Sprint Cup Drivers Talk Parity at Kentucky
SPARTA, Ky. - Prior to the start of the season, NASCAR wanted to set a higher value on winning races. At the halfway point, it appears that the plan has finally come together.
Through 17 races, the Sprint Cup Series has produced 13 different winners - up from 13 in all last season. This year has also produced three first-time winners after zero a year ago.
While Jimmie Johnson has won five straight championships, the car of tomorrow and an exciting rules package has generated a lot of equality from week to week.
“I think as time goes on and the longer the rules stay the same, it closes the gap up on the competition side and allows more winners,” Johnson said. “It provides more winners over the course of a year and you’ll see less of one guy running away with it.”
Kyle Busch has two wins and is third in the Sprint Cup Series championship standings.
“Everybody has a really good sense of this car now,” Busch said. “There’s not much room for leeway in the rules for us to get creative and get the cars faster than anyone else’s. You notice that more of these races are coming down to the end and how pit strategy and the fuel mileage plays out.”
Daytona winner David Ragan thinks it has more to do with the alliances the smaller teams have made with the larger organizations.
“I think of guys like Furniture Row who have an affiliation with RCR and the Wood Brothers who have their affiliation with Roush Racing and it closes the gap between guys who are 15th in points and those that are 30th in points and makes the competition tighter than it has ever been,” Ragan said.
The lack of separation might stem from a new championship format that emphasizes winning more by offering two playoff slots for winning drivers from positions 11th through 20th.
Ragan thinks it could just be one of those seasons where different winners just happens.
“I’m just glad to be on the list.”
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