Recently, some NASCAR fans did some sleuthing and uncovered an interesting statistic. According to them, the 2023 Cup Series season has witnessed the most green-flag overtakes in history. According to them, the official number of green flag passes for the lead this season is 442, while the number of overall overtakes is 39,992. However, Denny Hamlin was not particularly convinced and challenged the statistic.
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Josh you must add context. Any race that has green flag stops credits a car for passes that it did NOT actually make on the track resulting in HUNDREDS of passes in the stat column that are not real. This is where Twitter would post a context statement lol.
There have been more green flag passes for the lead this year (442) than any year since loop data was invented (2007). There have been more green flag passes (39,992) so far this year than any year since 2007. Not to mention all of the records Next Gen set last year.
According to the Joe Gibbs Racing driver, most of the overtakes occur during green-flag pit stops. Hamlin insisted that any overtakes that occur when cars are on the pit road are counted as overtakes in the stats column. As a result, there are hundreds of overtakes that are not genuine. This pretty much triggered a massive debate among fans, with many agreeing with Hamlin. However, there were several others who challenged his statement.
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Fans counter Denny Hamlin with detailed arguments
Some fans challenged him, suggesting that overtakes during green flag pit stops should be counted as overtakes. Few were caught up in the semantics of the debate, saying that the study simply said overtakes and did not specify what kind. It is also worth mentioning that the NASCAR loop data was introduced around 2007, and since then, the number of overtakes has skyrocketed.
... are they not passes though? Is the exchange for position not considered a pass for position? Did the statement say "passes" or "on track passes"? Maybe list both?
Guess they didn’t have green flag stops in 2007…..
But those passes have been counted every year, not just this year. So explain why the number is increasing?
Few people even wondered how the number of green flag stops had increased. Especially considering that stages exist in the sport, which defeats the purpose of green flag pit stops. One fan decided to be a bit helpful in Hamlin’s case. They pointed out that NASCAR had published some charts on social media where it showed that there was plenty of action. Some also said that there were others who got on Hamlin’s case for complaining.
Denny have you seen NASCAR’s IG account has made 2 posts today with 3 charts that make it seem like there was movement throughout the field during the entire race. It seems like they are trying really hard to make it seem like Sunday was a good race…Awesome podcast this week!
Not sure if you listen to @NASCARonNBC podcast but Nate Ryan and DJ were getting on your case saying you were complaining just because you didnt win and tried to use green flag passing stats to prove it. This is exactly why stats need context. Theyre using these same skewed stats
Actually @dennyhamlin If the statement says from 2007 on then even with your complaint (of which seems to be all you do lately) the numbers from 2007 on would also include the HUNDREDS of passes you claim during green flag stops as well. So that makes the statement still true.
Others agreed, saying that all he seemed to be doing lately was complaining. According to them, he was just mad that he has not won a single race so far this season. Few people even said that the 2007 overtaking data would have also included green flag pitstop overtakes. So in that case, the 2023 data is true and is actually a good thing for NASCAR. One thing is for sure, this debate is probably going to rage for a while, though it is unlikely that a resolution will be reached.
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