Kyle Larson had a chance to create a significant lead over the rest of the Chase contenders with a victory, but Chase Briscoe managed to fend him off at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday. Despite this, Larson remains the clear favorite halfway through the 10-race postseason as the reigning Cup champion.
Here are my rankings of the championship contenders heading into this weekend’s Charlotte oval race.
On the Edge (Alphabetical Order):
Chris Buescher (RFK Racing No. 17 Ford, 196 points behind the leader): Still searching for his first top-10 finish in the Chase after coming in 13th at Las Vegas.
William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 Chevrolet, -160 points): Byron posted his fourth straight top-10 with a sixth-place finish at Vegas, but it may be too late to challenge seriously.
Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports No. 9 Chevrolet, -163 points): Elliott finished seventh at Vegas and is still looking for his first top-five in this postseason.
Carson Hocevar (Spire Motorsports No. 77 Chevrolet, -158 points): Hocevar ended up 12th at Vegas with two stage points, not enough to ignite a comeback.
Ryan Preece (RFK Racing No. 60 Ford, -200 points): After finishing 28th at Vegas, Preece will aim to build momentum for the next season.
Daniel Suárez (Spire Motorsports No. 7 Chevrolet, -195 points): Coming off a 14th-place finish for the third week in a row, Suárez is still chasing his first top 10 in the Chase. Charlotte, where he won the Coca-Cola 600 in May, may be his best shot.
Contender Rankings:
10. Austin Cindric: Gaining 12 points on Larson with a strong stage and a fourth-place finish at Vegas, Cindric currently sits ninth in the standings. However, his best result on the Charlotte oval in the Next Gen car is just 20th.
9. Ty Gibbs: A speeding penalty early in the Vegas race cost him, resulting in a 17th-place finish and a 16-point loss to Larson. Gibbs still hasn’t notched a top-five on Charlotte’s Next Gen layout.
8. Bubba Wallace: Delivering consistent performance with top-10 finishes in each stage, Wallace placed eighth at Vegas, gaining three points on Larson. Notably, he was in contention for the lead late in the race and holds four top 10s in five Chase races, though just one top-five at Charlotte.
7. Tyler Reddick: Overcoming an early battery issue and a skid of three consecutive finishes outside the top 10, Reddick finished third at Vegas and gained five points on Larson. He’s been strong on the Charlotte oval, with three top-fives in the last four Next Gen races and a pole and fourth-place finish in May’s 600.
6. Joey Logano: A 10th-place finish at Vegas caused him to lose four points to Larson, compounded by a 20th place at Kansas the previous week. His best Next Gen outing at Charlotte is eighth place from the 600 in May.
5. Ryan Blaney: Picking up 11 points on Larson with top-five finishes in both stages and fifth in the race, Blaney has three top fives in the Chase. Despite that, two finishes outside the top 30 may hinder his title hopes. He won the Coca-Cola 600 in 2023, his only top-five at Charlotte in a Next Gen car.
4. Christopher Bell: Bell battled a power steering problem for much of the Vegas race and fell five points behind Larson following a 23rd-place finish. This marks his second costly mishap in the Chase, meaning he’ll need a surge over the final five events. On Charlotte’s Next Gen layout, Bell boasts three top fives, including victory in the 600 earlier this year and a runner-up finish in May.
3. Chase Briscoe: With a win and stage sweep at Vegas, Briscoe gained 43 points on Larson. Yet, making up for his earlier finishes of 32nd and 27th will be a tall order. He has two top-five finishes at Charlotte amidst five Next Gen races but crashed in May’s event, finishing 34th.
2. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin lost 14 points to Larson after a frustrating Vegas race marked by a spin and fuel pressure issues under caution. He’s still within striking distance, needing just a couple of wins to close the gap. His Charlotte record in Next Gen cars includes three top fives, highlighted by a 2022 win and third place in May.
1. Kyle Larson: Larson finished second at Vegas and holds an impressive 2.0 average finish in the Chase. Despite this, his lead isn’t secure with five races left. On Charlotte’s Next Gen oval, his only top-five to date is a fifth-place finish in May’s race.
Fan Take:
This update is crucial for NASCAR fans as it highlights the intense competition brewing in the playoff run, with Larson’s dominance being tested by emerging challengers like Briscoe and Hamlin. The upcoming Charlotte race could be a pivotal moment, possibly reshaping the championship landscape and keeping fans on the edge of their seats.
Source: www.foxsports.com
