We can say that without hesitation, although the last ten races of the season should be synonymous with the unforgettable moments that define the crowning of a champion in the first series of NASCAR. Controversy, drama and pressure have been hallmarks of the Cup playoffs for 20 years, and this year will likely be remembered for the same reason.
But before the green flag drops at Atlanta Motor Speedway, this series of playoffs is already one of a kind.It will have a unique mix of drivers, races and tracks that will probably never come together like this again. A curious mix of missing cases (Martin Truex Jr., Stewart-Haas Racing), intriguing debuts (Harrison Burton, Ty Gibbs) and fascinating laps (Atlanta Motor Speedway, Watkins Glen International) that add luster to the unpredictable championship battle.
Here’s a look at some spicy ingredients that set the table for the 2024 playoffs to be such a rare race:
First-time chaos Since 10 years ago, the first three playoff contests have largely been a straightforward affair of intermediate tracks that seem designed to eliminate underperforming teams. Darlington Raceway and Kansas Speedway are known for rewarding underdog drivers and teams.But Darlington and Kansas will be out in 2024 as the first time it turns into an underdog paradise with a track and a road trip for the first time. . Start with the Sept. 8 opener at Atlanta Motor Speedway, whose 2022 reconfiguration into a miniature version of Daytona or Talladega produced razor-thin margins (Feb. 1). Race 25 was the closest in NASCAR history and produced a surprise.
Next up will be the first playoff race at Watkins Glen, another haven of surprises that also saw first-time winners round (Steve Park, Marcos Ambrose, AJ). Allmendinger, Chase Elliott). The Sept. 15 event will also mark the first time the race has been held outside of the traditional early to mid-August weekend since 1986 (when the 2.45-mile road course returned to the schedule of the Cup after a long break).And of course the September 21 race at Bristol Motor Speedway is a short track still capable of producing fireworks This year’s first round is an X-factor treat, but with a quick expiration date. Atlanta and Watkins Glen are in the playoffs together this year, but both are already back in the regular season next year in the recently announced 2025 schedule, Bye to all that.
Chase Briscoe’s thrilling victory in the Southern 500 ensured that Stewart-Haas Racing had at least one more chance at a title in the final season before closing the doors. This is the final playoff appearance for a team that was once a perennial title contender: two championships in the last 15 years and five championship appearances 4 with Kevin Harvick. appearances between 2015 and 2021), Martin Truex Jr. cap off his Hall of Fame-worthy career with one last bid for a second Cup title that has eluded him (with three second-place finishes since the 2017 championship).Upset. startersIt would be hard to find a more unlikely start to the playoffs than that of Harrison Burton, who went from the top 30 in the standings to win the title in two magical laps at Daytona International Speedway. But what makes it even more surprising is that Burton’s first playoff appearance comes with little certainty that he will have a chance to do so again. Wood Brothers Racing has already advanced with their car no. 21 next season and Burton have no confirmed plans for 2025, making the 2024 play-offs a huge audition for the next machine. The 2024 play-offs will also be the first for Ty Gibbs, and after one season. who was an improvement in almost all categories during his new year in 2023, the 21-year-old’s first career Cup victory could come in the last 10 races
Perfect participation
These are the best teams in the Cup Series, but it still means something when Team Penske, Joe Gibbs Racing and Hendrick Motorsports can qualify for the playoffs with a 100% rate. Since Penske’s expansion to a third car in 2018, this will be only the second time that all 11 cars from these three potential organizations have been found on the championship roster.Missing but still present< br> It’s safe to say that this will be the last playoff series in a long time (let’s say at least the next decade) that doesn’t include at least one of these names: Kyle Busch, Ross Chastain, Chris Buescher and Bubba Wallace.
But in the unique way that the NASCAR playoffs are involved, there is a good chance that at least one of them will make their mark in Victory Lane this year. The last three Cup seasons have seen at least one non-playoff driver win in the last 10 races. With Busch in great form, and Buescher and Wallace so close to victory and devastated by missing the playoffs while their teammates qualified, expect one of the final 10 checkered
NASCAR Cup Series: PlayoffsFive thought starters that prove That there never will be another championship run like the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
