Hamlin, Denny
2026 Martinsville I Set Up Notes
My 2026 Martinsville I set up notes cover everything from the venue to the on-track action we’ve seen so far. […]
Drivers
Allmendinger, A.J.
Hot New Data on Driver Cooling
Driver cooling seems to be an issue almost every week. It seems like at least one driver has a cool shirt failure each race. A.J. Allmendinger needed medical attention after COTA due to high ambient temperature and running a road course, where cockpits typically get hotter than other types of tracks. […]
Austin Dillon
Every Point Counts — But Don’t Fret Over Point Standings Just Yet
I post a yearly reminder not to get too bent out of shape by the point standings early in the season. But NASCAR changed the points system for 2026. Now, they remind us, every point counts.
So does that make my long-standing advice incorrect?
It does not. […]
Anthony Alfredo
Lessons from the 2026 Daytona Duels
Everyone else does recaps, I’ll instead look at lessons from the 2026 Daytona Duels. Some things to think about as we look forward to Sunday’s Daytona 500. […]
Cleetus McFarland
Daytona Really is a Different Animal: Travis Pastrana, Tony Stewart and Cleetus McFarland
The large number of people who turn up at the first race of the NASCAR season is due to two things: One is that the money makes even coming in last a decent propositio financially. Second, Daytona really is a different animal. […]
Briscoe, Chase
Dr. Diandra’s 2025 NASCAR Championship Race Preview
After 35 races and three knockout rounds, four drivers qualified to race for the championship: Chase Briscoe, William Byron, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson. The driver who posts the best finish at Phoenix becomes the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Champion. […]
Briscoe, Chase
A Single Mistake in This Year’s Playoffs Can Be Fatal
In the closest playoffs since this format started in 2017, even Ross Chastain’s go-for-broke last-lap attempt to advance to the Round of 8 was unsuccessful. […]
Bubba Wallace
Does the Gen-7 Car Help Non-Playoff Drivers Win in the Playoffs?
Eric Jones and John Hunter Nemechek had really strong runs at the first playoff race — despite neither having made the playoffs. Their performances got me wondering whether the Next Gen car helps non-playoff drivers win in the playoffs. […]
Road Courses
Shane van Gisbergen’s Odds in the Playoffs
Shane van Gisbergen’s odds of advancing deep into the playoffs seem high if you look only at his four wins and 22 playoff points. Going into Richmond, he’s tied with Denny Hamlin for most wins this year. van Gisbergen is third in playoff points, trailing only Hamlin (24) and Kyle Larson (23). But there’s a caveat. (Isn’t there always?) […]
2025 Season
2025 Iowa Race Report
The 2025 Iowa Race Reports includes bitten fingernails due to fuel concerns, a Brad Keselowski surge, and a rash of cautions that threw a bunch of strategies out the window. […]