Did You Notice? … Sunday’s Cup Series race at Atlanta had more pit road speeding penalties called (13) than lead changes (nine)? It was only fitting the day’s dominant driver, Kevin Harvick, got slapped with the final ticket, a call that took away a trip to Victory Lane. The penalties were spread out equally, affecting everyone from underfunded Derrike …
Did You Notice? … Chase Elliott’s bitter pill to swallow after losing the Daytona 500? Elliott, whose dry gas tank cost him the lead with three laps remaining, dropped from first to 14th at the finish. Leaving without an interview from a reporter, he issued a brief statement through Hendrick Motorsports and Chevrolet saying the end was “disappointing.” …
Did You Notice? … Just a NASCAR change or two has descended upon us since we last came together? Since November, the sport has taken on a new title sponsor in Monster Energy, adopted a flurry of new rules designed to spice up competition, and split with tradition by chopping even the Daytona 500 into …
Did You Notice? … This season has produced more parity than at any time in recent NASCAR history? To answer that question we look no further than this year’s edition of the Championship 4. Each driver has either three or four victories; they’d all be inside the top 10 in points without the Chase. You can …
Did You Notice? … This Chase has been the one where nobody wrecked? We’re on pace for the fewest cautions in the history of NASCAR’s playoff, races decided through a handful of restarts and pit strategy spread out over long green-flag runs. Think back to last year and the title’s defining moments. Joey Logano spins …
Did You Notice? … NASCAR’s rule limiting drivers in lower series seems targeted at one driver in particular: Kyle Busch. Busch has become the poster child for fan complaints about Cup drivers taking over in the XFINITY and Camping World Truck series. This year alone, he’s won 11 times across both divisions, including the Kansas XFINITY Chase …
Did You Notice? … That with Ryan Newman‘s signing Monday, the veteran reaching a contract extension with Richard Childress Racing 2016 has become the quietest Silly Season in the modern era? Other than a retiring Tony Stewart, whose replacement (Clint Bowyer) was announced late last season, it’s possible we won’t have a single change among any of the major programs for …
Did You Notice? … Martin Truex, Jr. is having one of the most unexpected career surges in Sprint Cup history? Keep in mind, just two years ago he led just a single lap all season with his single-car, Furniture Row Racing No. 78 car based out in Colorado. Truex wasn’t even supposed to last beyond the 2015 season at …
Did You Notice? … Brad Keselowski is quietly having a career year? The 2012 champion was a quiet number one seed after an impressive regular season, and after two Chase races he currently leads the point standings. He is on pace to break his season bests in top 5s, top 10s, and his average finish of …
Did You Notice? … Hendrick Motorsports heads toward the Chase entering uncharted territory? Just one of its drivers sits inside the top 10 in the season standings: Chase Elliott in 10th. Only one of its drivers, Jimmie Johnson, has clinched a spot in the postseason field. Barring some bizarre circumstances, Elliott should join too but …
Did you notice? … Dale Earnhardt Jr. is still within the top 25 in points even though he has only run 18 of 24 races? He currently sits 22nd in the standings, ahead of 11 drivers who have made every race this season. Peers he’s currently beating? Paul Menard, Aric Almirola and Clint Bowyer, all …
Did You Notice? … Front Row Motorsports has experienced more success than you might think? Sure, it doesn’t seem like it right off the bat. Monday’s improbable win by Chris Buescher, the first for the team at an unrestricted track is just their second Sprint Cup victory overall. How unexpected was Buescher’s break? He had never …
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