INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024) – IXO Models will become the exclusive supplier of INDYCAR diecast collectible model vehicles and accessories starting with the 2025 season.
This partnership between INDYCAR and IXO’s U.S.-based affiliate, IXO America, will offer the highest-quality, innovative models for racing enthusiasts and collectors alike at INDYCAR events and retailers in time for the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season.
The new line of INDYCAR replicas will feature an array of iconic teams and cars from North America’s premier open-wheel racing series, meticulously re-created to capture every nuance of the real track cars. From sleek aerodynamic designs to vibrant, authentic paint schemes, these models are a must-have for collectors and racing fans. Upgraded aero kits in both 1:64 and 1:18 scale, race-worn tires and new-to-market trackside vehicles are just some of the innovations IXO will bring to consumers.
“IXO has shown a commitment to quality and listening to customer feedback through its diecast models from many series around the globe,” INDYCAR Director, Events & Experiences Alexis Hurley said. “We know fans around the world will love the attention to detail of IXO products as more and more models roll out next year and beyond.”
The multiyear agreement marks a significant milestone for IXO. With over 25 years of diecast manufacturing experience, the brand is known for its meticulous attention to detail, superior craftsmanship and unwavering commitment to quality. IXO’s global presence and expertise in motorsports diecast will expand the reach of INDYCAR to diecast collectors and racing fans around the world.
“We are beyond excited to partner with INDYCAR and bring these incredible racing machines to life in diecast form,” said Jeff Nelson, vice president of sales for IXO America. “Our team is passionate about delivering the highest-quality replica models, and we can’t wait for fans to experience the thrill of owning a piece of INDYCAR history.
“This partnership underscores our commitment to innovation and excellence in the diecast model industry. IXO America has roots in ownership and design right here in Indianapolis, so our enthusiasm for INDYCAR is unparalleled in the market.”
Fans should stay tuned to both IXO Models and INDYCAR social media channels and websites for the latest updates. For more information about IXO Models, visit www.ixomodels.com.
2025 NASCAR Hall of Fame nominees Ricky Rudd and Carl Edwards have been named co-Grand Marshals for this year’s Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 on Oct. 13
Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 weekend tickets can be purchased online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-455-FANS (3267). Kids 12 and under get in all weekend for just $10
CONCORD, NC (Sept. 5, 2024) – NASCAR Cup Series legends and 2025 NASCAR Hall of Fame nominees Ricky Rudd and Carl Edwards will return to the famed Charlotte Motor Speedway to give the command as co-Grand Marshals for the Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 on Sunday, Oct. 13.
NASCAR’s “Ironman” Ricky Rudd, renowned for his road course mastery, will take the stage to deliver the most famous words of racing. With six of his 23 Cup Series victories earned navigating through the strenuous turns of road courses nationwide, Rudd’s expertise is unquestioned. After concluding his illustrious 32-year Cup Series career in 1983, Rudd will return to America’s Home for Racing to kick off the seventh running Bank of America ROVAL™ 400.
“Road course racing has always suited my driving style, so while I never got to race on the ROVAL™, I’m excited to get to Charlotte and see what it’s all about,” Rudd said. “Being able to see the race, visit with the fans and give the command is going to be really special.”
Edwards, a 28-time Cup Series winner is no stranger to Victory Lane at Charlotte Motor Speedway, including visits after his 2015 Coca-Cola 600 triumph and in the 2011 NASCAR All-Star Race. From his infamous backflips, his NASCAR Rookie of the Year honor in 2003 to being named NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver in 2007, Edwards will now add another ovation at the start of Sunday’s 109-lap road course feature.
“I have a lot of good memories and a couple of trophies from my racing days at Charlotte Motor Speedway,” Edwards said. “I’m looking forward to being able to relive some of those moments and make some new ones this year.”
Edwards and Rudd, who will be inducted into the 2025 NASCAR Hall of Fame class next year alongside the late Ralph Moody, will join forces to deliver the command to fire engines before drivers take on the newly renovated 17-turn, 2.28-mile course. With two reconfigured turns and 35 feet of elevation change, this year’s NASCAR Playoff cut-off race promises an exhilarating experience for both drivers and fans.
