With NASCAR on a two-week break because of the Paris Olympics, the sport still has four drivers locked in a massive battle for the Cup Series regular season championship. Though there isn’t any racing going on, the four competitors still have a lot on their plate, as any of them could make a huge run in the final four races of the regular season.
There have been years in the Cup Series, since NASCAR went to the playoff format, and started awarding a regular season title, where the race has come to a couple of competitors. This year feels a little different as there are four drivers with a legit chance of claiming that title, and the fifteen extra playoff points that come with it.
As it stands the four drivers in contention, all have won at least one race this season. Those four are Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Tyler Reddick, and Denny Hamlin. There are plenty of interesting twists and turns with all four of them. Larson currently holds the top spot fresh off his Brickyard 400 victory.
The thrill of victory.
The bliss of success.
In this moment, nothing else matters. pic.twitter.com/FQ6i7C66cl
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) July 24, 2024
The real question that remains is which of those four has the best shot to win the regular season?
Four Drivers Locked in Battle For NASCAR Regular Season Title
As said before Larson regained the lead in the standings after the Brickyard, and holds a 10-point cushion over teammate at Hendrick Motorsports Chase Elliott. 23XI and Toyota’s Tyler Reddick made up a lot of ground as well in Indy, with a runner-up finish. As for the fourth driver in the hunt, Reddick knows him well, as it’s his boss Denny Hamlin.
Though Larson has been highly successful this season, there is still the fact he missed the Coca-Cola 600 earlier this year, due to racing the Indy 500. Larson had to take a waiver, and so missed a race, which could come back to bite him, if he has any sort of slip-up in the final four races of the regular season.
He’s certainly thankful for that waiver right about now, as is team owner Rick Hendrick. Hendrick told motorsport.com’s Jim Utter about what drove Larson the most in getting some redemption at Indianapolis.
” I think the disappointment in the 600, not being able to finish that race, was extra motivation,” Hendrick said. “I’m glad NASCAR gave us the waiver. I can’t tell you the disappointment we all had with how that weekend ended up. I do think this was a celebration more than normal because of the disappointment we all had not finishing the job.”
Can Larson hold on to the points lead? Of course, he can, the final four races in the regular season are Richmond, Michigan, Daytona, and Darlington. The worst of those tracks for Larson is certainly Daytona, but for the other three, he has found plenty of success at winning at each two or more times in his Cup career.
Consistency Could Make or Break Drivers in Championship Battle
2023, was a year to forget for NASCAR’s most popular driver, as he missed seven races a year ago. He also didn’t win a race and failed to make the playoffs. Now a year later, he’s not only locked into the playoffs because of his victory at Texas Motor Speedway but also finds himself right in the thick of the regular season championship fight.
Elliott had a three-point lead over Larson going into Indianapolis and now sits 10 points back despite another top-10 finish. Elliott isn’t out of the fight by any means. His consistency has been nearly unheard of. Through 22 races his worst finish this season was 21st. That finish came at the Chicago Street Course when he was spun out on the final corner fighting right around the top 10.
Add in he has had speed consistently the past several weeks, he has been right in contention throughout the year for more race wins. He’s managed a resurgent campaign in 2024. Is it enough to beat Larson, Hamlin, and Reddick? Time will tell. The last four races of the regular season, are at four tracks Elliott has always shown well at. There are also four tracks he has been wronged by in the past. Michigan is a perfect example. Elliott finished runner-up three times in a row in his first three starts at the 2-mile oval.
Tyler Reddick Has Something to Say
Like Larson and Elliott, Tyler Reddick has had a great season to this point. He’s had speed and had a car capable of winning nearly at every track the sport has gone to. That was once again the case at the Brickyard as Reddick won the pole, and had a race-winning car late in the race. He had to settle for second, but it has the driver of the No. 45 full of confidence.
Reddick spoke about how fun the fight for the regular season title has shaped up with Fox Sports’ Bob Pockrass, and how trying to take advantage of the other drivers’ bad days has been key.
“We’ve done a good job capitalizing on their bad days,” Reddick said. “It’s a lot of fun racing with those guys. Obviously, Denny’s my boss. Me and Chase don’t have a lot in common or a lot of history, but me and Kyle Larson grew up racing each other.”
Reddick sits 15 points back of Larson in the standings and certainly could make that up in a heartbeat, especially if Larson stumbles during the final four races.
Outside Shot Or Not, Denny Hamlin Is Still In Play
Denny Hamlin has three wins this season and is hungry for more. Of the four drivers still fighting for the regular season title, Hamlin has cooled off considerably. Wrecking out of the Brickyard 400 certainly didn’t help his cause. That was his third DNF of the season, and now he finds himself 43 points behind Larson. That doesn’t seem like a lot, but it isn’t an easy feat to make up.
BIG WRECK ON THE RESTART, with Denny Hamlin and more involved!
📺 : #Brickyard400 on USA Network pic.twitter.com/5Cwsseruce
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 21, 2024
Hamlin has stumbled during the summer months, with finishes of 24th or worse in five of the last seven races. He started the season with a lot of juice as he still seeks that first Cup Championship. Now at 54 career wins, it might be or never for Hamlin, especially with Larson, Elliott, and his driver Reddick his toughest competition.
The last four tracks have been kind to Hamlin, as he has won at each of them on more than two occasions. He won the first Richmond race, plus it’s one of his home tracks. This regular season title is far from decided as long as Hamlin is driving the No. 11 car.
