We’re halfway through the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, and the playoffs are practically around the corner. It’s been an interesting year so far, and you could even call it a little strange.
So to quickly recap the oddities through the first 19 races of the season, here are the seven biggest surprises so far, numbered but in no particular order.
(Note: Dale Earnhardt Jr. announcing his retirement is not on this list. After suffering a concussion and missing half of last year, his career could have been over then because of the many challenges he faced. So his exit is a huge blow to the NASCAR world, but it’s not quite a surprise.)
1. Kyle Busch STILL has not won
(Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports)
This is one of the most talked about storylines of the season, but it’s still a big shocker. The No. 18 Toyota driver has accumulated 38 wins throughout his career with nine in the last two years alone. The last season he finished without a win was back in 2004 when he wasn’t even a full-time driver, so he’ll probably win one of these weekends. But without it, he doesn’t have a guaranteed spot in the 16-driver playoffs this fall.
2. Stenhouse is making moves
Stenhouse celebrates after winning the GEICO 500. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
In his fifth full-time season and after 157 winless races, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. finally earned his first Cup Series victory at the GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway in May. But two months later, he surprised everyone again when he won the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Not many racing fans would have bet that Stenhouse would have more wins than Kevin Harvick (1), Joey Logano (1) or Busch through July.
3. Joe Gibbs Racing’s slow start
An extension of Busch getting shut out, it took Joe Gibbs’ team 19 races to get its first win. Thanks to Denny Hamlin on Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, JGR’s winless drought dating back to last year was snapped, but the team looks totally different compared with 2016.
At this point last season, JGR had won eight of 19 events. Busch and Carl Edwards – who all but retired – were major factors, combining for four consecutive wins at one point. Rookie Daniel Suárez replaced Edwards this year, so he’s still getting comfortable at the next level. But that doesn’t explain why Busch, Hamlin and Matt Kenseth have struggled.
4. Speaking of Matt Kenseth…
(Jerry Markland/Getty Images)
The 45-year-old driver doesn’t have a ride next season, which he actually announced before his team did a few weeks ago. Despite winning 16 races over five seasons for JGR, Kenseth is being replaced by 21-year-old Erik Jones in 2018. Where the 2003 Cup Series champion’s career goes from here is anybody’s guess.
5. Martin Truex Jr.’s incredible consistency
Not only are Truex and seven-time Cup Series champ Jimmie Johnson leading the series with three wins apiece, but the No. 78 Toyota driver is destroying the field in the stages. He has an unbelievable 14 stage wins so far along with 29 playoff points. Busch is second on the list with just five stage wins, while Johnson’s is next with 16 playoff points. Truex was great last year with four race wins, but no one could have anticipated this kind of consistent speed every weekend.
6. Logano getting left behind
Joey Logano won the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway back in April, but it’s encumbered after failing the post-race inspection. He still gets credit for the win but lost the automatic playoff berth.
Since then, the No. 22 Ford driver has struggled. Including the Richmond race, he finished in the top-10 eight out of nine times. But through the next ten events, he did so only twice, he’s wrecked three times and he has an average finish of 23.3. If the playoffs started today, Logano wouldn’t make the cut – a steep difference compared with being just three points away from the 2016 series championship.
7. Richard Childress Racing’s quiet surge
Austin Dillon after winning the Coca-Cola 600. (Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)
Thanks to wins from Ryan Newman at Phoenix Raceway in March and Austin Dillon at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, RCR has two drivers locked into the playoffs. Although they’ve both been fairly mediocre since their respective wins, it’s still surprising to see this team with more drivers qualified for the playoffs than powerhouses JGR, Hendrick Motorsports and Team Penske – who each have one driver in.