“Racing at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the fall always feels like a bit of a NASCAR homecoming,” said speedway President and General Manager Greg Walter. “This year, that will be especially true with Ricky and Carl returning as co-grand marshals. It’s going to be a lot of fun to see them interact with the fans and experience the thrill of ROVAL™ racing in the Playoffs.”
TICKETS:
To purchase Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 weekend tickets, fans can shop online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or call 1-800-455-FANS (3267). Kids 12 and under get in all weekend for just $10.
MORE INFO:
Fans can connect with Charlotte Motor Speedway and get the latest news by following on Twitter and Instagram, becoming a Facebook fan or downloading the Charlotte Motor Speedway mobile app.
Cadillac expanding to three-car GTP lineup Wayne Taylor Racing to join Action Express Racing on grid for 2025 IMSA season
DETROIT (Sept. 5, 2024) – Cadillac Racing announced that its IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship program will expand to three Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) factory cars beginning with the start of the 2025 season.
Cadillac Racing welcomes the return of Wayne Taylor Racing along with reigning IMSA GTP champion Action Express Racing to run three Cadillac V-Series.R race cars powered by the purpose-built Cadillac 5.5L DOHC V8 engine.
Drivers will be announced in the future.
“Cadillac Racing is thrilled to run an expanded three-car factory program in the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship,” said GM President Mark Reuss. “Wayne Taylor Racing and Action Express Racing bring decades of proven racing and technical expertise, and we look forward to continued success on the track.”
GM Motorsports’ history with Wayne Taylor dates to 1990 when the South African native turned his first laps in the U.S. as a General Motors factory driver in a Chevrolet-powered GTP race car. His success as a driver and team owner has included racing with multiple GM brands including Chevrolet and Cadillac. During its previous relationship with Cadillac (2017-2020), Wayne Taylor Racing won three Rolex 24 At Daytona titles (2017, 2019, 2020), two Petit Le Mans races (2018, 2020) and the Twelve Hours of Sebring event (2017). In 2017, the team set an unprecedented five-race win streak with the Cadillac DPi and went on to win the IMSA WeatherTech Driver and Manufacturer’s Championships.
“I am so glad to return to the Cadillac family,” said Wayne Taylor, team principal, whose team last raced for Cadillac in the 2020 IMSA season. “Having teamed with GM for so many years, with so many wins and championships, and having enjoyed such a fantastic relationship with them, this global program we have put together could not be more thrilling. We have exciting things coming and I look forward to discussing our commercial relationships in the coming months.”
Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing will run two Cadillac V-Series.Rs in the 2025 IMSA season.
Action Express Racing, the 2023 GTP team/driver champion and IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup team/driver champion with Cadillac Racing, will race in 2025 as Cadillac Whelen and will continue to run the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R in IMSA’s premier class.
Action Express Racing has had an alliance with GM since 2012 in IMSA, initially with the Corvette DP and Chevrolet 5.5L V8 engine and since 2017 with Cadillac Racing’s DPi and GTP programs.
“All of us at Action Express Racing are thrilled that Cadillac has chosen us again to represent their iconic brand,” team manager Gary Nelson said. “I have worked closely with GM for my entire career in motorsports. We have always been impressed with the people we work with at Cadillac. We are excited to compete for wins and championships at the highest level of sports car racing in America.”
Cadillac Racing has earned nine Manufacturer Championships in sports car racing since 2005 and five IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Manufacturer Championships with 69 total sports car victories, including 30 in IMSA prototype competition since 2017.
The Cadillac V-Series.R marks the third generation Cadillac prototype race car and first with an electric motor component. The car – co-developed by Cadillac Design, Cadillac Racing and chassis constructor Dallara – incorporates key Cadillac V-Series production car design elements, such as vertical lighting and floating blades.
About Wayne Taylor Racing
Based in Indianapolis, Wayne Taylor Racing is part of Andretti Global, combining the resources of two championship-caliber teams to compete in the top classes of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the North America Lamborghini Super Trofeo series.
About Action Express Racing
Founded in 2010, the Denver, N.C.-based team has an unrivaled record in IMSA competition, claiming the 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2021, and 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Team and Driver championships, as well as securing the 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2023 North American Endurance Championships titles.
The first 26 races of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season generated its fair share of ups and downs for Kyle Larson. But he enters the 2024 Cup Playoffs as a prime candidate to reclaim the coveted prize within the sport he once achieved three seasons ago and nearly reclaimed a year ago.
