After practically three weeks with out NASCAR racing, the celebs of the Cup Sequence shall be again in motion on Sunday night time on the Richmond Raceway for the Prepare dinner Out 400.
From the playoff battle to the regular-season championship battle, storylines are plentiful for the ultimate 14 races of the season. Listed below are the 4 largest:
1. Chastain, Wallace or the sphere?
Because of a cost from Bubba Wallace and a collapse by Ross Chastain, these two drivers discover themselves on the crossroads of respective seasons. Chastain has a seven-point benefit over Wallace for the ultimate playoff spot, however with 4 races remaining earlier than the postseason subject is determined, it is anybody’s battle.
Do not rule out a shock winner from beneath the lower line, both, particularly with the unpredictable Daytona Worldwide Speedway race (Coke Zero Sugar 400) looming on Aug. 24.
2. 15 factors separate the highest three in factors
Factors chief Kyle Larson has little margin for error over the subsequent 4 races to maintain Chase Elliott (-10) and Tyler Reddick (-15) at bay. The battle for the regular-season championship is shaping as much as turn into essentially the most intriguing because the inception of the regular-season championship in 2017.
With Larson, Elliott and Reddick clearly being the cream of the crop within the Cup Sequence, it would not be a shock to see the battle for the regular-season crown — and the 15 playoff factors that include it — come right down to the ultimate laps of the regular-season finale at Darlington on Sept. 1 (Prepare dinner Out Southern 500).
3. Who claims title of winningest driver this yr?
Larson’s 4 wins lead the Cup Sequence, however Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell and William Byron are proper behind him with three. Ryan Blaney (two wins) appears to be heating up, and with 14 races remaining within the season, it is anybody’s guess as to who will win essentially the most races this yr. In fact, the championship is the large prize, however a whole lot of pleasure is on the road for these competing to win essentially the most races in 2024.
4. Which driver might make a Cinderella playoff run?
NASCAR hasn’t reached March Insanity ranges of Cinderella postseason runs, however because the inception of the Subsequent Gen automobile in 2022, the extent of chaos within the latter rounds has eclipsed the earlier eight seasons mixed. Chase Briscoe was only a few laps away from sneaking into the Championship 4 in 2022 whereas Chris Buescher’s late-summer surge in 2023 propelled him to the Spherical of 8 a season in the past.
For those who’re searching for a driver who might make an surprising championship run this season, strive two-time champion Joey Logano. He is probably not the largest underdog within the subject, however amid one of many worst seasons of his profession, Logano stays assured he can flip up the wick within the playoffs.
