Atlanta Motor Speedway marks the start of this yr’s NASCAR Cup Sequence postseason, the eleventh version of the elimination format.
It’s the first time the postseason has began with a superspeedway race. As such, the primary spherical is already being described by drivers as a wild card, with the Watkins Glen highway course after which the Bristol quick monitor filling out the spherical.
Ryan Blaney is formally in title protection mode. The Group Penske driver is considered one of six former champions within the playoff subject, alongside Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano and Martin Truex Jr. Solely Logano has received the crown greater than as soon as.
Kyle Larson begins on the prime of the playoff pole. Danny Hansen/Motorsport Photographs
The favorites for the 2024 crown appear clear (Larson, Christopher Bell, William Byron, to call just a few), but when the final 10 years have taught us something, it’s that there might be a driver who makes an unexpectedly deep run. Blaney, as an example, was not among the many betting favorites final yr, however went on a six-race tear on the finish of the season and received the championship.
Talking of Blaney, he can do one thing no different champion has performed within the elimination period: go back-to-back.
Let the postseason start. And because it does, here’s what you should know forward of the subsequent 10 weeks.
The drivers (in reseeded order)
1 – Kyle Larson: 40 playoff factors
2 – Christopher Bell: 32 playoff factors
3 – Tyler Reddick: 28 playoff factors
4 – William Byron: 22 playoff factors
5 – Ryan Blaney: 18 playoff factors
6 – Denny Hamlin: 15 playoff factors
7 – Chase Elliott: 14 playoff factors
8 – Brad Keselowski: 8 playoff factors
9 – Joey Logano: 7 playoff factors
10 – Austin Cindric: 7 playoff factors
11 – Daniel Suarez: 6 playoff factors
12 – Alex Bowman: 5 playoff factors
13 – Chase Briscoe: 5 playoff factors
14 – Harrison Burton: 5 playoff factors
15 – Martin Truex Jr.: 4 playoff factors
16 – Ty Gibbs: 4 playoff factors
The cutline
Kyle Larson has a 35-point benefit on the cutline as the primary spherical begins. (12 advance from the 16 drivers who made the postseason). Alex Bowman sits on the bubble however is tied with Chase Briscoe and Harrison Burton, the primary two drivers within the elimination zone. Ty Gibbs and Martin Truex Jr. are one level under within the elimination zone.
First-timers
Harrison Burton and Ty Gibbs are within the postseason for the primary time. Burton certified in his third full season within the Cup Sequence. Gibbs qualifies in his second full season.
Ty Gibbs and Harrison Burton are each playoffs first-timers. Rusty Jarrett/Motorsport Photographs
The races
1 – Atlanta Motor Speedway (superspeedway)
2 – Watkins Glen (highway course)
3 – Bristol Motor Speedway (quick monitor)
4 – Kansas Speedway (intermediate)
5 – Talladega Superspeedway (superspeedway)
6 – Charlotte (highway course)
7 – Las Vegas (intermediate)
8 – Homestead-Miami Speedway (intermediate)
9 – Martinsville Speedway (quick monitor)
10 – Phoenix (quick monitor)
Statistical nuggets
18: Playoff appearances for Denny Hamlin (essentially the most of any driver in Cup Sequence historical past)
13: Playoff wins for Denny Hamlin (essentially the most of any driver in 2024 playoffs)
12: The seed Ryan Blaney received the championship in 2023. The bottom-seeded driver to win the championship within the elimination period
8: Spherical of 8 appearances for Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano (essentially the most of any driver within the 2024 playoffs)
5: Championship 4 appearances by Joey Logano and Martin Truex Jr. (essentially the most of any driver within the 2024 playoffs)
4: Championship 4 appearances for Denny Hamlin
4: Playoff drivers for Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing
4: The variety of instances the No. 1 seed has received the Cup Sequence championship within the elimination period
3: Championship 4 appearances for Chase Elliott
2: Championship 4 appearances for Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson and Brad Keselowski
2: The instances the No. 5 and No. 7 seeds have received the Cup Sequence championship within the elimination period
2: Drivers who’ve received a number of championships within the elimination period (Kyle Busch; Joey Logano)
1: Championship 4 look for Ryan Blaney and William Byron
1: The instances the No. 2 seed has received the Cup Sequence championship within the elimination period
0: Playoff wins for Austin Cindric, Daniel Suarez, Chase Briscoe, Harrison Burton and Ty Gibbs
Outlook
The expectation is that drivers like Larson, Bell, Reddick, Byron, Hamlin, and Blaney will make deep playoff runs. It should merely come right down to execution for the highest groups. Others like Elliott, Keselowski, and Truex can undoubtedly put themselves within the image.
However it is going to be a taller activity for drivers with few playoff factors. A win, in fact, would negate that fear, however when eager about factors and mulligans to fall again on, drivers like Logano and Truex don’t have the playoff factors they’d need.
Longshots like Trackhouse Racing’s Daniel Suarez (No. 99) don’t determine in lots of playoff calculations, however the format provides them an outsized alternative. John Harrelson/Motorsport Photographs
Briscoe is giving one final journey for Stewart-Haas Racing, and the emotion and willpower that goes with that shouldn’t be ignored. However it is going to be a troublesome struggle until the No. 14 workforce can begin placing collectively some unimaginable consistency and win once more. Darlington was simply his seventh top-10 end of the season, among the many fewest of the playoff drivers.
After which there are the lengthy pictures. Daniel Suarez hasn’t proven that he has what it takes to contend constantly in opposition to the highest groups. Harrison Burton and Wooden Brothers Racing are completely happy to be within the postseason, which may have long-term monetary implications for the group. However neither is predicted to make a deep playoff run, not to mention discover a strategy to the finale in Phoenix.
The primary spherical may set the tone for the postseason. Atlanta may put drivers in a gap going into Watkins Glen, which is predicted to have important tire falloff that might be a variable for race groups. Tire falloff may be the storyline at Bristol. Not solely will the primary reduce race be a brief monitor, however Goodyear is bringing the identical tire compound to Bristol that was run within the spring, when groups had been thrown an surprising curveball with huge tire put on.
Then, within the second spherical, we see one other superspeedway with Talladega. It will not be stunning if a few of the anticipated contenders usually are not round by the point the final eight drivers are determined.
Spherical of 12 prediction: Larson, Bell, Reddick, Byron, Blaney, Hamlin, Elliott, Keselowski, Logano, Bowman, Truex, Gibbs.
Spherical of 8 prediction: Larson, Bell, Reddick, Byron, Blaney, Hamlin, Elliott, Truex.
Championship 4: Larson, Bell, Reddick, Hamlin.
2024 Cup Sequence champion: Larson
