From a NASCAR Fan’s View
Things are getting really tight in the race to make the playoffs for the NASCAR Cup teams as they take on Pocono this weekend. There is very little room for some to make any mistakes and there is a possibility some will fall further and further from their goal of making the playoffs. I mean, there are only four spots left to make the playoffs. Though those spots are filled by drivers with points at the present time, a win by someone outside the top sixteen can make their points useless. Soon, and in reality, winning becomes the only sure way for them to guarantee their place and there are still several races to go before the playoffs start. From this fan’s view, that really leaves the door open for some really different possibilities to take place.
The Toyotas have shown up with speed once again this weekend and, honestly, it could be a Toyota that ends up in Victory Lane. After all, Ty Gibbs is starting on the pole and the Toyotas did look good in practice before qualifying. They also didn’t do too bad in qualifying either. In fact, there are three other Toyota drivers other than Gibbs that perform well at Pocono and they are starting in the top seven spots. That makes four Toyotas starting in the top seven and one of them is Denny Hamlin that has seven victories at Pocono, more than any other driver in present competition. Like it or not, he could have his eighth win at Pocono today and make his bid even greater for the 2024 Championship. No guarantees but there is the possibility of it.
William Byron starts on the front row with Gibbs and he would like nothing better than to be the Chevy that beats the Toyotas today. He has shown a lot of speed but he hasn’t had that great of finishes lately. Well, that is when it comes to winning like he did at the beginning of the season. What do you think? Could today be the day he returns to those winning ways? Yeah, that’s what I thought you might say.
I also have my eye on several drivers starting in eleventh to fourteenth simply because they usually seem to be somewhere near the front at or near the end of a race. Well, at least in recent weeks. Of course their names are Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell and Brad Keselowski. Either one of these four drivers could be competing for the win when it comes down to the final laps at Pocono today.
And while I’m speaking about Kyle Larson, there is another possibility that could come about this afternoon. It is a well-known fact that he and Denny Hamlin have had their run ins in recent times and today could be another day at the races where they could be battling each other for the win. Is it all that unlikely that it could happen again this year? I don’t think so. Both of them have good speed this weekend and both of them have a tendency to work their way to the front in a lot of places including at Pocono. Will Denny door slam Kyle again or will he just force him into the wall running door handle to door handle? It has happened and it could happen again. In fact, the roles could be reversed this time around, IF they are running next to each other and racing for the win.
As I think about the way things have panned out recently, there could be another driver pressing both of them and that would be Christopher Bell. There is no doubt any of these three could be running for the win when it comes down to the final laps today.
Just because I’ve chosen to focus on these three doesn’t mean it will happen like I’ve suggested. You see, I love to speculate but I really think today’s race is going to be very intense and aggressive. That’s one of the reasons I think there is going to be extra intensity because every driver wants to win and especially those that need a win to make the playoffs. From my view, there are not only those that are in by points but those sitting outside the top sixteen that need to have good days and would like nothing better than to shake everything up by taking the unexpected win.
So… what do you think? Will Bubba’s changed attitude turn into a win this weekend or will it be someone like Kyle Bush, Austin Dillon, Chris Buescher, Ross Chastain or maybe even Ty Gibbs or Martin Truex Jr.?
Just so you know, I have no idea at all. I do know it is going to be an intense race with a lot of possible outcomes and the aggression is going to be off the charts…
Hey, this is Russ and that’s my view… See ya next time…
All views expressed are strictly the opinion of the writer
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Rusty Norman, Nascarfansview.com and Justafansview.com
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