Graphs and Charts
Was Phoenix a ‘Bad Race’?
A lot was written last week about the Phoenix race being a ‘bad race’ — but was it? In comparison to what? The typical race at Phoenix? Our memories of races at Phoenix? Our expectations? […]
Racing
Cautions
Do Cautions Breed Cautions?
There are a lot of NASCAR sayings. You know them: one announcer starts and the others all join in. Last weekend at Martinsville, with three cautions in the last 50 laps, it was “cautions breed […]
Cooling
Does Qualifying Matter at Talladega?
50% of races won at Talladega are won by drivers starting from the first two rows. Can you win if you don’t qualify well? […]
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? […]
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 […]