Parity among race winners is affecting those with playoff hopes. The need for wins is forcing risky strategy and calculated approaches for unlikely success.
After underwhelming starts to the season, three of last year’s playoff drivers, including reigning champion Chase Elliott, appear poised for improved results.
Kyle Larson previously stood out as an analytics darling for a middling team. Now with Hendrick Motorsports supplying him the fastest car in the NASCAR Cup Series, he’s realizing the potential his advanced stats suggested was there all along.
Hunting a second championship and new contract, Brad Keselowski enters his statistical prime with a well-roundedness on tracks integral to a title run.
With track position the focus today in Las Vegas, all strategies are viable thanks to a malleable tire combination, with restarts ripe for opportunity.
Ben Beshore has a plan to right Kyle Busch involving high expectations, a back-to-basics approach and building speed for a schedule that suits his driver.
Kurt Busch, Ryan Blaney and Matt DiBenedetto detail the education and awareness necessary to succeed on restarts, the most vulnerable moments of a NASCAR race.
Chase Elliott carries a four-race road course win streak into today’s O’Reilly 253 at Daytona but his competition is closing in on his secret to success.
Martin Truex Jr. established himself as NASCAR’s best road course passer and restarter, but the rise of Chase Elliott casts a shadow over his excellence.
Speed is only part of the equation in the Daytona 500. Drivers aim to focus on handling and risk mitigation in the quest to win NASCAR’s season opener.
