This is the Statt Mann Baby. It’s time to Scatt a little bit.

It’s still too early in the NASCAR Sprint Cup season to put much trust in trends.

But there is something that’s worth watching. I noticed it before the season started and wondered if it would be an issue.

The nose on the Toyotas seems to be a lot more aerodynamic than those on the Chevrolets and Fords.  You can see the Toyota radiator opening looks smaller. A smaller radiator opening means the car goes through the air much cleaner. It’s more noticeable on the faster, higher speed tracks.

I didn’t think much about it after Daytona where Johnson won in a Chevrolet. But third was Mark Martin in a Toyota.

Since then Matt Kenseth won at Las Vegas in a Toyota. Kyle Busch won at Fontana in a Toyota. And last night Busch won again at Texas in his Toyota.

A trend? Maybe. We’ll get more evidence at Kansas next week then Talladega, Daytona and Atlanta later in the year. They’re fast tracks where a clean nose is important.

So far no Toyotas have won on the slower, shorter tracks where driver aggression is just as important at aerodynamics.

If these coincidences become a trend, it’ll be a good thing. Stock cars in a stock car racing series means manufacturers must come up with better products.

Better products through racing. What a concept!

Peace.