Graphs and Charts
Dominance of the Few Isn’t New in NASCAR
Have recent rules and regulation changes made the NASCAR Cup series less competitive by making a small number of drivers dominant and locking out others? […]
Racing
Drivers
Do Winless NASCAR Drivers Win in the Playoffs?
NASCAR drivers who didn’t make the playoffs now just want to win. But how likely is a driver who didn’t win in the regular season wins in the playoffs? […]
Drivers
NASCAR Throwback: Are Things Easier for Rookie Drivers Now Than in the 90’s?
It’s throwback weekend! Everything 90’s is new again. So why not look back and consider whether today’s rookie drivers have it easier (or harder) than their counterparts did. The level of competition plays a role, […]
Road Courses
Which NASCAR Tracks Are Most Accident Prone?
With Bristol this weekend, thoughts turn naturally to carnage. Short track racing means accidents. Given the greater-than-usual level of aggression among drivers this year, we can expect there to be at least a few collisions.
But does short-track mayhem hold a candle to Daytona and Talladega? Let’s see. […]
Penalties
NASCAR’s Penalty Box: Uncontrolled Tires
NASCAR changed the ‘arms-length uncontrolled-tire penalty’ after pressure from fans and drivers who complained that the rule was too subjective. Does the new rule solve those penalty problems? Does NASCAR Need an Uncontrolled Tire Rule? […]
Aerodynamics
The NASCAR Vortex Theory
The NASCAR Vortex Theory says that cars racing around an oval track create a rotational disturbance that repels oncoming storms. Truth? Or Myth? What’s a Vortex? A vortex is a region in a fluid (and […]
Distributions
Does NASCAR Have a Momentum Effect?
Here’s a drinking game for you the next time you tune into any sports broadcast, be it motorsports, golf, rugby, boxing or tennis. Drink every time you hear the word ‘momentum’. You can play the […]
Brains
Sterling Marlin, Parkinson’s and Deep Brain Stimulation
Sterling Marlin, one of only three drivers to ever win the Daytona 500 two years in a row, announced that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2012. Last week, Marlin’s team announced that he was undergoing surgery to implant a deep brain stimulation (DBS) device to treat his Parkinson’s. […]
Aerodynamics
NASCAR: Caps, Limits and Level Playing Fields
Every sport faces it: One, or a few, teams pull ahead because they can spend more money than anyone else. Those teams and their fans are fine, but it means the league has failed to […]
Allmendinger, A.J.
Can Simulators and Video Games Make Great Racecar Drivers?
There are two schools of thought about what makes some people the best in their fields. One is that some people have innate skills or traits that allow them to become great. The other is […]