Did You Notice? … The effect NASCAR stage racing has had on the point standings to date? Perhaps the most important shift occurred Sunday with Ryan Newman’s win. Newman, who won on late-race pit strategy after struggling most of the day is the first victor in the sport’s modern era to score fewer points than the second-place finisher. Kyle Larson …
Did You Notice? … Kyle Busch‘s problem with NASCAR’s “Boys, have at it” rule? It’s certainly not the sport itself. Thrilled with the national publicity caused by Sunday’s scuffle, they’re leaning towards no penalty for Busch. Officials are happy that a spontaneous show of emotion overshadowed a ho-hum race and breathed life into the sport. Problem is, they …
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 …
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