The 2021 Cup Series champion from Elk Grove, California, commenced his fourth consecutive season driving the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 entry for Hendrick Motorsports by finishing 11th and 32nd, respectively, within the first two scheduled events. Then during the following weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Larson notched his first victory of the 2024 season after leading a race-high 181 of 267 laps while fending off a late challenge from Tyler Reddick.
Since the Vegas victory, Larson proceeded to record five top-five results over his next ninth starts. During his ninth start within the span, he edged Chris Buescher by 0.001 seconds at Kansas Speedway during an overtime shootout to etch the closest-recorded finish in the Cup Series history books.
Larson would then hit a snag for the remainder of May that started when he finished 34th at Darlington Raceway due to being involved in a late single-car incident. Over the next two weekends, he proceeded to pull double-duty roles. While preparing for the 108th running of the Indianapolis 500 with Arrow McLaren and also navigating through the upcoming Cup Series North Carolina events at North Wilkesboro Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Despite having time to travel and navigate between qualifying for the Indy 500 and competing in the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro, the Californian was left with a 50/50 option to compete in either the Indy 500 with Arrow McLaren or the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte due to Mother Nature stalling his travel plans for both. Ultimately, Larson would opt to start in the Indy 500, where he finished 18th. He then traveled back to Charlotte, to climb back aboard his No. 5 Chevrolet that was being piloted by veteran Justin Allgaier.
By then, however, Mother Nature interfered once again by placing the event in an extensive rain delay period before being made official. As a result, Allgaier, who started the Coke 600, was credited with a 13th-place result while Larson was unable to turn in a single lap of the event.
Larson rallied two weeks later by notching a late victory at Sonoma Raceway, his home track, in early June. By then, he was granted a waiver from NASCAR to be eligible to make the 2024 Playoffs despite missing the Coke 600. Then after finishing no higher than four during his next five events, Larson triumphed at Indianapolis by leading through two overtime attempts and achieving his first Brickyard 400 victory.
With four regular-season victories under his belt, Larson would come within striking distance of toppling Tyler Reddick for the regular-season title as he notched two additional top-10 results during the remaining four regular-season events. Despite leading a race-high 263 of 367 laps and finishing fourth during the regular-season finale at Darlington, Larson would fall short of winning his second regular-season title by a single point to Reddick.
Nonetheless, Larson will commence the 2024 Cup Series Playoffs in first place in the Playoff standings with 2,040 points. In a season where he has recorded an average-finishing result of 13.6, led 1,088 laps and recorded 13 top-10 results to go along with his current four victories, Larson strives to navigate his way through each venue and each round methodically while keeping his car both intact and competitive that would enable him to make his third Championship 4 round and join an elite class of competitors to win multiple championships in NASCAR’s premier series.
“Hopefully, I can make it through each [Playoff] round as well as the car,” Larson said after the regular-season finale at Darlington. “Just proud of my team. Proud of the pit crew today and proud of the race car. You work hard all year long to get stage wins, get race wins to position yourself well in the Playoffs, to not necessarily allow yourself a mistake, but I think I saw where we’re 35 points above the cutline right now, so that’s nice, especially when you go to a track as scary as Atlanta, but they could be wiped out in an instant. I could be below the cutline after Atlanta. That’s just kind of the craziness of this system, so just keep doing what we’ve been doing. Our car’s been really fast and our team’s been executing great, so just keep it up and hopefully, we can advance on through.”
Kyle Larson’s pursuit for his second NASCAR Cup Series championship in 2024 commences at Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Quaker State 400 and the start of the 2024 Playoffs. The event is scheduled to occur this upcoming Sunday, September 8, at 3 p.m. ET on USA Network.
After early season injuries plagued any comeback hopes of making the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs a year ago, both Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman of Hendrick Motorsports thrusted themselves back into the postseason battle for a championship in 2024 following a decent regular-season stretch highlighted with both achieving a single, respective victory and snapping a one-year winless drought.
For Elliott, the 2020 Cup Series champion from Dawsonville, Georgia, fired off on all eight cylinders by finishing no lower than the top-20 mark through the first eight-scheduled events. During the stretch, he logged in back-to-back top-five results, where he finished fifth at Richmond Raceway before settling in third place at Martinsville Speedway after leading 64 laps.
