We are just Bubba Wallace days away (23 for those not understanding) from the Daytona 500! The 2024 NASCAR Season will be underway here shortly, and it’s time to drop some predictions. This is the last chance for media pundits and personalities to give their take on what they think will happen in NASCAR this year. So, what’s the fun of not taking part? Here are four predictions for things that could, should, or might occur this year. Let’s kick this piece off!
#1: All Four Hendrick Drivers Will Return to the Playoffs
Embed from Getty ImagesIt’s not necessarily a bold prediction, but this is a deviation from what happened in 2023. Hendrick Motorsports had a great year. Two drivers William Byron and Kyle Larson were in the championship four. Alex Bowman and Chase Elliott though? Injuries derailed their campaigns, and they missed out on victory lane. They were also in a position where the margin of error was thin if they’d point their way in. Either way, they fell short. Elliott I think is too damn talented to not make a pushback in. And as for Alex Bowman, look, he’s #4 on the depth chart. I can say that. But that equipment is too good, and he’s made the most of it before. If his back is 100% healthy, I expect him to return to early 2023 form where he was the points leader and consistently in the top 10.
#2: Ty Gibbs Hits Victory Lane Multiple Times
Embed from Getty ImagesAlso not particularly bold, but any time you bet on a 21/22 year old driver, it can be intense. But Gibbs had a great 2023. Four top-five finishes, six more in the top-10, just outside the T-16 playoff bubble. He’s shown speed on road courses, ability on superspeedways, and more than decent everywhere in between. We’ll see where the Gibbs Grandson ends up here next year, but lock him in for a playoff run pending anything crazy happening.
#3: Stewart-Haas Is Absent From the Playoffs
Embed from Getty ImagesKevin Harvick and Aric Almirola are out at Stewart-Haas. Replacing them? Noah Gragson in the #10 and Josh Berry in the #4. They’ve also lost a TON of sponsors, including Busch Beer. They’re headed to the #1 car of Ross Chastain. I’m sorry, I can’t see a world where any one of Chase Briscoe, Ryan Preece, Berry, or Gragson are good enough to pick up a victory or be consistent enough to points into the playoffs at the Cup Series level. It’ll be a down year for Stewart-Haas, and they might have to consider some huge changes going into 2025.
#4: Martin Truex Jr. misses the Playoffs and Retires
Embed from Getty ImagesTime to get spicy in here. Martin Truex Jr fell off a cliff at the tail of last year. He had just three top-15 finishes in the playoffs, after winning the regular season championship. His crew chief, James Small, has been notoriously bad, costing Truex multiple races with strategy and his pit crew cost him with bad stops. You’d think Joe Gibbs Racing would want to make the most of this window, and make some changes. But most of that team is staying intact, and Truex is not getting any younger.
All that being said, we’re in the business of bold NASCAR predictions. This is the year Truex is calling it. He’ll struggle, the tensions will be too much to overcome and turn into results, and the 19 won’t be contending for a championship in the fall.
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