At Kansas Speedway recently, Chase Elliott’s triumph left plenty of fans scratching their heads. Denny Hamlin had led 159 laps at the 2025 Hollywood Casino 400, swept the opening two stages, and looked likely to secure his sixth win of the season. Instead, it was the Hendrick Motorsports driver who entered Victory Lane, despite not having the fastest car on the grid and having led just 24 laps. But a timely pit call, four fresh tires, and an insatiable desire to win helped him in the closing laps. For long-term fans who grew up watching raw speed and endurance prevail, the result felt strange. After all, how could the best team not win?

It’s a dilemma fans are wrestling with today. Fine margins are deciding races, factors that are not immediately identifiable at first glance. And that’s c

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