Then at Texas Motor Speedway in April, Elliott survived two overtime attempts to notch his first Cup victory of the 2024 season and snap a 42-race winless drought since winning at Talladega Superspeedway in late 2022. The victory also automatically guaranteed himself and his No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 team a spot back into the Playoffs.
Following the Texas victory, Elliott would endure a roller coaster adventure for the remaining 17 events of the 2024 regular-season stretch. With four top-five results and eight top-10 results recorded during the stretch, the Georgian remained in contention for the regular-season title. Ultimately, he would cap off the regular season in third place in the standings.
Overall, Elliott’s 2024 regular-season points and Texas victory were enough for him to be slated in seventh place with 2,014 points come the start of this year’s Playoff battle, which will mark his eighth appearance in the postseason battle for a title.
Despite expressing his excitement over his return to the Playoffs, however, Elliott, a three-time Championship 4 qualifier, emphasized the goal for both himself and his team to set aside any potential on-track mistakes while remaining focused towards being competitive and in contention to win the title like in 2020.
“[I am] Excited to have [Darlington Raceway] over with and looking forward to getting the Playoff started,” Elliott said following this past weekend’s regular-season finale at Darlington. “These next 10 [races], they’re intense, so we’re gonna have to, myself and our entire NAPA team, we’re gonna hit the reset button in a big way. Go to Atlanta and try to get things rolling in the right direction and see where we end up.”
Like Elliott, Alex Bowman was also left with mixed feelings over his regular-season stretch despite rallying from being plagued by injuires and a concussion that ended his title hopes early and forced him to sit out for select events during the previous two seasons.
The 31-year-old Bowman from Tucson, Arizona, commenced his fourth season driving the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Hendrick Motorsports by finishing in second place in the 66th running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway after being edged by teammate William Byron at the moment of caution on the final lap.
Bowman would proceed to finish in the top eight three times over his next eight starts before he notched five consecutive top-nine finishes at the conclusion of May. The following five events on the schedule throughout June saw Bowman finishing no higher than eighth, but finishing outside the top 25 twice.
Then during the series’ rain-shortened, second annual event at the Chicago Street Course, Bowman executed a late pit strategy to return to Victory Lane in the Cup Series for the first time in 80 starts as he leapt into the Playoff picture. Bowman’s victory at Chicago marked a pivotal moment for Hendrick Motorsports, with the Arizona native enabling all four Hendrick competitors into the Playoffs as he also delivered the first victory for sophomore crew chief Blake Harris.
Following the Chicago victory, Bowman would steer his way to finish third at Pocono Raceway before capping off the regular-season stretch by finishing no higher than 16th on the track.
As the 2024 Cup Series Playoffs approaches, Bowman will commence his first title pursuit in 12th place in the Playoff standings with 2,005 points. Having made the Playoffs a total of five times, including this season, Bowman has yet to make an appearance in the Championship 4 round as a finalist, with his closest opportunity occurring in 2020 after he was eliminated from the Playoffs following the Round of 8’s finale.
As Bowman shared teammate Elliott’s excitement over his Cup Series Playoff return and the opportunity to race for a title, he also shared identical sentiments towards addressing the regular-season struggles and improving the on-track performance for more consistency that would enable him to transfer through each round of the Playoffs.
Photo by Tim Jarrold for SpeedwayMedia.com.
“We got to get our stuff together,” Bowman added. “It’s been a rough month. Excited for the Ally No. 48 team to be back in the Playoffs, but at the same time, we have a long way to go after how we performed for the last month. We got to be on our A game for all [the Playoff races], so just got to go execute.”
The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs and battle for a championship for teammates Alex Bowman and Chase Elliott are set to commence at Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Quaker State 400. The event is scheduled to occur this upcoming Sunday, September 8, at 3 p.m. ET on USA Network.
After a one-year absence, Daniel Suarez returns to the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs in 2024 with early excitement and anticipation as he strives to keep pace with the competition and allow both himself and his No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 team the opportunity to contend for a Cup Series championship.
