Zachary Peters

NASCAR is back! Okay, granted, it was back at the Clash in L.A., but that only half counts. With Daytona weekend over, and saved despite the rain, we can look forward to the rest of the season. Let’s talk about the race, season expectations for teams and drivers, way too early predictions, and the early star of the season.

The early star of the season is not a driver, team, or moment. The star, for better or worse, is rain. I know Mr. William Byron just won the biggest race of the year, but that does not matter. Rain dominated the Clash weekend and Daytona 500 weekend. The rain got more mentions and attention than anyone or anything else in the two racing weekends we have had so far in 2024. I am starting to think if an area is suffering through a drought, host a NASCAR race. The rain may be a punishment for NASCAR’s many horrible choices over the last four years. I know it is random, but it makes you think.

The Daytona 500 was an average race. There were some good moments, and I am not just talking about the wrecks. Good moment number one, going three wide early in the race. That is a change from the previous next-gen superspeedway races. Unfortunately, that ended in an early wreck that had to damper early aggression. Good moment number two, the end of every stage. Even in the year’s first race, those stage points matter, and the drivers know it. Good moment number three, green cycle pitstops. There was such an intensity to get into position to stop with your team and manufacturer. There was intensity getting onto the pit road and into your pit box. There was intensity leaving the pit road and collecting the cars around into an organized train. If anything went wrong in those moments, you were almost guaranteed to lose a ton of positions and maybe even get lapped. If things go smoothly, you put yourself into the front of the field (Here’s looking at you Hendrick and Chevy).

What were the bad and not-so-great things about this race? Fuel-saving pace laps during actual live racing. Also bad, stage breaks creating a weird rhythm to the race. Another bad thing is that car handling is midly unimportant on a cold track. This car is not fun when the track temperature is low. I am sure a driver might disagree, but with the next-gen car a warmer track makes the vehicles more unpredictable. That usually means it is more entertaining to watch. Look at the early races last year in cooler temps and then at the second races in warmer temps. The warmer race was the better race.

In culmination, the Dayton 500 was an average race. It was the middle of the road but had some redeeming moments. I hope enough of those moments grabbed the curiosity of a random watcher tuning into FOX, not expecting a race on a Monday night. *As a side note, I cannot wait to see viewership details.

As far as expectations for the year go, let just shoot some things out there. 

• Ford’s new body makes them slightly more competitive (I know they won their championship two years in a row, but they did not deserve it). 
• Toyota will be par for the course.
• Hendrick Motorsports dominates the stats on the team’s 40th anniversary.
• It is the year of Larson. He gets multiple wins in the NASCAR Cup series and fights for an excellent finish at the Indianapolis 500.
• Trackhouse gets more wins this year, but not from Daniel Suarez.
• Fewer drivers win a race.
• See above, more multiple win drivers.
• The drama between NASCAR and the teams gets much larger.
• There will be stable viewership numbers until football season. Then the numbers will be worse than last year.
• RFK wins the same amount of races
• While there will be fewer individual winners, some second and third-tier teams will be much more competitive and consistent.
• Xfinity continues to be the most entertaining and classically NASCAR racing to watch.
• This could go on forever, but I will stop here.

What about some super early predictions that are bound to go awry?

Regular Season Points Champ: Denny Hamlin

Playoff field (Highest in points to lowest):

1. Denny Hamlin
2. Kyle Larson
3. Ross Chastain
4. William Byron
5. Martin Truex Jr.
6. Ryan Blaney
7. Buescher
8. Reddick
9. Chase Elliot
10. Keselowski
11. Busch
12. Bell
13. Gibbs
14. Bowman
15. Wallace
16. Michael McDowell

Championship four:

1. Larson
2. Blaney
3. Reddick
4. Hamlin

Champ:

Larson (the year of Larson)

Well, that is it. I am sure every prediction and guess will fall apart. I am hopeful for an exciting season. I am optimistic that NASCAR stays out of its own way. Let’s go racing!