Did You Notice?

Did You Notice? … NASCAR’s final restrictor plate race reminded us why the sport is trying a different approach? Don’t get me wrong; the 2019 Daytona 500 exceeded expectations, especially after some shaky opening acts. Drivers were willing to break in an inside groove they’d been hesitant to try all Speedweeks …

Did You Notice? … NASCAR enters 2019 with a slew of major changes? Among them: a new handling package designed to bring the cars closer together, the end of restrictor plates, disqualifying race winners that fail inspection. But, most importantly, there’s a new CEO (Jim France) and new President (Steve Phelps) …

Did You Notice? … Martin Truex Jr. and Kevin Harvick have the sport’s new playoff points format to thank for their inclusion in this weekend’s Championship 4? Both men, after spectacular regular seasons underachieved during much of the postseason. Depending on how Homestead works out, Truex could be the first driver …

Did You Notice? … Toyota is lagging behind thus far in the NASCAR playoffs? The manufacturer has led just 27 laps in the last four races, all of them attributed to Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch. That duo are the only ones to advance into the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup …

Did You Notice? … The Big Three have yet to dominate in the playoffs the way they did during NASCAR’s regular season? On paper, the points look good for Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. They’ll each advance to the Round of 8 at Kansas Speedway unless there’s some major catastrophe. …

Did You Notice?… Kasey Kahne’s legacy will be one of unfulfilled potential, falling just short of the NASCAR Hall of Fame? The 38-year-old officially retired Tuesday (Oct. 9) due to dehydration issues he suffered inside the car during September’s Southern 500. It speeds up a process that would have happened at …

Did You Notice? … Stock car racing threw a grenade into the garage with its redesigned 2019 NASCAR rules package? Between the ROVAL on Sunday (Sept. 30) and a laundry list of changes announced Tuesday, this sport feels like it’s suddenly reinventing itself. Most importantly, the new package removes the words …

Did You Notice? … Kyle Busch has hit 50 career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victories? That number ties him for 11th all-time at just 33 years of age. So much has been made of Busch challenging Richard Petty’s record of 200 career wins when you compile his totals in all …

Did You Notice? … How stage points, even on a driver’s worst day, can minimize the damage during the NASCAR playoffs? Brad Keselowski may have won the battle Sunday (Sept. 16) at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, but it’s the Big Three whose efforts keep winning the war. It was a difficult day …

Did You Notice? … The sport’s reigning NASCAR championship team won’t even exist in 2019? Tuesday’s announcement (Sept. 4) Furniture Row Racing will shut down this November should send chills down the spine of every racing owner. A sport that for years dealt with mounting financial wounds through indifference or simply …