Is Noah Gragson’s Comeback Ahead of Schedule?

1. Noah Gragson Cashing in big so far at SHR

Seasons are not won in the first three races of the season, but the foundation that is laid within that space can set the tone for what’s to come.

It’s impossible to see the future. If it were, then we could post winning lottery numbers here each week and make off like Biff Tannen in Back To The Future Part III.

But one of many things that the past few weeks have shown is that if there is an early candidate for comeback driver of the year award, it cannot be anybody except for Noah Gragson.

NASCAR is full of stories of drivers who may not have had things pan out in an early-career opportunity, but make more of a second chance. Joey Logano and Daniel Suarez are prime examples.

For a Stewart-Haas Racing team in transition that could not even get Kevin Harvick past the opening round of last year’s playoffs in the NASCAR Cup Series, Gragson has been a shining bright spot.

After finishing 20th, four laps down in the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum, he followed that up by finishing ninth at Daytona International Speedway. Gragson’s No. 10 team probably showed more of its grit from an off-track standpoint when it came to Atlanta Motor Speedway, showing resolve in the face of a 36th-place finish and absorbing being penalized during that same weekend.

Gragson and teammate Ryan Preece were penalized at Atlanta for improper roof deflectors. Being dinged for a penalty like that can stunt the momentum for teams looking to turn things around, but Las Vegas Motor Speedway showed the opposite with Gragson running consistently in the top 10, going on to finish sixth. It was his best finish since a part-time effort in the summer of 2022 at Daytona.

Las Vegas’ place on the schedule frames it as the start of the real season. If that’s true, then Gragson’s rebound may be ahead of schedule, and that may be just what the doctor ordered for SHR.

2. Pit Stops Still Holding 23XI Back

23XI Racing has become known for multiple things in its short existence. Most of them are good, but one apparently refuses to go away.

Tyler Reddick came up one position short of a win on Sunday (March 3) at Las Vegas, and it didn’t take him long to point a finger at the reason why in some comments not suitable for small children.

Reddick’s candor aside, it draws attention to something that has plagued the Nos. 23 and 45 teams – lack of consistency on pit road. It’s been said time…