When the NASCAR Cup Series returns at Richmond (Va.) Raceway this weekend, just four races remain in the regular season. Here are four storylines to watch between now and the finale at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway:
Can Kyle Busch Turn His Luck Around?
It’s undoubtedly been a season to forget thus far for two-time series champion Kyle Busch. Through 22 races, he has just six top 10s and has failed to finish five of the last eight races.
Many of those circumstances, though, have been beyond his control. He crashed with Kyle Larson at World Wide Technology (Ill.) Raceway and finished 35th. Battling with Ross Chastain for a top-five at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway, he got spun on the final lap and ended up 12th. Mechanical issues shortened his day at Iowa Speedway before crashing out at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Contending for a win at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway after a strategy call, he got wadded up on the third overtime attempt and came home 27th. Busch scored a top 10 in the streets of Chicago but went into the Olympic break after tangling with Corey LaJoie at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway and admittedly making a mistake to finish 25th at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Sitting 112 points below the playoff cutline, Busch needs to win one of the final four races to contend for a championship. His streak of 19 consecutive seasons with at least one victory also remains in jeopardy.
The Regular-Season Title Remains Up For Grabs
Several drivers remain in contention for the regular-season title – which pays out 15 additional playoff points.
Kyle Larson currently leads the way by 10 over teammate Chase Elliott despite missing the Coca-Cola 600. His four victories, including a win at IMS on July 21, pace the series.
While Elliott hasn’t dominated by any means, he’s remained steady. The Dawsonville, Ga., native hasn’t finished any worse than 21st this season and has completed all but one possible lap.
Tyler Reddick sits third at just 15 points behind Larson. Similar to Elliott, he’s remained consistent with a series-high 15 top 10s – three better than William Byron and Christopher Bell in second.
A little further back, Denny Hamlin is fourth, sitting 43 markers behind Larson. His three victories have kept him in the hunt while he’s skidded throughout the summer, finishing outside the top 20 in five of the last seven races.
Ryan Blaney, who’s won two of the last six events, is fifth at -73.
Can Buescher & Chastain Hang On?
With 12 different winners on the season, Chris Buescher and Ross Chastain are clinging onto the final two playoff spots on points. Buescher has a 17-point cushion while Chastain is just seven points to the good.
Last year, Buescher won three of the final five regular-season races, starting at Richmond – where the series heads this weekend. He proceeded to win a rain-delayed race at Michigan Int’l Speedway before capping things off with a triumph at Daytona (Fla.) Int’l Speedway. While he’s had some close calls in 2024, could Buescher be on a similar trajectory this season?
Meanwhile, Chastain’s seemingly taken a step back from the last two seasons. Racking up four combined victories in 2022 and 2023, Chastain has just two top fives this season – Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Sonoma. It’s been four races without a top 10, and in that span, he’s finished worse than 22nd three times. Since New Hampshire in June, he’s dropped four spots in driver’s points.
Will There Be A Surprise Winner At Daytona?
While Daytona won’t serve as the regular-season finale this year, there’s always the possibility of a surprise winner.
Buescher didn’t steal a playoff spot with his win last year, but in 2022, Austin Dillon did. Sitting outside the playoff picture, Dillon held on in a wild race that saw most of the field crash late due to a sudden rain cell.
Byron scored his first career victory at Daytona in 2020 to secure a playoff spot. In just his third Cup start, Justin Haley won in a rain-shortened 2019 event.
The potential of a “wild card” winner always exists at Daytona, and it could potentially knock the likes of Buescher or Chastain outside the field of 16 heading into the finale at Darlington.