We’ve reached the All-Star weekend for the NASCAR Cup Series. They head off to North Wilkesboro for a quick weekend, where the points don’t matter, and everybody’s racing for $1 Million. Fans are voting for their favorite driver to race in the event (go vote for Alex Bowman here). So obviously, it’s time for the mid-season awards. Chris and I figured that there’s no real point in making picks for the race this weekend. As it doesn’t count, and is kind of a dog and pony show. So let’s evaluate some of the superlatives, and maybe get into what the rest of the season could hold for some of NASCAR’s best.
Best Race
Kaleb’s Pick: Advent Health 400
Embed from Getty ImagesWhen you race with a .001 second difference between first and second place, odds are it was a good race. And Kansas was just that, really good. It was a photo finish, ended on a green-white-checker, and had plenty of action throughout. The 1.5 package for this Next-Gen car is by far the best product they have going for it, and Kansas has been the top-tier race track for them since the car was introduced in 2022. I can’t wait to see what the fall date brings, as this race probably is at the top of most fan’s lists.
Chris’s Pick: Ambetter Health 400
Embed from Getty ImagesI almost did go with Kaleb on this one as well. However, for some difference in choices I decided to ultimately go with Atlanta’s Ambetter Health 400. Atlanta had a lot of similar factors as Kansas. It had plenty of action with 48 total lead changes during the race. Plus the margin of victory was just a little larger than Kansas but it was also a three-wide photo finish. I know a lot of people were against this type of re-format of Atlanta but I think with it now being the opening race of the Playoffs the racing is only going to get better!
Most Disappointing Driver
Kaleb’s Pick: #20 Christopher Bell
Embed from Getty ImagesI know Christopher Bell got the win at Phoenix earlier this year, but he hasn’t been up in the front since COTA back in March. An average finish just above 18th, just three top fives, and 125 laps led. The month of May has brought Bell P6 in Kansas and P12 in Darlington. Far kinder than what happened to him in April with back-to-back DNFs, and a high of P17 all month. Maybe it was just a bad month, but I think fans of the #20 car expected a whole lot more in 2024 after back-to-back trips to the NASCAR Championship Four in 2022 and 2023.
Chris’s Pick: #2 Austin Cindric
Embed from Getty ImagesLet’s be honest what has Austin Cindric done since winning the Daytona 500 at the first start of his rookie campaign? Nothing, especially considering he was an Xfinity Series champion in 2020 and has thirteen career Xfinity Series wins. I know sophomore slumps are a real thing to happen but we are in season three now. Doesn’t seem like anything has really improved. Currently, in the 2024 season, he has one top five, and one top ten, and he’s averaging around a 23rd-place finish. The #2 car is a historically winning car, and his teammates have won both of the last two series championships. Cindric fans better hope for some improved results otherwise he may be heading back to the Xfinity side of things soon.
Most Improved Driver
Kaleb’s Pick: #10 Noah Gragson
Embed from Getty ImagesWhen Noah Gragson got suspended and booted out of the #42 car, I think most of us thought he wasn’t ready for the Cup Series and was going to get sent back down to Xfinity or Trucks. But Tony Stewart picked him up for Stewart-Haas, filling in for Aric Almirola’s #10 car, and has been one of the top Fords in NASCAR all season long. He currently has a top-five, five top-tens, and an average finish right around 16. He could be shining mostly because Ford is having a bad year. But Gragson’s step up deserves its flowers. He’s come a long way from being the kid with the bowl cut getting punched in the face by Ross Chastain.
Chris’s Pick: #14 Chase Briscoe
Embed from Getty ImagesI decided to swerve to a different Ford driver and coincidently enough Kaleb’s choices teammate. Chase Briscoe. I know the win hasn’t come yet for the Ford camp minus Brad Keselowski now. However, he’s already improving on his stats from last season this far into the season. In the ’23 season, thirteen races in, Chase had an average finishing position of around 18th, and he’s averaging around a 14th-place finish this season. In a season where Ford hasn’t stepped up as much could I be making a huge deal out of that stat? Yes, but like Kaleb said you have to give a driver some flowers for what they are doing good with so much bad around.
Driver to Watch
Kaleb’s Pick: #23 Bubba Wallace
Embed from Getty ImagesIt’s been certainly a career year for Bubba Wallace. We’ve seen him compete on every level this year. Whether it’s on short tracks, 1.5-mile long tracks, or superspeedways. Wallace is crushing it this year. With three top fives, five top tens, and a P7 at Darlington, I think it’s fair to say that the #23 car is going to join his teammate Tyler Reddick in victory lane at some point in 2024. It’s just a matter of when and where.
Chris’s Pick: #17 Chris Buescher
Embed from Getty ImagesThis may be too much of an obvious choice. Especially considering the last two weeks’ performances of this driver and his team. He lost Kansas in the closest finish in NASCAR history and then got straight up taken out by Tyler Reddick at Darlington where he probably would’ve at least finished top five after grabbing the lead late. He’s led 101 laps total of thirteen races into this season and has finished in the top five in five of the last nine Cup Series races. Chris came on hot earlier in the season last year, could he be building his fire slower this year in preparation for the playoffs? I’m not sure but he definitely deserves to be a driver to watch heading forward into the second half of the season.
Best Driver
Kaleb’s Pick: #11 Denny Hamlin
Embed from Getty ImagesAfter Denny Hamlin’s win at Dover in the Wurth 400, I took a page out of his book and “called the shot” that this very well could be the year that the #11 finally claims that ever-elusive championship. Hamlin has led laps in every single race. Even if Darlington was kind of a one-off, the other he’s legitimately getting to the front and staying there. I think he’s the driver of the year so far in 2024. And I think pending a weird collapse at the end of the year or being the victim of other people’s mistakes, he’ll be racing in Phoenix for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship in November.
Chris’s Pick: #5 Kyle Larson
Embed from Getty ImagesHonestly, me and Kaleb probably could’ve swapped picks here had decision-making been different. What I mean by that though is Denny and Kyle have easily been the best two drivers this season. Kyle is even doing better this season statically than he did back in 2021 when he won his championship. Thirteen races in and his average finish this season is 12.6 whereas in ’21 it was around 13th at this point. Also, he’s won seven stages this season which is almost more than he did all season last year (8). He sits atop my power rankings currently and the series points standings. As long as this continues he can avoid any misfortune. I think he will be competing with Denny for the NASCAR Cup Series championship come November.
If you enjoyed this content, or hate it and want to argue with me, follow me on Twitter @KalebEmcee! Also, read up on the rest of the NASCAR content Belly Up Sports has to offer here! Heck, for all your other sports needs, follow the main page. If you love racing of any shape or form, find Chris on Twitter, and let’s talk!
