Did You Notice? Every controversy we’ve seen in NASCAR this year has revolved around… rules? We changed the rules package for 2015 even though there was great racing the year before. Restart rules have been continually criticized, tweaked and remain a major sore spot. Green-white-checkered rules were modified, then mishandled in the wake of scary …
Did You Notice? How to get away with murder from a sporting perspective? Kevin Harvick has mastered the craft, deftly dodging questions about whether his Talladega wreck was intentional Tuesday while knowing NASCAR has finalized their decision not to penalize him on the incident. “Look, I just tried to get going and thinking and try …
Did You Notice? The number of green-white-checkered finishes has been reduced for Talladega? NASCAR announced Tuesday it’s down to one instead of the standard three to help curb the carnage seen since the rule was put in place last decade. The change has its merit although it’s less likely to be used than you think. The …
Did You Notice? Past performance is not always a guarantee of future success? I took the results of each remaining Chaser from earlier in the year, then added up the points from their performances at Charlotte, Kansas, and Talladega to simulate the next round of the postseason. Here’s how it all shakes out… Dale Earnhardt Jr. …
Did You Notice? Owners are desperate to inject some long-term financial stability into their teams? NASCAR met with the Race Team Alliance Tuesday and is working on a proposal that would introduce a type of “franchising” system assuring Sprint Cup teams both leverage and automatic qualification for the 2016 season and beyond. NASCAR spokesman Brett …
Did You Notice? Kevin Harvick’s year of “almosts” is finally catching up to him? The reigning champ’s Chase is in serious jeopardy after contact with Jimmie Johnson led to a wreck and a 42nd-place finish. The incident was clearly not Harvick’s fault; it was a case of wrong place, wrong time on a hectic restart …
Did You Notice? Roush Fenway Racing drivers are thriving… elsewhere? On the heels of the Cup program missing its first Chase since the inception of NASCAR’s playoff format in 2004 is the awkward reality their team just isn’t very good. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Trevor Bayne and Greg Biffle have combined for just three top-five finishes …
Did You Notice? NASCAR enters Richmond without a compelling “make the Chase” story for a second straight season? Two years removed from the “Spingate” scandal we have yet to produce a sense of urgency that makes the regular season finale the “must see” event it used to be in the early years of NASCAR’s playoff …
Did You Notice? Michael Waltrip no longer has a full-time Sprint Cup team for 2016? That was made official Wednesday morning when Rob Kauffman announced he was pulling out of his partnership with Waltrip’s two-car organization following the 2015 season. In a statement, Kauffman made clear that “this decision was made after weighing several different …
Did You Notice? The way in which road-course ringers can’t make up for bad equipment in Sprint Cup? It was a tale of two weekends for Boris Said, one of the sport’s road-course experts and a veteran who’s taught literally a dozen modern Cup drivers the ropes at both Sonoma and Watkins Glen. Said, hopping …
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