The NASCAR Cup Series is heating up as the season nears its thrilling conclusion, and the upcoming race in Las Vegas promises to be a pivotal moment for many drivers. But will it be a dream come true or a heart-wrenching disappointment?
The Good, the Bad, and the Controversial:
23XI Racing: A mixed bag for this team. The good news? Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace are in the top 10 in points, aiming for a third top-10 finish in four years. But here's the catch: both were eliminated from the playoffs last weekend. Reddick's recent win on a 1.5-mile track was in October 2022, and Riley Herbst's recent disqualification adds to the team's challenges.
Front Row Motorsports: Todd Gilliland's recent top-20 finishes are a bright spot. However, both Gilliland and Zane Smith are yet to crack the top 10 on 1.5-mile tracks this season, and Gilliland's average finish at Las Vegas is his worst on similar tracks.
Haas Factory Team: Cole Custer's 150th career Cup start is a milestone. Unfortunately, his recent performances have been less than stellar, finishing 22nd or worse in most of the last 10 races.
Hendrick Motorsports: A powerhouse team with Kyle Larson leading the charge. Larson has an impressive record at Las Vegas, including nine top 10s in 11 races and three wins. But is this dominance a sign of strength or a target on his back? Larson and Chase Elliott are the only drivers to consistently finish in the top 10 at the Round of 8 tracks this season. Alex Bowman also shines at Las Vegas. However, Elliott's recent performances at Las Vegas have been less than ideal, and Bowman has struggled in the last seven races.
Hyak Motorsports: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. showed improvement last weekend, but his overall record on 1.5-mile tracks is lacking, with only one top-10 finish in the last 15 races.
Joe Gibbs Racing: Denny Hamlin leads the points entering the third round, with seven top 10s in his last 10 starts at Las Vegas. Christopher Bell and Chase Briscoe are on a roll, but Briscoe has never reached the Cup championship race. Ty Gibbs, despite strong starts, has struggled at Las Vegas.
Kaulig Racing: AJ Allmendinger has had success at 1.5-mile tracks, including Las Vegas. Ty Dillon's recent performance at Kansas is encouraging, but his overall record in the last 11 races is concerning.
Legacy Motor Club: John Hunter Nemechek and Erik Jones have had their moments at Las Vegas, but recent performances have been inconsistent.
Richard Childress Racing: Austin Dillon and Kyle Busch have had success at Las Vegas, but the team's overall performance has been lacking, with no top 30 finishes in two races this season.
Rick Ware Racing: Cody Ware's best result at Las Vegas came in last year's playoff race, but recent finishes have been disappointing.
RFK Racing: Chris Buescher and Ryan Preece have shown promise, with recent top-10 finishes. Brad Keselowski has a strong average finish at Las Vegas, but a drivetrain issue at the Roval led to a disappointing result.
Spire Motorsports: Michael McDowell is on a roll with two top-10 finishes in three races. Justin Haley has had some success on 1.5-mile tracks, but Carson Hocevar's recent performances have been less than ideal.
Team Penske: Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney are a dynamic duo. Logano has four wins at Las Vegas and has been dominant in recent years. However, Logano enters the Round of 8 with the largest deficit in playoff history. Blaney's average finish at Las Vegas in the Next Gen car is a concern.
Trackhouse Racing: Shane van Gisbergen made history with five consecutive Cup road course wins, but the team suffered a setback with Daniel Suarez and Ross Chastain's elimination from the playoffs.
Wood Brothers Racing: Josh Berry's win at Las Vegas in March was a highlight, but his performance since then has been inconsistent.
As the NASCAR Cup Series heads to Las Vegas, every team has something to prove. Who will rise to the occasion, and who will fall short? The stage is set for a dramatic showdown. What do you think? Is there a team you're rooting for, or a driver you think will surprise everyone? Share your predictions and opinions in the comments below!