Suarez, a native of Monterrey, Mexico, commenced the 2024 season by finishing 34th in the 66th running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway despite contending for the victory in the closing laps. He then rebounded during the following weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway by edging Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch in a three-wide photo finish, including 0.003 seconds over runner-up Blaney, to emerge victorious overall for the second time in his career and to notch his first oval/superspeedway victory in the Cup circuit. The victory was also his first with new crew chief Matt Swiderski and the driver’s first since winning at Sonoma Raceway in 2022.
Since the Atlanta victory, which was an automatic, guaranteed ticket into the Playoffs, Suarez would proceed to finish in the top 10 five additional times, but would end up with 15 finishes of 18th or worse throughout this year’s 26-race regular-season stretch.
Amid the on-track struggles, Suarez, who will line up in 11th place in the Playoff standings with 2,006 points, remains pleased with a recent surge in on-track progress made by his No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet team, during which the Mexican finishing in the top 10 three times throughout the final five regular-season events. He also generated a strong run at Richmond Raceway last August, where he led 93 laps before finishing 10th.
In addition to expressing his excitement about returning to Atlanta, the track where he recorded his recent Cup Series victory, to commence the 2024 Cup Series Playoffs, Suarez, who is set to remain at Trackhouse Racing in 2025, strives to extend his recent momentum that would enable him to surpass each Playoff round and have a chance to make the Championship 4 round at Phoenix Raceway in November.
During Suarez’s first Playoff campaign in 2022, he transferred from the Round of 16 to 12 and was in contention of advancing into the Round of 8 before a power steering issue during the round’s finale at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course drained his championship hopes as he settled in a career-best 10th place in the final standings.
“Starting the Playoffs in Atlanta is always pretty sweet, but in reality, the No. 99 team has got some good things going our way the last couple of months,” Suarez said after this past Sunday’s regular-season finale at Darlington Raceway. “We have built some good energy, some good momentum. We have had a good streak of top 10s, good speed in some race tracks. We just continue to get better. I’m very excited to see what we can do over the first [Playoff] round. The first couple rounds are a little crazy, so I think if we execute, we clean (up) a couple things, we’re going to have a pretty good shot at [the title].”
Daniel Suarez’s pursuit for his first NASCAR Cup Series championship in 2024 commences at Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Quaker State 400 and the start of the 2024 Playoffs. The event is scheduled to occur this upcoming Sunday, September 8, at 3 p.m. ET on USA Network.
The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series regular-season stretch was a stretch that generated a roller coaster ride for Joey Logano, who managed to thrive late in the season and when it mattered most ultimately enabled him and his No. 22 Team Penske Ford Mustang Dark Horse team to make the Playoffs and have another opportunity to add another title to the driver’s successful racing resume in stock car competition.
The two-time Cup Series champion from Middletown, Connecticut, roared out of the gate by winning the pole position for the 66th running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. He would then finish 32nd in the main event after he was collected in a late multi-car wreck while contending for the victory. Including the 500 result, Logano would finish no higher than ninth once, but get strapped with four finishes of 22nd or worse before he recorded a strong runner-up result at Richmond Raceway in late March.
With six results of 16th or worse and only three top-10 results accumulated over his next 11 starts, Logano’s 2024 Cup Series Playoffs hopes were within reach as he was mired towards the top-16 cutline in the Playoff standings. Then, Logano’s championship hopes of the season were resurrected after the Connecticut veteran withstood five overtime attempts and a fuel tank that was on the verge of being dry to grab his first elusive victory of the season at Nashville Superspeedway in late June.
Since the Nashville victory, Logano has only finished in the top eight twice but has finished 19th or worse five times during a seven-race stretch. As a result, Logano’s points and results, including the Nashville victory, were enough for him to be strapped into ninth place in the current Playoff standings with 2,007 points.
Currently, Logano’s eight top-10 results he accumulated throughout the 26-race regular-season stretch are the lowest he has accumulated and his average-finishing result of 18.3 is low, both occurring in 2011. Nonetheless, the Connecticut native, who will square off against teammates Ryan Blaney and Austin Cindric along with Penske-affiliated teammate Harrison Burton, remains poised to transfer his way into the finale a year after being eliminated following the first round and raise the championship trophy as he did in 2018 and again in 2022.
