With the NASCAR Cup Collection on break for the Olympics, the drivers and groups have two weeks to regroup earlier than returning to motion at Richmond (Va.) Raceway on Aug. 11. The ultimate 14 races of the season will probably be chock-full of storylines, together with the championship chase.
Listed here are 10 predictions for NASCAR’s run to the checkered flag:
1. For the second straight yr, Bubba Wallace will eke out a playoff bid
Wallace gave the impression to be in a must-win scenario as lately as Chicago on July 7, however he has made up 38 factors over the previous two races and is inside seven markers of the ultimate playoff bid. His 2023 expertise with postseason strain may turn out to be useful this yr as he seems to sneak into the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
2. Ford will get one driver into the Championship 4
Going into Might, this prediction appeared laughable. Till Darlington on Might 12, Ford was winless within the Cup Collection, however with defending champion Ryan Blaney and the remainder of Crew Penske heating up, it appears seemingly that the 2023 champ may have an opportunity to defend his crown at Phoenix.
Ford may also have Joey Logano, Austin Cindric and Brad Keselowski chasing the championship, and Chris Buescher remains to be within the playoff image, simply 17 factors above the minimize line. Blaney is the favourite to be Ford’s consultant in Phoenix, however do not depend out veterans Logano and Keselowski, who know learn how to flip up the warmth when wanted.
3. Martin Truex Jr. will go winless in remaining full-time season
Truex profitable a race in 2024 appeared like a certainty within the spring and early summer season, however blunders from the No. 19 staff and an absence of velocity have that storybook win taking part in onerous to get. Truex is a risk to win wherever, however to get yet another victory, the No. 19 staff should keep away from replicating its 2023 postseason meltdown.
4. Entrance Row Motorsports will win a race by season’s finish
With three superspeedway races — Daytona, Atlanta and Talladega — together with two highway programs left on the schedule, Todd Gilliland and Michael McDowell appear poised to interrupt via and earn Entrance Row a win. Each drivers want a victory to make the playoffs, however additionally they produce other motivations.
McDowell is seeking to earn one final win for the staff that helped him launch his profession earlier than going to Spire Motorsports in 2025, whereas Gilliland needs to finish his breakout season with a win and construct extra momentum for the long run. One of the best likelihood at victory for every driver? Gilliland’s is probably going Atlanta, the place he led 58 laps in February, whereas McDowell’s is the highway course in Watkins Glen, N.Y.
5. Kyle Larson will win the regular-season title
Larson is the factors chief with 4 regular-season races remaining, however his lead is barely 10 factors over Chase Elliott and 15 over Tyler Reddick. The 15 playoff factors are greater than sufficient incentive for Larson over the following 4 races and with how nicely he has carried out amassing stage factors, do not be stunned if the 2021 regular-season champ can also be topped in 2024.
6. Ross Chastain will go winless, miss playoffs for first time with Trackhouse
In his first two seasons with Trackhouse, Chastain appeared like a top-10 driver within the Cup Collection as he gained twice in each 2022 and 2023 and made the Championship 4 in 2022. Nonetheless, he is solely seven factors above the playoff minimize line with 4 regular-season races to go, and with Wallace on a tear, issues are trending within the incorrect path.
7. Carson Hocevar squeaks by Josh Berry for Rookie of The 12 months
Berry (twenty second in factors) and Hocevar (twenty fourth) are solely separated by 5 factors with 14 races remaining of their rookie seasons. Berry might have the sting in general expertise and gear, however Hocevar appears to have extra upside and has proved to be able to top-10 runs at a couple of monitor sort. The ROTY battle will seemingly come all the way down to the season’s remaining race at Phoenix, however we’ll give Hocevar the slight edge.
8. NASCAR will announce not less than one worldwide race for 2025
As followers eagerly look ahead to the 2025 schedule to be launched, the largest query surrounding it’s whether or not or not NASCAR will go worldwide. It has been speculated that the game is a race in Montreal and/or Mexico Metropolis.
9. Larson ends the yr as collection chief in wins
Larson’s 4 wins lead all drivers via the primary 22 races and the No. 5 staff is bringing race-winning vehicles to the monitor weekly. The one query that continues to be for Larson’s 2024 season is whether or not or not he can cap it with a championship.
10. Larson flips script on Blaney, wins 2024 championship
Final yr, Blaney bought the perfect of Larson within the NASCAR Cup Collection championship race. Each drivers appear to be Championship 4 materials thus far, and in the event that they make it to Phoenix, it needs to be Larson’s flip to outduel Blaney and declare his second championship in 4 years.
