Daytona 500
2026 NASCAR Rules
Phoenix International Raceway

Phoenix Proves the Case for More Practice

This is the second year in a row that the end of the NASCAR season left a sour taste in my mouth. Last year, it was manufacturer manipulation at Martinsville that excluded Christopher Bell from the Championship 4. This year, it was a race in which chance played more role than skill. […]

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
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. […]

2025 Season
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?) […]

Accidents

How Many Cars are Saved by Eliminating Practice at Superspeedways?

NASCAR elected not to hold practice at superspeedways with the goal of decreasing the number of backup cars and repairs required, thus cutting costs for owners. Now that we’ve had a few years of this format, I wondered how many cars this policy has saved. […]

Cautions

Are Caution Lengths Increasing in 2025?

Internet pundits are complaining that caution lengths are longer in 2025 than ever before. Given that people tend to remember cases when something exceptional happens and forget the many times it doesn’t, this question just […]