Did You Notice?

Did You Notice? … Danica Patrick’s disproportionate amount of bad luck? Some have been critical of Patrick’s attitude in recent weeks, from her Kansas post-race comments to the well-publicized Pocono video in which she reacted to fans booing her. That’s not the only problem she’s had off the track this season. There’s …

Did You Notice? … We are getting closer to the possibility NASCAR will end up with 17 winners this season? After Ryan Blaney broke through at Pocono, the third first-time winner this season, there’s a growing list of upstarts pushing into the playoffs. 10 different names (and nine potential playoff spots) …

Did You Notice? … Darrell Wallace Jr. is embarking on an audition for his NASCAR career? To me, the most telling moments of his Tuesday press conference were when Wallace was asked about the future, after Aric Almirola returns to the No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford. “Honestly I can’t really touch on that,” he said. “I don’t …

Did You Notice? … By Wednesday, no one seems to care who triumphed on the greatest weekend in racing? That the biggest story from both the Indianapolis 500 and Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Coca-Cola 600 had nothing to do with who won? It’s not just that both races suffered through ratings declines (both were …

Did You Notice? … The 2018 NASCAR Cup Series schedule features real change? The sport keeps saying they’re actively listening to fan feedback. Well, this time they’ve finally backed up those words with real action. I see some great long-term positives here that are hard to criticize after several years of nothing but the status …

Did You Notice? … Two big-name drivers have already turned down the No. 43 ride to replace an injured Aric Almirola? Carl Edwards, once highly coveted by Richard Petty Motorsports many years ago has said no, he can’t go back and run the car through Sonoma on June 25. It’s not the …

Did You Notice? … Team Penske’s final appeal was denied for Brad Keselowski? After finishing fifth at Phoenix in March, the car failed post-race inspection for having too much skew in the rear suspension. The violation, which NASCAR claimed could improve the car’s handling, led to a $65,000 fine, a three-race suspension …

Did You Notice? … The difference a year makes for Joe Gibbs Racing? This time last year, JGR had won five of nine races and had all four drivers firmly within playoff position. This time around? The organization is 0-for-9. Of its four-driver team, only Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin are in playoff position. Matt …

Did You Notice? … Dale Earnhardt Jr. is retiring at the end of the season? Are you surprised? I think we’re all lying if we say we aren’t. The move, while expected to come in the next couple of years, not this one, was kept nicely under wraps. A well-orchestrated press …

Did You Notice? … The other milestones Jimmie Johnson could be chasing soon? Sure, the eighth championship stands out above all others. But Johnson’s 81st victory a little over a week ago came as a reminder he’s entering exclusive territory. That Texas triumph marked the 16th straight year Johnson has earned …