0<\/strong> \u2013 The number of Earnhardt\u2019s racing full time in NASCAR<\/strong>.\u00a0 As of this writing, Jeffery Earnhardt<\/strong> was still actively looking for a ride for 2018 but it appears his chances of finding a full time ride this late in the game is, well, zero.<\/p>\n 3<\/strong> \u2013 Not only will the 2018 season be run without Dale Jr. driving, but Danica Patrick<\/strong> and Matt Kenseth<\/strong> will be absent from full-time racing as well.\u00a0 In a sport that is still stinging from the retirements of Jeff Gordon, Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle losing these big 3 are among NASCAR\u2019s biggest stories in 2018.<\/p>\n 5<\/strong> \u2013 Pit crew numbers have been reduced from six to five in all three NASCAR series in 2018.\u00a0 It\u2019s part of NASCAR\u2019s goal of creating parity.\u00a0 NASCAR won\u2019t admit this but it\u2019s also a way to allow teams to cut cost.<\/p>\n 8<\/strong> \u2013 The number of Championships Jimmie Johnson<\/strong> hopes he has after the 2018 season.\u00a0 Will the new Chevrolet Camaro ZL1<\/strong> be able to put a dent into the recent dominant performance of the Toyota Camry?\u00a0 The early season Vegas odds have Jimmie\u2019s chances of a championship at 15\/1.<\/p>\n 9<\/strong> \u2013 If you had told me that Chase Elliott<\/strong> would have no wins going into his third season replacing Jeff Gordon<\/strong> with Hendrick Motorsports<\/strong>, I\u2019d have had a hard time believing you.\u00a0 But that\u2019s exactly what the record shows.\u00a0 This year, Elliott will sport his Daddy\u2019s old number (9) on his Chevy Camaro ZL1.\u00a0 He hopes that changes his luck.<\/p>\n 10<\/strong> \u2013 The Danica\/SHR split has opened a huge door for Aric Almirola<\/strong>.\u00a0 There are many interesting things to watch out for in 2018 season and for me this is a big one.\u00a0 Will Almirola perform at a higher level than Patrick was able to do?\u00a0 Stay tuned.<\/p>\n 12<\/strong> \u2013 Ryan Blaney<\/strong> who drove the 21 Ford for Woods Brothers Racing in 2017, switched the numbers 2 and 1 and moves over to the Penske Ford<\/strong> number 12 car.\u00a0 With teammates Keselowski and Logano, my money says there be a lot of checkered flags for this group in 2018.<\/p>\n 24<\/strong> \u2013 The number that Jeff Gordon made famous now has a new young star sitting behind its wheel.\u00a0 Future superstar and 2017 Xfinity Champion, William Byron<\/strong> hopes to power the Hendrick Motor Sports<\/strong> car to the top of the charts.<\/p>\n 26<\/strong> \u2013 As if his 8 victories in 2017 aren\u2019t enough, Martin Truex Jr<\/strong>. 2017 Championship season saw him collect 26 top-10 finishes in his 36 starts.\u00a0 Once again the 2018 field will be chasing Truex.<\/p>\n 35<\/strong> \u2013 NASCAR teams spent 35 million on tires in 2017.\u00a0 On a typical race weekend, NASCAR will use between nine and fourteen sets of tires.\u00a0 That\u2019s a lot of rubber.<\/p>\n 40<\/strong> \u2013 The number of escalators at Daytona<\/strong> International Speedway.\u00a0 After selling out the past two seasons, the 101,500 fans have given the escalators quite the workout.<\/p>\n 60<\/strong> \u2013 When the green flag flies at Daytona International on February 18th<\/sup>, it will mark the 60th<\/sup> time the Daytona 500 has run.<\/p>\n 95<\/strong> \u2013 Once one of NASCAR most popular drivers (Remember the Nationwide Commercials?) Kasey Kahne<\/strong> was let go by Hendrick Motor Sports at the end of 2017.\u00a0 Moving from the well-funded number 5 Chevrolet Hendrick team, Kahne hitched a ride with Levine Family Racing and will likely struggle to find himself in the Chase in 2018.<\/p>\n 8.7 million \u2013 That was reported to be NASCAR Chairman Brian France<\/strong> annual salary from NASCAR in 2004.\u00a0 After his recent performances, one wonders if his pay has been docked by a few million.<\/p>\n Main Photo:<\/strong>
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>