NASCAR Cup Series: Highlights to Watch for in Nashville Race
LEBANON, Tenn. — The second half of the NASCAR Cup regular season kicks off tonight at the Nashville Superspeedway, and there’s quite a bit at stake for several drivers in the lineup. Here are some key points to keep an eye on during tonight’s race (7:19 p.m. ET green flag on Prime):
Chase Briscoe’s Pole Position
Chase Briscoe gets another opportunity to make the most of his pole win . While he finished third in last weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 after starting from pole, he only led one lap, failed to earn points in the first two stages, and finished with just two points in the third stage. Briscoe faced setbacks due to a pit road penalty for an uncontrolled tire during his first stop, demonstrating how early issues in a 600-mile race can influence the overall outcome. In contrast, tonight’s race in Nashville is 399 miles.
“It’s frustrating,” Briscoe shared with NBC Sports regarding his performance last weekend. “It really just reflects how our season has been. We haven’t managed to put together a full day, let alone a full weekend. We had hoped that if we qualified well, it would help us maximize our stage points.”
Yet, Briscoe didn’t accumulate as many points as one would expect from a pole-sitter. He currently ranks last among drivers in playoff positions for stage points this year, tallying only 18 points. In fact, eight drivers outside playoff contention have scored more stage points than him this season.
Bubba Wallace’s Comeback
Bubba Wallace has a straightforward way of describing his recent races: “The last three weeks, four weeks, if you include the All-Star race, it’s just been (expletive).” After finishing 33rd or worse in the last three points races, he has dropped from seventh to 12th in the standings online games earn real money gcash. Last year, 14 out of 16 playoff drivers secured wins in the regular season, but this year, victories are concentrated among a select few, meaning more playoff spots may rely on points. With Wallace slipping in the standings, he may be inching closer to jeopardy.
Despite this, Wallace is maintaining a positive mindset. He has acknowledged in previous years he tended to fixate too much on recent unfortunate outcomes rather than focusing on how his team has been performing throughout the season, which has kept him 38 points above the cutline heading into Nashville.
“You’re going to have bad races,” Wallace reflected. “I’ve seen many drivers experience this, like Denny (Hamlin), who also hasn’t had a great few races. After bad luck in Charlotte, they show up the next week as if nothing happened. winph.777 They don’t dwell on it.”
Wallace appreciates the importance of showing up for his team and sponsors and making the most of every race, especially since he’ll be starting from 12th position and has the potential to score points in the first stage. However, another poor finish could push him closer to the cutline.
Denny Hamlin on Baby Watch
Denny Hamlin’s fiancée is due to deliver the couple’s third child this Sunday, which could affect his participation in the race.
Kyle Larson’s Driving Challenge
Kyle Larson has an impressive average finishing position of 4.5 at Nashville and is the only driver to have finished in the top 10 of all four Cup races at this track. However, he has some work to do to continue that streak, as he qualified 28th — his worst starting position since March 2019 in Phoenix. How quickly can he climb to the front? Will he earn points in the first stage?
Race Information
It took four hours to complete the 2024 event, even with five overtime finishes.
Locked In for the Tournament
The top 32 drivers in points after tonight’s race will be secured in the in-season tournament set to commence later this month in Atlanta. Currently, Brad Keselowski sits 32nd in points and has additional concerns, as last week’s fifth-place finish in the Coca-Cola 600 was his first top 10 of the year phbet.ph. If he finishes poorly again, he could risk missing out on the tournament where the winner takes home $1 million. For tonight’s race, Keselowski is starting from a season-best sixth position.
RFK Racing Adjustments
Brad Keselowski commented on recent penalties: “Ultimately, that responsibility lies with us, and we’ve had those discussions internally 1 jili slot. I believe everyone understands what is expected of them moving ahead.”
With so much on the line, how do you think the drivers will perform in tonight’s race at Nashville?
