Restrictor Plate Competition Up…Again

The new car of tomorrow matched – and exceeded – the boom in competition from the last visit to a restrictor plate track (February’s Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway).

There were 52 lead changes among 20 drivers during Sunday’s Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway.

The Daytona 500 saw similar numbers – 42 lead changes among 16 drivers.

Sunday’s 20 different leaders is tied for eighth all-time in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition.

The 52 lead changes topped both Talladega races from last season. In the 2007 spring race, there were 42 lead changes; in the fall contest, there were 41.

There was also a jump in Green Flag Passes for the Lead, a Loop Data statistic that accounts for lead changes all around the track (not only at the start/finish line). Sunday’s race saw 84 Green Flag Passes for the Lead, compared to 67 during the last race held at Talladega. NASCAR PR