The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series is heading into the home stretch of the year and with less than 10 races to go before the postseason, a handful of drivers have emerged at the front of the pack. Leading the charge is Kyle Larson (+400) who is currently tied for first place in the 2024 Cup Series standings as of this article’s writing with rival Chase Elliott. He has notched three wins on the year but of course, is aiming for more as the dog days of summer heat up. Meanwhile, other contenders like Denny Hamlin (+450), William Byron (+600), and Ryan Blaney (+900) are all vying for the championship as well. Hamlin currently sits in third place while Blaney and Blaney and Byron are both inside the top ten of the rankings.
For this report, SBS will be going over what to look for from each racer along with a predicted winner and some additional notes and insights relating to the NASCAR Cup Series.
| Favorites to win the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle Larson | +400 | +400 | +400 |
| Denny Hamlin | +450 | +450 | +450 |
| William Byron | +600 | +600 | +600 |
| Ryan Blaney | +900 | +900 | +900 |
As in past years, Larson has been on a great pace throughout this year. In addition to his three victories to date, he has accrued six top-ten finishes, along with five of those coming inside the top five of those races. This includes wins in Las Vegas, Kansas, and most recently at the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at the Sonoma Raceway last month. An accomplished driver, he was named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023. Earlier this year, Larson set a NASCAR record at Kansas for the closest finish in NASCAR Cup Series history per sources. Moreover, is the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Champion and has been a strong favorite each year to win the title. However, he has been a little inconsistent as of late, finishing in 30th place or above in three of his last six races.
A NASCAR veteran, Hamlin is just outside the top spot on the leaderboard but has had another fantastic campaign in 2024, giving him a great chance for a title. This year, he has notched three victories as well, scoring wins in Bristol, Richmond, and also Dover earlier in the year. This season, he has also accrued five top-ten finishes in addition to his three victories. This includes a five-race stretch, starting with the Dover victory, where he locked down five consecutive top-five finishes. That said, he has also had a rough patch as of late, finishing in 38th, and 24th (twice) in his last three outings. Of course, there is still plenty of time left as he makes his charge down the line.
Byron is usually a trendy pick in most markets as one of the sport’s younger stars, and rightfully so given his prowess on the track. This year, he has also scored three wins, including the season-opening race at the Daytona 500 back in February. Conversely, he has had some sporadic boom or bust performances, winning races, but also finishing in above 30th place on three different occasions. Of course, he is pretty consistent most of the time, with nine overall top-ten finishes to date on the year and one of the best racers in all of NASCAR. He certainly has the capability to rack up wins in a hurry.
Our final racer showcase, Blaney comes into this update just inside the top ten of the Cup Series standings, but is of course a fantastic racer who can make a lot of noise. This season, he has accrued only just one win (Iowa last month) but has been a fairly consistent racer at the top of the leaderboards in each contest that he enters. In addition to his victory in the cornfields, he has six other top-ten outings this year, which places him near the top of most leaderboards this season. While he is consistent, he will need to find a way to break through more down the stretch.
Prediction: With Larson neck and neck with Elliott as of this article’s writing, it will be interesting to see who takes the momentum in the season’s final months. That said, Larson is the established favorite for a reason thanks to his winning pedigree, and is also the pick here to win the title.
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About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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