At the beginning of each season the elite drivers of NASCAR have a clean slate except for the performance expectations that are thrust upon them, be it fair or not. Team owners, sponsors, fans and the media use a driver's past performance, team resources, crew chiefs and other factors to determine how they feel those in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will perform. Certainly, just as cream rises to the top, the drivers with a record of wins, titles and the ability to make the Chase are expected to continue to do so. It doesn't always work that way though. Odd things happen in NASCAR because of the variables that can be such game-changers, especially under the new point structure. Parity among teams with the COT has made competition perhaps as ...

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At the beginning of each season the elite drivers of NASCAR have a clean slate except for the performance expectations that are thrust upon them, be it fair or not. Team owners, sponsors, fans and the media use a driver's past performance, team resources, crew chiefs and other factors to determine how they feel those in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will perform. Certainly, just as cream rises to the top, the drivers with a record of wins, titles and the ability to make the Chase are expected to continue to do so. It doesn't always work that way though. Odd things happen in NASCAR because of the variables that can be such game-changers, especially under the new point structure. Parity among teams with the COT has made competition perhaps as ...

Read Complete Article at Bleacher Report - Motorsports
Article is property of BleacherReport.com