The only reasoning I can see to restarting a nuclear arms race is in the hope of bankrupting Russia.
Problem you have is Russia 2017 is not Russia 1980.
As sanctions have proven it has harmed Europeans rather than Russians and now Russians have staretd to diversify and produce what they used to buy.
Oil prices gives them a $100 billion a yeat trade surplus. Debt to GDP is 17%
US trade deficit is $502 billion and debt to GDP is 104%
TRADING ECONOMICS | 300.000 INDICATORS FROM 196 COUNTRIES
All it needs to happen is a number of countrys trade Oil other than is US $$$$ and watch it become expensive to borrow for the US.
Sadly US reminds me of the last days of the Roman Empire when the Romans became too rich to fight and subcontacted it to everybody else.