Once again, NASCAR Silly Season is in full bloom. We’ve got retirements and alignments, sponsorships and ownerships, hirings and firings and, of course, Matt DiBenedetto. This annual late-summer/early-fall tradition is filled with nerves, excitement and surprises. On the note of surprises, Paul Menard joins David Ragan as the second Monster …
Read More »NASCAR 101: Can Kyle Busch Score 30 Top 10s in 2019?
“But [Kyle] Busch could also be peaking too early. Because if history is any indication, his early-season strength could end up faltering down the line.” Man, I wonder what kind of idiot wrote that earlier this year. …oh. Right. In early May 2019, Kyle Busch was on a hot streak rivaling …
Read More »NASCAR 101: Here Are the 2019 Darlington Throwback Schemes
It’s that time of year again: the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series return to Darlington Raceway for Labor Day weekend and its festivities, leading up to the Bojangles Southern 500 on Sunday, Sept. 1. This year, the theme throws back to the years 1990-1994, though some chose …
Read More »NASCAR 101: Here’s What NASCAR Changed With Cup Participation in Xfinity, Truck Series for 2020
Much like the constant rules changes surrounding the annual Advance Auto Parts Clash in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Daytona International Speedway, the regulations around who’s allowed to race in the Xfinity and Gander Outdoors Truck series continue to morph each year, and 2020 will be no different. …
Read More »NASCAR 101: Other K&N Stalwarts Who Could Join Sam Mayer in the Truck Series (Or Beyond)
The latest graduate of the K&N Pro Series to NASCAR’s national series is Sam Mayer, who made his Gander Outdoors Truck Series debut Thursday night, Aug. 15, at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mayer, 16, was announced in late 2018 as one of the drivers for GMS Racing’s Truck Series program in …
Read More »NASCAR 101: Meet the 4 Drivers Making Their Xfinity Debuts at Mid-Ohio
The standalone road course races in the NASCAR Xfinity Series tend to bring out intriguing one-offs, and this weekend at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is no different. The 38-car field for Saturday’s (Aug. 10) B&L Transport 170 includes numerous drivers hired for the race for their road course racing prowess. …
Read More »NASCAR 101: Road Course Winners Without Wins Anywhere Else
You may have heard of a road course ringer: a non-NASCAR driver who is brought in to the series solely for his road-course skills. However, not all drivers who only have a road-course win have been part-timers. Some have been Monster Energy Cup, Xfinity, and Gander Outdoors Truck Series regulars. …
Read More »NASCAR 101: Longest Cup Streaks Without a Pole
Entering the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, Brad Keselowski had 14 poles to his credit — by no means a deplorable number. However, it came with a caveat. In 2018, Keselowski won no poles, and his last one before then came at the second Michigan International Speedway race …
Read More »NASCAR 101: An Adventure in the Wonderful World of Loop Data
Since 2005, following every Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race, NASCAR has released what it calls loop data to the general public. Loop data is a form of advanced statistics that calculates what position every driver is running at at the conclusion of every lap of the race and who …
Read More »NASCAR 101: Cup Stats at the Halfway Mark
After 18 races, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season is officially halfway complete. This weekend at Kentucky Speedway marks race 19 of 36, the climb down the mountain after an 18-race incline. At no other point this season (and in none before now) has the series been as ripe …
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