Chase Elliott ends a 42-race winless streak by winning the NASCAR Cup race at Texas, securing his 19th career victory. Elliott fended off challenges from Denny Hamlin and Ross Chastain in overtime to claim the win. The victory marked a special moment for Elliott, who honored the late Alan Kulwicki with a Polish victory lap. Brad Keselowski finished second, William Byron third, Tyler Reddick fourth, and Daniel Suarez fifth. The race saw multiple cautions and incidents, including a late wreck involving Hamlin and a second overtime finish.
The upcoming EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) marks the first road-course race of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Season, with stage break cautions reintroduced, impacting DFS strategy. The focus will be on finishing position and place differential due to the limited dominator points available over 68 laps. Recommended DFS picks include Kyle Larson, Shane van Gisbergen, A.J. Allmendinger for cash games, and Ty Gibbs, Tyler Reddick, William Byron for tournaments. Additionally, Kyle Busch and Austin Cindric are suggested as potential pivots, while Ryan Preece is highlighted as an overlooked, budget-friendly pick.
NASCAR Cup Series drivers faced a unique challenge at Bristol Motor Speedway as high tire wear led to blown tires and cording, resulting in a race that required strategic tire management. Despite the unusual circumstances, most drivers found the experience enjoyable, likening it to grassroots short-track racing and emphasizing the need for smart driving. While some praised the race's excitement and the need for tire conservation, others, like Kyle Larson, expressed concerns about the excessive tire wear and the challenges it posed. Overall, the race featured a record number of lead changes and left drivers with mixed but mostly positive reactions.
The upcoming NASCAR Cup race at Atlanta presents three key storylines to watch: Stewart-Haas Racing's performance and potential penalties, William Byron's quest for a third Atlanta win, and the impact of back-to-back superspeedway races on playoff contenders' standings.
William Byron's Daytona 500 win has propelled him to the top spot in the NASCAR power rankings, with Denny Hamlin, Ross Chastain, Kyle Busch, and Ryan Blaney rounding out the top five. Despite crashing on the final lap, Chastain's performance at Daytona has boosted his standing. Meanwhile, Kyle Larson and Brad Keselowski had mixed results, and Alex Bowman and Joey Logano also made notable showings.
NASCAR's recent Daytona weekend saw a high number of crashes, with over 70% of cars involved in wrecks across four races. The mass attrition is a result of the rules governing racing at Daytona and Talladega, where aggressive pushing and drafting lead to dangerous and unpredictable racing. Despite the high crash rate, NASCAR has not made significant rule changes to minimize the importance of pushes, leading to concerns about the sustainability and safety of the racing.
NASCAR is gearing up for the 2024 season with a lot of momentum, following the success of the "Full Speed" documentary on Netflix. The upcoming Daytona 500 is expected to feature a mix of young and veteran drivers, with a focus on personalities and the potential for a changing of the guard. The sport's willingness to try new things, such as adjusting the schedule and team changes, adds to the anticipation for the new season.
