Did You Notice? … The list of potential NASCAR Cup Series first-time winners is dwindling? The sport has tied a record with five so far in the Cup Series this season: Chase Briscoe, Ross Chastain, Austin Cindric, Daniel Suarez and now Tyler Reddick after his victory at Road America.
It’s an impressive list, creating the type of parity we’ve never seen in the sport’s playoff era. Every driver currently inside the top 25 in Cup points now has one career Cup victory to their credit. You have to go all the way back to 2003, the pre-Chase era, to find the last time that happened (Dave Blaney, who finished 28th in the standings, was the highest-placing driver without a career win).
NASCAR’s Next Gen era has created so many Cinderella stories there aren’t all that many left to produce. Indeed, just five current full-time Cup drivers remain 0-for-their-career, and two of them are rookies: Harrison Burton and Todd Gilliland. Cody Ware drives for his perennially underfunded, family-owned operation; this trio is still searching for their first top 10 in 110 combined Cup starts.
That leaves Ty Dillon and Corey LaJoie as the only realistic possibilities left. Both have their eyes set on this weekend’s event at Atlanta Motor Speedway, one of two pack races left in the regular season (Daytona International Speedway hosts the finale).
But if it doesn’t happen there? Neither Dillon nor LaJoie has finished better than 10th on any other track type. You can’t expect them to suddenly rise up and steal one at a road course or an intermediate track.
It means we may experience a seesaw of sorts, going from a flurry of first-time winners to a potential drought depending on how Silly Season shakes out. The next first-time Cup winner is likely someone who isn’t even entered in this weekend’s 36-driver Atlanta field.
Daniel Hemric and Noah Gragson are hoping for a full-time shot in Kaulig Racing’s No. 16; both have the skill set and experience to win. Ryan Preece could take over playoff-caliber equipment if he replaces Aric Almirola in the No. 10 next year. And Ty Gibbs, whenever his promotion from the NASCAR Xfinity Series happens, could be sitting in victory lane within 10 Cup starts.
Until then? Just sit back and enjoy an unprecedented number of drivers who could rise up and reach victory lane each week.
Did You Notice? … The pit crew roster changes between Christopher Bell and Bubba Wallace? Wallace’s front tire changer and tire carrier have…
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