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The second half of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season begins Sunday with the Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway.
An entertaining first half included a brawl between Kyle Busch and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., the two closest finishes in series history and a couple of surprise winners that will impact the race for a place in the Cup playoffs.
In the second part of The Tennessean’s midseason NASCAR table discussion, Mike Organ, Tom Kreager and Nick Gray give their midseason Cup Series championship picks and look back at some good and not-so-good preseason predictions.
NASHVILLE RACE TICKETS: How to buy tickets for the Ally 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Nashville Superspeedway
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Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing have dominated the regular season so far, but Penske has won two of the last four races. Will it still be Hendrick versus JGR in the playoffs?
Mike Organ: Not only did Penske finally figure out what was going on at Ford, or rather what was going wrong, but the group turned things around just in time to make a late run. The underdog Mustang looked good for Joey Logano in the All-Star Race in May, which is perhaps a sign of things to come.
Hendrick and Joe Gibbs Racing are undoubtedly far ahead, but I can still imagine that Austin Cindric (Penske), Ryan Blaney (Penske), Brad Keselowski (Roush Fenway Racing) or Daniel Suarez (Trackhouse Racing) have a chance in the playoffs.
Nick Gray: Ryan Blaney will be the X-factor. He has the experience to go all the way in the playoffs to win the title in 2023. But if Blaney isn’t there, it could be a battle between two teams for the title.
Tom Kreager: This year, the season was Hendrick versus Gibbs. Everyone has been chasing these two racing teams. Penske has shown some life, but in the long run, no one is going to stop Kyle Larson or Denny Hamlin in what could be a battle between the best of both teams.
Who will be the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series champion? Have you changed your mind?
Mike Organ: I selected Kyle Larson before the season and feel better about it now than I did then. The driver of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet nearly won the 2023 championship but finished close behind Ryan Blaney and will overtake Denny Hamlin in the current points standings and keep Chase Elliott at bay in the title fight.
Nick Gray: I’m sticking with Chase Elliott. Kyle Larson’s recent results seem to have ups and downs. Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Martin Truex Jr. and Larson should all be able to compete. The No. 9 team started 2024 well but has become a contender to win races on all types of tracks. He won on a 1.5-mile track, will always be a factor on road courses, has looked strong in pack racing and just finished third on a short track. His pit crew has also been a weapon on the race track.
A second title would start the discussion about the legacy of the most popular driver in the sport, and that is what NASCAR needs now, when public discussions about the NextGen car and dissolved teams and charters take place week after week.
Tom Kreager: Kyle Larson. Larson is arguably the best driver in the world, not just in NASCAR. He drives everything. And right now he has to be considered one of the favorites at every track on the schedule.
You gave your predictions for the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs before the season. What do you think now? What are your predictions for the Cup Series Playoffs mid-season?
The 2024 race winners are in bold and italics because the drivers are practically already in the playoffs
Here you can find our preseason playoff tips
Mike Organ: Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott, Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney, Brad Keselowski, Daniel Suarez, Austin CindricMartin Truex Jr., Ross Chastain, Ty Gibbs, Joey Logano, Chris Buescher, Michael McDowell
What Mike picked in February: Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott, Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney, Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr., Ross Chastain, Ty Gibbs, Jok, Logan, Josh Berry, Alex Bowman, Kyle Busch, Bubba Wallace
Nick Gray: Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott, Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney, Brad Keselowski, Daniel Suarez, Austin CindricMartin Truex Jr., Ross Chastain, Ty Gibbs, Alex Bowman, Michael McDowell, Chris Buescher
What Nick picked in February: Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott, Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney, Brad Keselowski, Daniel Suarez, Martin Truex Jr., Ross Chastain, Ty Gibbs, Chris Buescher, Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, Bubba Wallace
Tom Kreager: Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott, Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney, Brad Keselowski, Daniel Suarez, Austin CindricMartin Truex Jr., Ross Chastain, Ty Gibbs, Alex Bowman, Chris Buescher, Joey Logano
What Tom picked in February: Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott, Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney, Brad Keselowski, Daniel Suarez, Martin Truex Jr., Ross Chastain, Ty Gibbs, Alex Bowman, Joey Logano, Austin Dillon, Bubba Wallace
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