From a NASCAR Fan’s View
There are those that thought the round of sixteen was a tough round to start off the 2024 NASCAR Cup playoffs. Well, I can’t disagree with that but, in all honesty, I believe the round of twelve is actually the harder round; especially with the way things have started off with Ross Chastain’s victory last weekend at Kansas. I mean, a non-playoff driver takes and wins the first race of this round and the points took another shaking up. With Talladega this weekend and the Roval next weekend, who knows how the points will shape up for the twelve drivers competing to make it to the round of eight.
Talladega could be the place that totally changes the outlook for the twelve in the round still competing for staying in the top eight in points. To this fan, there is nothing that guarantees the stronger teams that everyone thought would make it through to the round of eight won’t find themselves moving on to next week’s race in a situation they don’t want to be in. Having to win at the Roval just to move on to the next round.
It is no surprise to anyone that there is always the threat of the “Big One” happening, or even more than one “Big One,” and totally taking a playoff drivers hopes to the garage with a wrecked car and a bad finish to boot. That makes this fan wonder just how aggressive the playoff drivers will be or whether they will exercise caution trying to avoid being in any “Big One” that might raise its ugly head.
To make a point about this black helicopter moment, I simply mention the plight of Kyle Larson. After his dominating performance at Bristol, he has had two races that were less than stellar. I’m not saying him having an unexpected tire problem last weekend was his fault and probably could be chalked up as just bad racing luck but he faces a track that he just doesn’t like. His performance at Super Speedways like Talladega is generally terrible when it comes to his finishes.
As a fan, I have watched him be running well at a Super Speedway, possibly even running in the top five in the closing laps and getting caught up in a “Big One” and finishing well back in the field. Believe me. He cannot afford to have something like that happen today at Talladega. He is only eighteen points to the good going into today’s race and he simply cannot afford to have any more bad finishes, at least in this round. He needs to finish and finish well to maintain his spot and hope for moving on to the next round.
It looks like the Fords have shown up to Talladega with their usual good speed and may have a dominating day in the Yella Wood 500. Even though they qualified well and six of them start in the top ten, I don’t always – in fact hardly ever – put much stock in the way qualifying goes compared to the way a race finishes. There are three Ford playoff drivers starting in the top six spots and that could lead some to believe they have a lock on a good finishing spot. Personally, I don’t think that has a lot to do with it at all. A non-playoff driver won the pole – his sixth of the season – and there is no guarantee a Ford will finish in the top spot, although Michael McDowell is a very good Super Speedway racer and could win this one today. It is also possible that one of the other playoff Fords could work their way to the lead and take home a victory. I’m looking at Austin Cindric, Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano as real possibilities should that take place.
Next in line is the Toyota of Denny Hamlin. He starts eighth and could work his way to the lead at the right time and guarantee his spot in the round of eight. Well, that is if he can find enough Toyotas to help him when the time comes. After all, races like this one at Talladega have become brand races and the three try their best to help each other rather than the others until it comes down to the final lap.
Somewhat surprising to this fan are the two RCR Chevys of Kyle Bush and Austin Dillon. They have been showing speed in recent races and either one of them could pull off the win today. Both are proven Speedway racers and both have the ability to win at Talladega. I guess it just depends on how the day goes for them.
Surprisingly, or maybe not so surprisingly, the four Hendrick Chevys didn’t qualify all that well but Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson did manage to be starting in the eleventh and twelfth spots. Their teammates, present points leader William Byron and Alex Bowman, didn’t fair all that well in qualifying and are starting sixteenth and twenty-third. Those are two dangerous starting spots if an early wreck happens up in the middle of the pack.
In fact, there are really no safe starting spots in this one and anything can, and probably will, happen just because it’s Talladega. There is nothing sacred about starting up front or whether someone starts in the rear when it comes to Super Speedway racing and it is race that just about anyone in the field can win.
Wait a minute… did I say, just about anyone can win? I think I’d like to change that with the way things have been going so far. This is a race ANYONE can win…
Hey, this is Russ and that’s my view… See ya next time…
All views expressed are strictly the opinion of the writer
© October 6, 2024 – all rights reserved
Rusty Norman, Nascarfansview.com and Justafansview.com
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