4 Burning Questions

This column is a series of proposals that essentially amount to where I’d like to see NASCAR be at in 10 years’ time. Now that the 2020 season is over and we’ve all gotten a good idea as to what exactly are the limits to the industry after being pushed …

Who is the driver of the year? While Chase Elliott is the champion, undoubtedly the best overall driver this season was Kevin Harvick. Harvick’s average finish of 7.333 tied with 2007 Jeff Gordon’s average finish of 7.333 for best in that category since 1999. Ironically, both drivers failed to win …

How will Jimmie Johnson be remembered? After 19 full-time seasons, the greatest NASCAR driver of all time will call it a career on Sunday. Jimmie Johnson, one of only three drivers to win seven NASCAR Cup Series championships, has stayed true to his word that 2020 would be his final …

What is the state of NASCAR? In a crazy season in a crazy year, there are still some positives coming out of it for NASCAR. It looks like TV ratings will fall at about the same level as they did in 2019, just a percentage point or two. This is …

What developments in silly season happened this past week? Erik Jones was named to the Richard Petty Motorsports No. 43 after this season in the NASCAR Cup Series. In a press release containing multiple obvious errors that was published on its website hours before the official reveal, RPM announced that …

Are the NASCAR playoffs too long? The NASCAR playoffs truly begin this weekend; the past six weeks have been more-or-less preliminary events. The NASCAR playoffs in general have always been too long. 10 weeks just makes the playoffs drag way too long. If I didn’t have to watch them for …

Where’s Clint Bowyer going? Well, Clint Bowyer is making a move, announcing Oct. 8 that he’ll be moving to the FOX broadcast booth in 2021. Bowyer’s choice to leave NASCAR Cup Series racing for broadcasting was a good decision. He isn’t completely lost out there, as evidenced by his playoff …

What were some good changes to the schedule? On Wednesday, Sept. 30, after weeks of rumors and leaks, NASCAR finally announced the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series schedule. It had been suggested by some reporters that the schedule may come in chunks, as the sanctioning body continues to operate in a …

What? Oh, boy. Tonight, I’m excited to announce MJ and I are starting a new, single car @NASCAR Cup Series team for 2021. Deciding on a driver was easy – it had to be @BubbaWallace. pic.twitter.com/nIJv0X6ZOX — Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) September 22, 2020 Yes. Michael Jordan, arguably the most decorated …

Who advances in the playoffs at Bristol Motor Speedway? The Bristol Motor Speedway night race will be cutoff race for the first round of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. While there are three drivers completely safe from elimination, the top eight-or-so in points should be safe as long as they …