An Early Look at the 2014 NASCAR Season
By Richard Tix
Alright, you don't have to correct me on my math, technically after Richmond, or the 9th race, NASCAR will be a quarter of the way done with its 36 race season. So yes, I am a week early, but NASCAR has a bye week for the Easter Holiday so it seemed like a better time to dig into this early season review.
The season started off with 7 straight different winners, which was still 3 winners off from tying the NASCAR record of 10 straight to start a year. Then in race 8 Kevin Harvick won his second race of the year and virtually locked himself into the Chase. Lets take a look at some of the early season headlines (Here are my preseason headlines, which come find there way onto this list again as well).
Early Season Headlines
- NASCAR's New Aero Package
- After 8 races in 2014 I have decided this was the most under rated headline going into the season. NASCAR made changes to the aero package and they have seemed to really help out the competition on the track. Lost of great passing and hard racing has been brought out by the new package and has gave fans some great finishes (add in some late times cautions, some questionable).
- Good Year
- Is it the tire? Is it the team/driver? Is it the aggressive set ups? Every season it seems we see a race that has a big "tire" issue which brings everyone out to call out the tire maker. Well early in 2014 we had it again. My take: It is a little bit on every single one of these categories. My thought is and always will be that racing is about pushing your equipment to its absolute edge. Find that edge and use it to your advantage to win.
- The 3 is back
- This was a heavy topic to start the season, but so far after 8 races it hasn't seemed to be as big of an issue as it once was. Is it just that the fans who do not agree with it haven't had much to yell about while Dillon learns the ropes and finishes top 15, or has it just become a non factor?
- NASCAR's New Points System
- The huge headline to start the season was NASCAR once again changing its points rules. Many fans took the change hard, but it doesn't seem to have stopped there enthusiasm for the sport. To start the year it looks like a possibility that teams who have already locked up a win can take some extra gambles. This change will continue to be a topic all year, especially when we get down to a few regular season races left, until then I don't think fans will truly see the excitement this change could make. I also think the media is missing the point in how much points will still play a part in the Chase race (why points still matter).
- 7-Time?
- So far, 2014 hasn't brought the Jimmie Johnson we have come to know. He and the 48 team haven't seemed as sharp as normal, yet he is 5th in points. That should be scary to his fellow competitors, because one thing we know about he and Chad, they wont stay down for long.
- Penske's Early Dominance
- 2014 started out with a bang for Team Penske (Ahead of the Learning Curve). Both drivers have already collected and early win in the season and were the first two to really take advantage of the new qualifying system. This young team could be a factor come Chase time, until then they will work out the kinks for when it matters.
- Rain
- How can we talk about some early season headlines without talking about the rain? So far this season it seems like where ever NASCAR goes so does the rain. Rain has caused delays, changed days of the race, and also finished a race. So this section is in dedication to the weather: please stay away the rest of the season, sincerely NBTW.
- Kyle Larson
- Kyle Larson, in 8 races, has already proved he is the real deal. He has four top 10's whcih came on two different back to back top 10 stretches. Austin Dillon has also provided some steady finishes early in the season. Side note: In the Nationwide series young Chase Elliott is also proving he is the next big thing and it may not be long before we see him in a Cup ride. (Rookie Report Week 1 and Week 5)
Biggest Surprise's and Disappointments (Drivers)
Surprises
- Jeff Gordon
- Lot's of talk was passed around going into 2014 that Jeff Gordon may retire at the end of 2014. Normally this talk doesn't come out until fans think he could be reaching a tipping point of being over the edge. Well after 8 races in the 2014 season your Points Leader is none other than Jeff Gordon. He is proving that you can not sleep on him.
- Dale Earnhardt Jr
- Same with Gordon, it isn't a surprise that Jr is doing well, but rather that Jr has been doing this well. He has had an up and down career and Jr Nation has stuck with him through it all. Well it paid off when he won the first race of the season, the Daytona 500. He hasn't let up either, as he had 5 top 10's, all top 5's, in the first 8 races.
- Brian Vickers
- I noted that I thought he could be a surprise this season, but I make a lot of calls that dont always work out. He has come around and bounced back from his health issues early this year with 3 top tens, all in his last 5 starts.
- Joey Logano
- Ever since getting to Penske I have been impressed by his turn around. At JGR he was just in a rut as a young kid that didn't look like he would get out of. Then some fresh air started to turn it around last year as he picked up his first Penske win in August at Michigan. So its not a huge surprise that he has started 2014 on a hot note, but he and his Penske teammate have been fast all year and both have wins.
Disappointments
- Denny Hamlin
- After winning the Sprint Unlimited and his Duel race at Daytona he made a huge "I'm Back" announcement. Well unlike Michael Jordon, Denny hasn't quite looked like he is back. He hasn't run terrible, but after the way he started the season I can't imagine Denny fans thinking his early season has been a success.
- Kasey Kahne
- Man has it been a rough start for Kahne in 2014 or what? He has finished 31st + three times in early 2014 and only has two top 10's. I like Kahne, but I have made the statement before, but he could be out a ride when Hendrick thinks another young guy is ready to take over his spot. He and Kyle Busch parted ways in the past as well, so it isn't that out there to think.
- Martin Truex Jr
- Truex isnt the wheel man that Kurt Busch is, but I really thought he would be able to keep some stability in the #78, but so far Martin has had nothing but bad luck. Like normal, FOX spotlighted Martin on Saturday because he made his way towards the top 10, and then he had a tire go down and ruin his day. He has had a hard luck year.
As always thanks for reading! Check out more of the blog in this NASCAR bye week! Coming up next week NASCAR Behind the Wall will once again have a race preview for Richmond as we finish up the real first quarter of the season.
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