“It’s nice to have all our [Team Penske] cars and you having four in [the Playoffs], even with the Wood Brothers car [and driver Harrison Burton], which is pretty much under our roof here,” Logano said following the regular-season finale at Darlington Raceway. “It’s nice to have them all in there. It’s game time now, right? This is the time to shine and the cream always rises at the top through the Playoffs, so got to be able to execute through all these races. Got to go fast through them. The first round is obviously pretty crazy with the racetracks that are involved there. It’s no smooth ride from here. It’s not a simple way of getting [to the finale], so got to be solid here. We don’t have a whole bunch of Playoff points on our side, but we got a couple. We’ll fire away and see what we got.”
Joey Logano’s pursuit for his third NASCAR Cup Series championship in 2024 commences at Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Quaker State 400 and the start of the 2024 Playoffs. The event is scheduled to occur this upcoming Sunday, September 8, at 3 p.m. ET on USA Network.
For a second time in his career, Austin Cindric will be one of 16 competitors vying for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series championship throughout this year’s 10-race, elimination-style Playoff battle. Compared to his first Playoff battle as a rookie competitor, Cindric enters this season as a junior competitor striving to set aside a difficult regular-season stretch and be in title contention by the time the finale at Phoenix Raceway occurs.
Cindric, the 2022 Daytona 500 champion from Mooresville, North Carolina, commenced his third consecutive season driving the No. 2 Ford Mustang Dark Horse entry for Team Penske by finishing 22nd in the 66th running of the Daytona 500 after he was sent for a spin with Ross Chastain on the final lap by Corey LaJoie while battling for the victory. He would rally the following weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway by leading 32 laps and finishing in a strong fourth place.
The next 12 regular-season events on the schedule generated a difficult stretch for Cindric, who finished no higher than 15th while being mired with 10 results of 20th or worse. By then, his 2024 Playoff hopes were dim and in need of a regular-season victory to be guaranteed a legitimate spot into the postseason.
Then at Gateway’s World Wide Technology Raceway in early June, a miracle was awarded to Cindric as he took advantage of teammate Ryan Blaney running out of fuel on the final lap to achieve an upset victory and leap his way into the Playoff picture. For Cindric, the Gateway victory marked his second in the Cup Series as he also snapped a one-year winless drought for Team Penske’s No. 2 team and delivered the first victory for crew chief Brian Wilson, whom Cindric celebrated an Xfinity Series championship in 2020.
The remaining 12 events on this year’s regular-season stretch would see Cindric record an extra top-10 result in the form of a seventh-place run at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July, but mired with seven results of 18th or worse. With his Gateway victory in the early summer stretch, Cindric is set to commence the 2024 Cup Series Playoffs in 10th place in the Playoff standings with 2,007 points.
Amid his difficult regular-season period, Cindric remains confident over his team’s ability to run upfront and garner more victories throughout the Playoffs, starting with the postseason’s opening round consisting of three distinct venues. This season also marks an opportunity for the North Carolinian to heighten his title hopes to new heights and advance as far as possible within the Playoffs after transferring as high as the Round of 12 two years ago.
“I feel like we’re playing with house money,” Cindric said after the regular-season finale at Darlington. “It’s an awesome opportunity to be in the Playoffs. Being able to sneak some stage points in is gonna be huge, but also just not having blowups. I feel like the first races of the Playoffs are two races that we can, honestly, win, with Atlanta and Watkins Glen. We are capable of doing those things, but yeah, still some stuff to clean up. Really excited to do it with the [No. 2] guys. A lot of first-time Playoff guys on my team, so put our best foot forward and have a great time with it.”
Austin Cindric’s pursuit for his first NASCAR Cup Series championship in 2024 commences at Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Quaker State 400 and the start of the 2024 Playoffs. The event is scheduled to occur this upcoming Sunday, September 8, at 3 p.m. ET on USA Network.
Photo by Stephanie McLaughlin for SpeedwayMedia.com.
In his second full-time campaign at the NASCAR Cup Series level, Ty Gibbs has a new title to add to his young career: 2024 Cup Series Playoff candidate, a feat he accomplished by points and through steady consistency after falling short of the cutline during last year’s rookie season.
Gibbs, grandson of championship-winning team owner Joe Gibbs and the 2023 Cup Series Rookie-of-the-Year recipient from Charlotte, North Carolina, commenced his sophomore Cup season in 17th place during the 66th running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in February but rallied by finishing in the top 10 during his next five starts. He would then finish no higher than 10th throughout his next six starts before he notched a career-best runner-up result at Darlington Raceway in May.
