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NASCAR: Another playoff driver at risk of missing out in 2024

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NASCAR: Another playoff driver at risk of missing out in 2024

As a die-hard NASCAR fan, I’ve watched the ups and downs of my favorite drivers throughout their careers. And let me tell you, this year’s Cup Series playoffs are shaping up to be a nail-biting race to the finish.

Last year’s NASCAR Cup Series playoffs saw several drivers on the bubble, with a good chance of missing out this year. This is due to the fact that some non-playoff drivers from last season have already secured their places in the 16-driver postseason field by winning races this year.

It seemed inevitable that only an unexpected win would enable Michael McDowell from Front Row Motorsports and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. from JTG Daugherty Racing to make it back into the playoffs this season, considering their current low rankings in the point standings.

I, as a gamer, have been following the disappointing 2024 season of Kyle Busch from Richard Childress Racing closely. For several races now, he’s been falling short, dangerously close to being below the cut line. The two impressive streaks he’s built up over the years – 19 consecutive winning seasons and 11 straight playoff appearances – are both at risk of coming to an end.

Bubba Wallace of 23XI Racing, who qualified for the NASCAR playoffs for the initial time in his professional racing career last season, has struggled to maintain that position in recent races and has fallen short once more.

Joey Logano of Team Penske found himself close to being eliminated from Championship contention before his victory at Nashville Superspeedway recently guaranteed his place. Aiming to extend his record of reaching the Championship 4 in even-numbered years to a total of six, Logano is determined to succeed.

The driver who came in first place at the championship race last year and was the second-place finisher in the previous season now finds himself ranked as the 16th and last driver qualifying for the upcoming races.

Ross Chastain at risk of missing the playoffs?

In the past 21 races of the current season, Ross Chastain from Trackhouse Racing Team has only managed to finish in the top five on two occasions. Unfortunately, his last three outings ended in disappointing results with both being classified as Did Not Finishes (DNFs).

I had some tough luck these past few weeks as a gamer. Three weekends ago, I got eliminated late in the race at Nashville. And just this last Sunday afternoon, I crashed out at Pocono Raceway. The only time I managed to cross the finish line during this rough patch was with a disappointing 22nd place finish on the streets of Chicago, Illinois.

I made it to the Championship 4 for the first time in my rookie season with Justin Marks and Pitbull’s team, driving the No. 1 Chevrolet two years ago. Although I didn’t go any further than the round of 12 last year, I left a lasting impression by becoming the initial winner of the season finale during the Championship 4 era (2014-present), despite being ineligible to secure the title.

In the past two racing seasons, Chastain emerged as a winner in a total of four races, two each in 2022 and 2023. However, his luck has taken a turn for the worse this year. Currently, he is only 27 points ahead of Wallace in the race for the last playoff spot, position number 16.

If Chastain manages to stay in front of Wallace, he’s still at risk with only five races remaining in the 26-race season. The possibility of a new race winner below the cut line could shift the boundary, making it difficult for the 31-year-old Alva, Florida native to secure a spot.

As a gamer, I’ve experienced my share of unexpected victories at Daytona International Speedway. The excitement and unpredictability of the Cup Series races there is unlike any other track. And with the Brickyard 400 making its long-awaited return to Indianapolis Motor Speedway after a two-year hiatus, I can’t help but wonder: will history repeat itself and bring another surprise win? The anticipation is palpable as we gear up for this iconic race.

The final three regular-season races will take place at Richmond Raceway, Michigan International Speedway, and Darlington Raceway.

Chastain trails Chris Buesser of RFK Racing by 17 points and Ty Gibbs of Joe Gibbs Racing by 40 points in the race for playoff spots. Chris Buesser is also a playoff contender from last year, while Ty Gibbs is aiming for his first playoff appearance.

As a passionate fan, I ponder over the fact that additional champions could still join the competition before the four-round, ten-race playoffs commence. In this scenario, Chastain might have to surpass one or even both of them in points to secure his place and prevent being excluded from contention.

Or, better yet, he could win to erase all doubt.

The Brickyard 400 is the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series race, scheduled for July 21, 2024. It will be the last race before a three-week break due to the Summer Olympics in Paris, France. This event marks the first NASCAR Cup Series race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval since 2020. Catch all the live action starting at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC. Sign up for a free FuboTV trial now to catch every moment!

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2024-07-15 16:02

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