The percentages within the NASCAR Cup Collection postseason are in Kyle Larson’s favor.
It begins with being the No. 1 playoff seed as issues kick off at Atlanta Motor Speedway (Sunday, 3 p.m. ET). The motive force who has been the No. 1 seed has received the championship 4 occasions within the elimination period. Secondly, in response to NASAR accomplice DraftKings, Larson is the odds-on favourite to assert the 2024 crown, not that the Hendrick Motorsports driver seems to be at or cares concerning the odds.
“No. No, I don’t care concerning the odds,” Larson mentioned. “NASCAR, particularly within the Subsequent Gen period, is simply loopy. There may be a lot inconsistency as of late you can simply end up in bother; doesn’t matter when you’ve got a 35- or 40-point buffer to the cutline at the moment.”
Larson has a 35-point benefit on the cutline because the postseason begins at Atlanta, nevertheless it’s only a 36-point hole to go from first to final (sixteenth) on the playoff grid.
“You undoubtedly have your favorites and guys who’re actually quick each week, nevertheless it’s NASCAR and Subsequent Gen racing, so it’s at all times loopy,” Larson mentioned. “There are at all times a few heavy guys that get knocked out considerably early that would very properly be deserving champions, so it’s arduous to foretell who’s going to be within the last 4 however some good groups have the very best shot at the moment. Like I mentioned, loads of stuff can occur.
“There’s normally at all times a workforce or two that turns issues up so much within the playoffs and executes very well and makes it fairly far. Perhaps to not the ultimate 4 yearly, however [they] could make it actually far.”
Larson and the No. 5 workforce lead the collection in wins (4), laps led (1,088), poles (5), and are tied with Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing for stage wins (10). The victories got here on intermediates (Las Vegas; Kansas), a street course (Sonoma), and Indianapolis.
Of the primary 26 races, Larson led laps in 18 of them.
“I feel our power is our velocity; we’re actually quick, I really feel like, at each racetrack,” Larson mentioned. “Our execution, I do know it won’t look like it at occasions, however is nice. I feel we’ve additionally overcome loads of adversity at occasions.
“We’re well-rounded as a workforce. We’ve gone to the ultimate 4 the final three years, so I feel that provides loads of confidence as properly.”
In 2021, when Larson received the Cup Collection championship, he did so from the No. 1 seed.