Two weeks after recording his best on-track result in a Cup Series event, Gibbs notched his first career pole position for this year’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where he would proceed to finish sixth. He would then finish no higher than third following his next six scheduled starts before he rallied by fishing third at the Chicago Street Course.
For the remaining six regular-season events in 2024, Gibbs recorded two top-five results despite being mired with four results of 20th or worse, including this past weekend’s Cook Out Southern 500. While he continues his pursuit of his first Cup Series career race victory, Gibbs will commence the 2024 Cup Series Playoffs in 15th place in the Playoff standings with 2,004 points. He will also square off against his three Joe Gibbs Racing teammates, Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr., for the title.
Amid the disappointment of his 20th-place run this past weekend at Darlington due to being collected in a late multi-car wreck, Gibbs was left satisfied with making his first postseason appearance as a Playoff contender as he strives to add a Cup Series championship trophy next to his Xfinity Series title hardware achieved two years ago.
“[I] Wish we could have finished better [at Darlington], but most importantly, we made the Playoffs and that’s what we came here to do,” Gibbs said at Darlington on USA Network. “We accomplished that, so I’m very happy to being able to make it and we’ll go see what we can do in 10 weeks. We got to get through next week first. Atlanta is a tough one, but I feel like we’re really strong in the races for the rest of the season and we’ll see what we can do and go out there and give it our best shot. I’d love to win at all of [the Playoff races].”
Ty Gibbs’ pursuit for his first NASCAR Cup Series championship in 2024 commences at Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Quaker State 400 and the start of the 2024 Playoffs. The event is scheduled to occur this upcoming Sunday, September 8, at 3 p.m. ET on USA Network.
In his 19th consecutive season as a full-time competitor in the NASCAR Cup Series level, Denny Hamlin will continue his quest to have the final word over his competition and critics by etching a first-time championship in NASCAR’s premier series when the final checkered flag of the 2024 season waves.
The three-time Daytona 500 champion from Chesterfield, Virginia, roared out of the gates by winning the non-points Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in early February before finishing 19th during the 66th running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Four races later, he notched his first Cup points victory of the season at Bristol Motor Speedway in March, an event mired with a pyramid of tire issues.
The early momentum for Hamlin and his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry XSE team continued two races later at the Virginia veteran’s home track in Richmond Raceway as Hamlin muscled away from teammate Martin Truex Jr. to double up his win column in 2024. Despite finishing no higher than 11th during his next three starts, Hamlin responded by fending off fellow rival Kyle Larson to win at Dover Motor Speedway in late April for the second time in his career.
Since his latest series’ victory at Dover, Hamlin recorded a total of six top-five results and eight top-10 results despite getting mired with six results of 24th or worse during the remaining 15 events on this year’s regular-season stretch. He was also in contention for the regular-season championship until he was assessed an L2 penalty from NASCAR for an engine rules violation that involved his race-winning car from Bristol in March and that Toyota admitted to causing. The penalty resulted in Hamlin losing 75 points and 10 Playoff points, which dropped him out of contention for the regular-season title.
Nonetheless, Hamlin is set to commence the 2024 Cup Series Playoffs in sixth place in the Playoff standings with 2,015 points as he bids for his first elusive championship in the series. To do so, however, he will attempt to make his fifth Championship 4 round after missing the cutline to the finale by a single point position over the last two seasons.
When asked about his approach to tackling the 2024 Cup Series Playoffs following this past Sunday’s regular-season finale at Darlington Raceway, Hamlin echoed the term “win” as his key to success to transfer to the finale and contend for the title.
“[I] Just got to execute races and just win,” Hamlin said at Darlington. “I think that’s the key in the Playoffs is winning so you don’t put yourself in a bad point position. With some of the crazy tracks that we’ve got in the Playoffs this year, it’s going to try to avoid those 25th or worse finishes. That’s gonna be the key for us.”
Denny Hamlin’s pursuit for his first NASCAR Cup Series championship in 2024 commences at Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Quaker State 400 and the start of the 2024 Playoffs. The event is scheduled to occur this upcoming Sunday, September 8, at 3 p.m. ET on USA Network.
