These are the 5 biggest questions for NASCAR fans to ponder in 2018

HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 19: A general view of racing during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19, 2017 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)
HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 19: A general view of racing during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19, 2017 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images) /
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It’s not long from the time the calendar flips to a new year to engines firing at Daytona, so here are the five biggest questions on our minds as we head into 2018.

The NASCAR offseason is shorter than any in major professional sports, which is why it seems to go by as fast as a lap at Bristol. As soon as we’re done celebrating a champion like the very deserving Martin Truex Jr., we’re already on to what’s next.

The Daytona 500 is always a great way to kick things off, but NASCAR fans know it’s not often representative of what will happen over the rest of the season. In 2018, that’s even more true since the post-Junior era brings with it a great deal of uncertainty.

With that in mind, and with the bitter cold currently having us dreaming of Daytona Beach, here are the five questions that loom largest until Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series racing is actually back underway again.

LAS VEGAS, NV – NOVEMBER 30: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Champion Martin Truex Jr. attends the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series awards at Wynn Las Vegas on November 30, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – NOVEMBER 30: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Champion Martin Truex Jr. attends the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series awards at Wynn Las Vegas on November 30, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) /

Should we get used to seeing Martin Truex Jr. accept the trophy at the end of the season?

Truex might be the most fascinating NASCAR champion in recent memory, simply because he’s both an overnight success and an inspirational story of not giving up at the same time. Consider that prior to the 2016 Chase, Truex had five victories in the top series, and after raising the champion’s trophy at the end of 2017, he now has 15.

No one would begrudge him those accomplishments, especially given the winless seasons he endured along the way and the misfortunes that struck some of his loved ones and team members. It’s cliche to say an athlete has been through a lot, but the 37-year-old New Jersey native truly has.

But getting to the top and staying there are two different things, especially in a sport like NASCAR where the status quo can change suddenly. The 78 team is used to going it alone, but with the 77 going away for now, it will truly be a solo act as everyone else tries chasing them down.

Truex was fast at so many different tracks in 2017 and his bond with crew chief Cole Pearn appears so solid that it’s hard to see them falling off too much. It’s just going to be intriguing seeing them as the hinted rather than the hunters and finding out how they fare when their no longer the scrappy underdogs.