Present-day Nextel Cup Series races offer closer competition than anytime in history, NASCAR says. Taking into account such statistics as cars on the lead lap and average leaders per race, racing since 1970 has become more competitive and more unpredictable than ever: Cars on the lead lap: In 1970, 22 of the 48 races had only one car on the lead lap at the end of the race. Not since 1994 has a race ended with one car on the lead lap. In the early 1970s, it was common for a race-winner to have a margin of victory of multiple laps. In 1973 at Darlington, for example, David Pearson finished 13 laps ahead of second-place finisher Benny Parsons. Since 1970, the race winner was the only car on the lead lap 128 times. From the years 1970 to 1979, it happened 110 times. In the ’80s, 16 times. In the ’90s, only twice; and since 1995, it has not happened at all. The percentage of cars on the lead lap has grown – and in some cases doubled. In the 48 races held in 1970, only 5.5 percent of the cars that started the race finished on the lead lap. That number has steadily grown. In 2006 it was 43.6%. More Race Winners: In 1970, 18 races were won by one driver. In 1971, one driver won 21 races. Since 2000, no driver has won more than eight races in a season. Through 19 races this year, 13 different drivers have visited Victory Lane. In 1970, there were 12 different race-winners the entire season – and that year featured 48 races on the schedule. 2001 – with 19 different race winners – was NASCAR’s most prolific year in terms of parity since 1970. More Leaders: The number of leaders per race has seen steady growth since 1970. In 1970 a race averaged four different leaders. That number has been at least 10 for the past three full seasons and currently the average for the 2007 season is 11.(NASCAR PR)(7-22-2007)
