The 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season has reached the halfway point — 13 races down, 13 more to go before the 16-driver field is set for the 10-race, season-ending playoffs that will determine this year’s champion.
With that in mind, here are the 13 biggest surprises from the first 13 races of the Cup season.
Goodyear, NASCAR and Charlotte Motor Speedway kicked up something really cool for the Monster Energy All-Star Race: A super-soft option tire that was up to half a second faster than the prime tire but wore out much quicker.