After a short Olympic break, NASCAR is cranking up the engines, and this weekend marks the first time in a NASCAR Cup Series points-paying race that the drivers and teams will have multiple options on the type of tire they would like to compete with in Sunday’s Cook Out 400 (6 p.m. ET on USA, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
This weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series race will feature two Goodyear tire options available to teams: a baseline “Prime” tire that has a harder rubber compound with potentially less grip but more longevity, and a new “Option” tire that has a softer rubber compound with more short-term grip and speed, but less longevity. The “Prime” tire will be marked with traditional yellow lettering on the sidewalls, while the “Option” tire will be designated with red lettering.
Teams will be allotted six sets of Prime tires and two sets of Option tires for the race, including one Prime set carried over from qualifying. For the race, NASCAR will not mandate when teams use their sets. However, all four tires must match at all times.
NASCAR Cup Series Teams will also have an extended practice session, with one set of each tire type available to use during that 45-minute stint.
The availability of only two sets of Option tires over the course of 400 laps is expected to place an emphasis on strategy, for when teams might opt to utilize them.
“As we continue the cooperative effort of the industry on short track package adjustments, we felt like Richmond was an excellent opportunity to build upon the results of the Option tire used at the All-Star race,” said Goodyear Director of Racing Greg Stucker. “We expect the Option tire to provide a significant lap time gain over the Prime, but fall-off will be greater, and tire management will be important in taking advantage of it at the right time.”
Drivers and crew chiefs alike will look to make the most of this new competition element, particularly those still looking to lock themselves into Playoffs. One of those drivers is last year’s Cook Out 400 winner Chris Buescher.
Final Four: Richmond Raceway the last of the short tracks in the regular season
Only four races remain in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series regular season (Richmond, Michigan, Daytona and Darlington) to decide who will compete in the 16-driver Playoff field, and for the second-time this year the NASCAR Cup Series will roll into Richmond Raceway for some action-packed side-by-side short track racing in the Cook Out 400 on August 11 at 6 p.m. ET on the USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio – the last short track event of the regular season.
The next four tracks to round out the NASCAR Cup Series regular season are quite different from each other.
This weekend at Richmond Raceway, the Cup Series competitors will face 400 miles on the 0.75-mile short track. Earlier this season, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin tamed the Virginia short track earning his fifth career Cup Series win at Richmond – second-most among active drivers.
Then next weekend the NASCAR Cup Series will head to Michigan International Speedway for another 400 miles on the high-speed, multi-groove, 2-mile track located in the Irish Hills. RFK Racing’s Chris Buescher claimed the win at Michigan last season and is looking for his first Cup victory of 2024.
The Cup Series will then head back to the 2.5-mile behemoth, Daytona International Speedway, for the annual summer 400-miler. Last season at Daytona, RFK Racing pulled-off a 1-2 finish; Chris Buescher took the win with car owner and teammate Brad Keselowski in tow.
The series will then wrap-up the 2024 regular season at the egg-shaped, 1.366-mile Darlington Raceway with the ‘Crown Jewel’ event – the Southern 500 – to decide this season’s Playoff field.
If there is any driver that is excited about these next four summer races its RFK Racing’s Chris Buescher. The Texas native, Buescher, won the summer races in 2023 at the three of the next four tracks on the 2024 schedule – Richmond-2, Michigan and Daytona-2. The only race of the four he didn’t win, the Southern 500 at Darlington, he finished third.
Cup Playoff Clinch Scenarios: Richmond Raceway
With only four races remaining in the NASCAR Cup Series 2024 regular season (Richmond, Michigan, Daytona and Darlington), it’s that time of year we break out the spreadsheets and start digging through the numbers to see who needs to do what to clinch their spot in the Playoffs.
Already Clinched
The following seven drivers have clinched a spot in the 16-driver postseason field: Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Tyler Reddick, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, William Byron, Christopher Bell.
