

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

There was a couple of announcements regarding the 2021 NASCAR schedule on Tuesday afternoon. What were they? Find out in the latest edition of Stock Car Scoop. Frontstretch‘s newest podcast focused on the motorsports news of the week also has news on Chad Knaus as well as the entry lists for all three races at …

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Power Rankings: Luck of the Vegas Native Edition

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

In Las Vegas, some times it’s better to be lucky than good at the games of chance. On Sunday night (Sept. 27), Kurt Busch hit the jackpot when a caution flew during a cycle of green flag pit stops. That timely caution helped one of Vegas’ own win, but it was an impressive finish that …

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Chad Knaus Leaving Crew Chief Role, Becoming Hendrick VP of Competition in 2021

2018 Daytona Cup Zach Catanzareti Chad Knaus

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Chad Knaus’ 2020 season will be his final as crew chief for NASCAR Cup Series driver William Byron, as he will move to the role of vp of competition for Hendrick Motorsports, the team announced today, Sept. 29. According to a statement from the team, Knaus will “oversee the technical development of Hendrick Motorsports’ entire …

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Power Rankings: Dirty Dozen Edition

Kevin Harvick racing with Kyle Busch in 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Bristol Night race, NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Bristol Motor Speedway is considering importing dirt? If this isn’t an indictment of the current template for NASCAR as it applies to short track racing, I am not sure what else it would be. Since Speedway Motorsports Inc., has decided to add traction compound at the bottom of this track, the racing has gotten much …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Which Bristol Race Had More Cutoff Coverage?

2020 Bristol Nxs Vinnie Miller Wreck Car Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Both the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity series had cutoff races this past weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway. In recent years, Bristol has either provided very exciting or very dull races. It was literally all over the place Friday and Saturday night. You had drivers running away and hiding at times, while there was side-by-side racing …

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Up to Speed: Tough Decisions Ahead for Ford’s NASCAR Teams

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The more things change for Matt DiBenedetto, the more they stay the same.  Returning to Bristol Motor Speedway for the 2020 Bass Pro Shops/NRA Night Race, he was in need of an outstanding performance.  For the first time, DiBenedetto came to Thunder Valley as a NASCAR playoff driver.  But a pair of lackluster results in …

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William Byron, Cole Custer, Matt DiBenedetto, Ryan Blaney Eliminated From Playoffs

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Round of 16 is over, and four drivers have been eliminated from the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. William Byron, Cole Custer, Matt DiBenedetto and Ryan Blaney all finished beneath the playoff cut line after the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday night (Sept. 19), missing the 12-driver cut …

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Power Rankings: No Longer the Action Track Edition

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

They used to call Richmond Raceway the “Action Track,” but after racing 400 laps without a non-manufactured caution flag, they might need to forget that nickname ever existed. This isn’t the fault of the track. This isn’t the fault of the drivers. This is the fault of a rules package that makes a gentle rub …

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Up to Speed: Is Austin Dillon’s Playoff Run for Real?

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

For the first time in his NASCAR Cup Series career, Austin Dillon has scored back-to-back top-five finishes.  Last week at Darlington Raceway, Dillon pulled off a surprising second-place result.  He followed that performance up with an even stronger run at Richmond Raceway Saturday night (Sept. 12).  Although Dillon finished fourth, he led 55 laps and …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened?  Brad Keselowski won the Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond Raceway on Saturday night (Sept. 12) after leading a race-high 192 laps.  Martin Truex Jr., Joey Logano, Austin Dillon and Chase Elliott rounded out the top five. Statement. Made. Retweet to congratulate @keselowski on an impressive showing tonight at @RichmondRaceway. #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/Hv4c2ohajT — …

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Frontstretch Podcast: Matt DiBenedetto Talks Making Postseason, Difference in Packages at Darlington

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Subscribe: iTunes In this week’s edition of the Frontstretch Podcast, Dustin Albino and Mike Neff discuss the difference in aerodynamic packages being on display at Darlington Raceway, leading to a mediocre Southern 500 and one of the best NASCAR races of the season with the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Kevin Harvick took advantage of an incident involving Martin Truex Jr. and …

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Power Rankings: 1 Down, 9 to Go Edition

Nascar Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

All season, Kevin Harvick has been very good. Heading into the Southern 500, he had won seven times already this year and had more top-five and top-10 finishes than anyone else. But one thing he has not been until Sunday (Sept. 6) was being lucky! In one of the crown jewels of stock car racing, …

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