NASCAR Drivers Brace for ‘Terrifying’ First Round of 2024 Playoffs

The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs are set to kick off with a Round of 16 that has drivers on edge, perceiving it as one of the most unpredictable and challenging rounds in recent memory. The playoff round features three races at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Watkins Glen, and Bristol Motor Speedway, each with its unique set of challenges.

Atlanta Motor Speedway, modified in 2022 to mirror the high-speed supersonic racing conditions of tracks like Daytona and Talladega, is known for its intense pack racing and frequent multi-car accidents. Watkins Glen, introducing a new Goodyear tire with significant degradation expected during race runs, adds to the apprehension. Finally, Bristol Motor Speedway, with its history of chaotic events, represents a wild card that could drastically alter playoff outcomes.

Chase Elliott, the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Champion, encapsulates the sentiment shared by many drivers:

“The first round definitely needs to be respected because it’s not a cakewalk by any means,” he said via Autosport. “That is what you get when you have these short rounds every year, we put another speedway in there and you are going to get craziness.

“You keep fabricating this stuff and that is what you are going to get.”

This round demands not just skill but a considerable amount of intelligent driving, as well as a pinch of luck.

Denny Hamlin echoes Elliott’s concerns, highlighting the uncertainty brought by these new variables:

“He said it, I agree. With a new road course in there in Watkins Glen in the Playoffs, with an unknown tire. Atlanta – who knows? I haven’t finished a superspeedway NextGen race, I don’t think in my entire career.

“It’s just, who knows what can happen. We might have to go to Bristol and win, but if that’s the case, we will.”

Kyle Larson, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Champion, revealed a preference for facing the more unpredictable, “sketchy” tracks early in the playoffs. However, this does not alleviate the general anxiety surrounding the first round.

Martin Truex, Jr. adds: “The approach is to go out and do the best we can do.”

Christopher Bell’s outlook is particularly dire:

“I’ll be honest, the first round is the scariest it’s been in a long time with Atlanta, a superspeedway, starting us off. We all know how that can go, and then we go to Watkins Glen, which should be a normal racetrack, but with the expected tire degradation and wearing out tires really early and struggling to make laps and having to pit all the time. So, that could be another wildcard race, and then Bristol, I think everybody is expecting it to be more of the same as what we had in the Spring. So, the first round could be very different than what we’ve seen in the past.”

Ryan Blaney, the defending champion, is expecting surprising eliminations due to the inherent unpredictability of what’s to come:

“I think that you have the oddballs, like right in the first round is a really weird oddball, and you’re going to see some surprise people go home. I feel like you’re going to have issues at Atlanta, you’re going to have issues at Watkins Glen and you’re going to have to throw a Hail Mary at Bristol.”

Brad Keselowski, now co-owner of RFK Racing, highlighted the importance of the first race in setting the playoff tone:

“Darlington was like this known entity, right? Everybody knew going into that race what to expect. Atlanta, not so much, a lot more unknowns and I think that changes the perception of that first week of the Playoffs. That first week of the Playoffs is really important.

“It really sets the tone in my eyes for how it’s going to go and if you have bad week, week one, it’s hard to dig out of. Atlanta, it’s easy to have a bad weekend.”

Chase Briscoe, is slightly more optimistic: “Honestly, just myself. I just can’t eliminate myself, and just Atlanta does scare me a little bit because there is obviously the element of stuff happening that’s out of your control. It’s like Daytona or Talladega, but that can happen anywhere. You never know what can happen. I think that would be my biggest fear, something happening that is outside of our control.”

Ty Gibbs revealed his strategy going into the first round:

“I think [the first round] is the most track position race round in the Playoffs. Atlanta, the top four are basically the guys that win it. Watkins Glen, you have to be upfront, you couldn’t pass last year. I felt like we were so much faster than the guys in front of us and we finished fifth.

“It takes so much to pass. Bristol, you have to be upfront as well. That is another track position race.”

William Byron added his thoughts to the ring:

“Yeah. I think it’s easy to say [be] conservative, but at a road course, you have to be fast. You can’t just show up and try to ride around there. I think it’s important not to make mistakes, but you have to make sure you’re gathering points. At Atlanta, there are some things out of your control there, but the thing you can do to be in control is to have some speed and be up towards the front.”

As the first round of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs begins, the drivers are preparing for what could be the most volatile and “terrifying” start to the postseason. The coming weeks will certainly test their mettle.