Can Clinch Via Previous Wins
The following drivers could clinch on previous wins with a win by Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Tyler Reddick, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, William Byron, Christopher Bell, Brad Keselowski, Alex Bowman, Joey Logano, Daniel Suarez or Austin Cindric:
- Brad Keselowski: Would clinch regardless of finish
- Alex Bowman: Would clinch regardless of finish
- Joey Logano: Would clinch regardless of finish
- Daniel Suarez: Would clinch regardless of finish
- Austin Cindric: Would clinch regardless of finish
The following drivers could clinch on previous wins with a win by Martin Truex Jr., Ty Gibbs, Chris Buescher, Ross Chastain, Bubba Wallace or Chase Briscoe:
- Brad Keselowski: Would clinch with 44 points
- Alex Bowman: Would clinch with 53 points
The following drivers could clinch on previous wins with a win by Kyle Busch:
- Brad Keselowski: Would clinch with 41 points
- Alex Bowman: Would clinch with 50 points
The following drivers could clinch on previous wins with a win by Todd Gilliland:
- Brad Keselowski: Would clinch with 38 points
- Alex Bowman: Would clinch with 48 points
The following drivers could clinch on previous wins with a win by Michael McDowell:
- Brad Keselowski: Would clinch with 15 points
- Alex Bowman: Would clinch with 24 points
The following drivers could clinch on previous wins with a win by Josh Berry:
- Brad Keselowski: Would clinch regardless of finish
- Alex Bowman: Would clinch with 8 points
The following drivers could clinch on previous wins with a win by Noah Gragson or Carson Hocevar:
- Brad Keselowski: Would clinch regardless of finish
- Alex Bowman: Would clinch with 3 points
The following drivers could clinch on previous wins with a win by Rickey Stenhouse Jr.:
- Brad Keselowski: Would clinch regardless of finish
- Alex Bowman: Would clinch regardless of finish
The following drivers could clinch on previous wins with a win by Ryan Preece:
- Brad Keselowski: Would clinch regardless of finish
- Alex Bowman: Would clinch regardless of finish
- Joey Logano: Would clinch with 30 points
The following drivers could clinch on previous wins with a win by Corey LaJoie:
- Brad Keselowski: Would clinch regardless of finish
- Alex Bowman: Would clinch regardless of finish
- Joey Logano: Would clinch with 25 points
The following drivers could clinch on previous wins with a win by Justin Haley:
- Brad Keselowski: Would clinch regardless of finish
- Alex Bowman: Would clinch regardless of finish
- Joey Logano: Would clinch with 20 points
The following drivers could clinch on previous wins with a win by Daniel Hemric:
- Brad Keselowski: Would clinch regardless of finish
- Alex Bowman: Would clinch regardless of finish
- Joey Logano: Would clinch with 17 points
The following drivers could clinch on previous wins with a win by John Hunter Nemechek:
- Brad Keselowski: Would clinch regardless of finish
- Alex Bowman: Would clinch regardless of finish
- Joey Logano: Would clinch with 8 points
- Daniel Suarez: Could clinch with help
The following drivers could clinch on previous wins with a win by Austin Dillon:
- Brad Keselowski: Would clinch regardless of finish
- Alex Bowman: Would clinch regardless of finish
- Joey Logano: Would clinch regardless of finish
- Daniel Suarez: Could clinch with help
The following drivers could clinch on previous wins with a win by Zane Smith:
- Brad Keselowski: Would clinch regardless of finish
- Alex Bowman: Would clinch regardless of finish
- Joey Logano: Would clinch regardless of finish
- Daniel Suarez: Could clinch with 14 points
- Austin Cindric: Could clinch with 36 points
The following drivers could clinch on previous wins with a win by Harrison Burton:
- Brad Keselowski: Would clinch regardless of finish
- Alex Bowman: Would clinch regardless of finish
- Joey Logano: Would clinch regardless of finish
- Daniel Suarez: Could clinch with 4 points
- Austin Cindric: Could clinch with 26 points
Can Clinch Via Win
The following drivers would clinch on their win alone:
- Martin Truex Jr., Brad Keselowski, Alex Bowman, Joey Logano, Daniel Suarez, Austin Cindric
The following drivers could clinch with a win:
- Ty Gibbs: Could only clinch with help
- Chris Buescher: Could only clinch with help
- Ross Chastain: Could only clinch with help
- Bubba Wallace: Could only clinch with help
Tight battle amongst teammates for the Regular Season Championship
With only four races left in the NASCAR Cup Series regular season, anything can happen, and the battle for the Regular Season Championship is tight and amongst teammates. Hendrick Motorsports’ teammates Kyle Larson (series leader) and Chase Elliott (second in points) are separated by just 10 points following Indianapolis. Larson retaking the points lead after his win in Indianapolis was the 12th point standings lead change of the season.
If Kyle Larson were to hold on and win, he would become just the third driver all-time to win multiple NASCAR Cup Series Regular Season Championships; joining Kyle Busch (2015, 2019) and Martin Truex Jr. (2017, 2023). Plus, along with the prestige, Larson would also bank the additional 15 Playoff bonus points that come with the title.
Regular Season Championship Clinch Scenarios:
Kyle Larson (or whoever’s first in points) needs to be up by the corresponding number after the race to clinch:
Richmond – 180 or 181 points, depending on tie-break
Michigan – 120 or 121 points, depending on tie-break
Daytona – 60 or 61 points, depending on tie-break
Darlington – 0 or 1 point, depending on tie-break
