Series Hits Half Way Points

With 18 races complete, the series has reached its halfway point, and it has been a storyline-filled first half.

Two news tweaks were introduced over the first half. The spoiler was re-introduced to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car, starting with race No. 5 at Martinsville Speedway. Also, the multiple attempts at a green-white-checkered finish rule was implemented at the season’s start. Thus far, seven races have ended with a GWC finish, three of them with multiple attempts.

The competition over the first 18 races has been tight, especially so at Talladega, which saw a NASCAR record 88 lead changes among 29 drivers.

Here are some more competition numbers:
7 different race winners
12 different Coors Light Pole winners
46 drivers led at least one lap
31 drivers have scored at least one Top 10 this year
Average Margin of Victory of 1.294 seconds
11 races with an MOV under 1 second
Average of 12 leaders per race
Average of 28 lead changes per race
Average of 43 green flag passes for the lead all along the track (highest through 18 races since the inception of Loop Data in 2005)
Average of 3,613 green flag passes per race (highest through 18 races since the inception of Loop Data in 2005)
50% of the cars finished on the lead lap
78% of the cars were running at the finish