The NASCAR Cup Sequence heads to the second elimination race of the playoffs: The Financial institution of America ROVAL 400 at a redesigned Charlotte Motor Speedway Highway Course. Beneath the minimize line? Joey Logano (beginning at 13 factors under), Daniel Suarez (-20), Austin Cindric (-29) and Chase Briscoe (-32). On the bubble above the minimize line: Chase Elliott (+13), Tyler Reddick (+14) and Ryan Blaney (+25).
However this week’s favourite isn’t even among the many playoff contenders. Shane van Gisbergen, the star of highway programs, is on the prime of the chances to win and would full a non-playoff-driver sweep of Spherical 2 wins.
And, in fact, all that is occurring in opposition to the backdrop of a number of the largest information in NASCAR historical past: Michael Jordan (and others) suing the league. We get into that in addition to this week’s favorites, lengthy pictures and extra NASCAR drama under, with assist from our NASCAR consultants Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi.
The Financial institution of America ROVAL 400 is that this Sunday at 2 p.m. ET on NBC.
Take it away, guys!
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With all of the drama across the lawsuit in opposition to NASCAR introduced by Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing and Entrance Row Motorsports, what’s the temperature or vibe on the races? Are folks abuzz? No change, simply targeted on playoffs?
Jeff: The lawsuit was all anybody needed to speak about within the storage at Talladega Superspeedway final weekend, and it was by far the dominant matter at our weekly tweetup (assembly with followers on X) with followers. Certain, there’s a concentrate on the competitors, however there’s lots of curiosity and hypothesis about what’s going to occur with the lawsuit and the place it’s all headed. A number of drivers acknowledged it was the largest story to come back alongside in NASCAR for fairly a while, so that they’re very considering what occurs as properly. In spite of everything, the end result may have an effect on everybody.
Jordan: The playoffs are the secondary matter proper now, understandably so, contemplating one of many people suing NASCAR occurs to be Michael Jordan, and this lawsuit has the potential to upend NASCAR’s enterprise mannequin. The timing is unlucky as you’d wish to see what occurs on the observe take priority over what’s going on off of it, however the actuality is a lawsuit of this magnitude with the folks concerned was all the time going to eat nearly all of the oxygen.
Now that Talladega is over, what’s your (and others’) evaluation of the tweaks they made to the vehicles to try to preserve them from going airborne? Any takeaways?
Jeff: Fortunately, no vehicles went airborne of their one large check at Talladega — and after we say “large,” we imply BIG. The 28-car crash was the biggest in NASCAR historical past (when it comes to the variety of drivers concerned) and all of them appeared to maintain 4 wheels on the bottom. So, in that sense, the modifications labored as deliberate. A much bigger matter turned out to be the officiating (there have been some missed or uncommon calls) and the fuel-mileage racing that has turn out to be dominant on superspeedways with the Subsequent Gen automobile (which not less than appears to be like good whereas they’re going four-wide, even when operating slowly).
Jordan: Nice to see all of the vehicles keep on the bottom after seeing the scary wrecks involving Corey LaJoie and Josh Berry. This has been some extent of emphasis for NASCAR within the weeks since and its laborious work paid off. That’s a win.
Heading into the second elimination race of the playoffs, I’ll ask once more: Who’s most at risk of elimination, and what does a easy look on the standings not inform us about potential risers and fallers?
Jeff: The cutoff line isn’t notably shut heading into the Charlotte “Roval,” which is a highway course/oval Frankenstein kind of creation. The 4 drivers under the minimize line are both going to need to win or level their approach in, however they’ll most likely need assistance for the latter (within the type of a driver above the road getting crashed or having some kind of mishap). With out a victory — which can be troublesome contemplating the likes of Shane van Gisbergen and AJ Allmendinger are on this race — it may very well be adios to Joey Logano, Daniel Suarez, Austin Cindric and Chase Briscoe. That stated, the Roval has some treacherous corners that might trigger chaos (see under).
Jordan: That Logano is barely 13 factors under the minimize line makes you suppose he may discover a strategy to climb his approach above it and doesn’t essentially want any assist in the best way of misfortune putting somebody forward of him within the standings. However outdoors of Logano, the trio of Cindric, Suarez and Briscoe are in primarily must-win eventualities.
The Charlotte Roval has a brand new format for Sunday and the race is predicted to be chaotic. Are you able to fill us in on the importance of the modifications and what may occur?
Jeff: Charlotte may’ve simply used the superbly good oval, which didn’t even get to see a full race within the rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600 this yr. In spite of everything, intermediate tracks just like the 1.5-mile oval are NASCAR’s finest product proper now with the Subsequent Gen automobile. As an alternative, the observe determined to shake up the stale Roval and seemingly create a possibility for an excellent crazier race (you may resolve if that’s a constructive or not). Particularly, Flip 7 is a diabolical nook for inventory vehicles. They’ll virtually have to come back to an entire cease to make the flip — and in the event that they take the right racing line by swinging broad, it means a competitor may simply stuff his automobile beneath and slam somebody out of the best way. It’s virtually inevitable.
Jordan: The tweaks to the Roval format have been to induce some pleasure to a configuration that had misplaced a few of its chunk lately. And the expectation is that Flip 7 can be a sizzling spot — notably late within the race when the gloves come off and drivers turn out to be more and more determined. It’s a recipe that ought to make for a chaotic elimination race.
Who’s your favourite to win on Sunday?
Jeff: Sorry that is boring, however I’ve to go together with Shane van Gisbergen. He’s the favourite for good motive. I picked him for the final highway course race at Watkins Glen, and he barely misplaced out to Chris Buescher in an exciting end. However in a race the place many of the playoff drivers have to fret about factors, SVG can flip the phases and go for the win — establishing a possible Spherical 2 sweep of all non-playoff drivers successful.
Jordan: Whether or not it’s in a Cup or Xfinity automobile, AJ Allmendinger is so good right here. And the added benefit, just like SVG, is that he’s not racing for factors on Sunday, that means he can arrange his technique accordingly. That’s a bonus.
Who’s an extended shot you want?
Jeff: I’m a bit shocked Chase Briscoe is +6000 along with his playoff life on the road. He’s mainly in a must-win state of affairs and that is the sort of observe he excels at. In 2018, along with his profession on the road, Briscoe got here via along with his first profession Xfinity Sequence victory by successful on the Roval and earned himself a full-season trip for the following yr. Additionally, driving a race automobile for 3 hours is likely to be essentially the most peace-and-quiet Briscoe will get this week; his spouse Marissa welcomed twins on Tuesday.
Jordan: How is Bowman solely listed at +1800? Significantly. This can be a driver who’s by no means completed outdoors the highest in 5 begins on the Roval, and, by the best way, leads the collection in factors scored on highway programs this season. Bowman successful Sunday wouldn’t be an upset.
Odds for the Financial institution of America ROVAL 400 winner
Odds, through BetMGM, replace reside.
(Photograph of Shane van Gisbergen: Chris Graythen / Getty Pictures)
