Back at the giant paperclip! Can we even call it that? Whatever you consider it, we’re back underneath the Arch (albeit in Illinois), the (in)famous Gateway to the West at Worldwide Technology Raceway, a track packed with short track action on an intermediate layout. Now on the other side of stock car racing’s most daunting challenge, otherwise known as the Coca-Cola 600, summertime is here and in high gear. And what a week across the motorsports landscape, huh?
To the surprise of many, SHR announced on Tuesday evening that the conclusion of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season would be its last. Regardless of your outlook, this strikes a huge blow to NASCAR. Is this a sign of changes to come across the broader landscape? In other news, we are still awaiting NASCAR’s seemingly more-complicated-than-needed verdict on Kyle Larson’s post-season fate. Will Hendrick Motorsports’ waiver, submitted late Thursday evening, be enough to keep the 5 in postseason contention? In yet more Cup Series news, NASCAR introduced their newly proposed charter agreement in which teams, beginning in 2025, would likely be limited to three-charter operations, the news coming on the heels of Front Row Motorsports acquiring their third team charter from SHR. Indeed, silly season seems a little sillier than usual.
Worldwide Technology Raceway, otherwise known as Gateway Motorsports Park. The fastest lap ever recorded on the oval in any series? Josef Newgarden, now a two-time Indy 500 champion and perennial INDYCAR contender. It’s a storied raceway that levels the playing field any time the Series visits. On Sunday afternoon, Michael McDowell will lead the field to the green flag after posting the fastest qualifying lap ever recorded in the books at the racetrack. Team Penske looks to be fast all day after all three drivers ranked in the top 10 in Practice. And Kyle Busch, last year’s victor and pole sitter, can reclaim momentum at a track that’s been otherwise generous to him. So, that all said, let’s get down to brass tacks…
Driver to Fade:
The talent level is there. But we’re not quite sure the equipment nor luck itself is putting him where John Hunter Nemechek needs to be. His overall average finish this season places well below P20, his best finish coming at Bristol in P6. He was 34th fastest in Practice yesterday and begins in 33rd to take the green today. Don’t look for any threat to come from the #42 today.
Dark Horse:
Like it or leave it, Bubba Wallace is very well on the bubble of being a weekly contender. He’s been silently consistent all season long with the finishes to prove his case. WWT hasn’t been particularly kind to Wallace as a Cup Series contender, as trouble has found Wallace in his last two races here, one of which resulting in a DNF. That said, he posted a W at this very track in the Truck Series in 2014. He posted some fast laps yesterday and rolls off P8 to start the afternoon. Keep an eye out.
Top 10:
Ford’s gotta get it together at some point, right? Last week’s race at Charlotte left our defending Cup Series champion hungry for more, as a flat right front ended the #12 team’s day earlier than desired. But WWT figures to be the rebound Ryan Blaney is looking for. He was second-fastest in Practice yesterday afternoon and rolls off P3 this afternoon. His last two starts here? Finishes of P4 and P6, respectively. Blaney is, albeit maybe not desperately, in massive need of an upswing trajectory as we embrace the summer months of the schedule. He sits 13th in the Playoff Standings currently, with all the potential to climb the ladder quickly.
Winner:
Talk about upswing trajectories. This year’s All-Star Race winner is hungry for more, and eager to prove it. Last week, Joey Logano placed a mediocre P14 in a rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600, by leave no doubt – Logano is ready to point himself into the Playoffs. Two years ago, Logano placed first in the Cup Series’ first ever race at this track. He was fastest in Practice yesterday and had the second-fastest lap average to compliment. He begins just outside of the Top 10 in P12 today, but we’re taking Joy Logano, driver of the #22 Team Penske Ford Mustang, to win at WWT this afternoon.
Discover more from Birdies and Burnouts
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.