The Official 2024 NASCAR Championship 4 Weekend Discussion Thread

[Tommy Bedlam]

As a side note, Mike Rockenfeller is in the 42 for the next 2 weeks.

 

[Hidden Blaze]

 

[Tommy Bedlam]

This is what I get for blindly trusting someone in the media, dammit! You let me down, Bianchi. You let me down.

 

[Hidden Blaze]

Yeah, he’s normally someone who’s reliable. Sometimes I guess even the best are wrong

 

[Tommy Bedlam]

Friendly reminder that fantasy lineups can be changed starting today.

 

[Tommy Bedlam]

Front row Motorsports has exercised options on McDowell and Gilliland, meaning both return next year. Interesting since they’ve subbed Gilliland out a few times this year for no real reason lol

 

[Tommy Bedlam]

Cole Custer docked 20 points and 5 playoff points for an illegal splitter.

 

[Hidden Blaze]

Figured something would come of that once they took it.

 

[Tommy Bedlam]

Yep. Larson and Logano also got inspected, but came back all clear.

 

[Hidden Blaze]

 

[Tommy Bedlam]

What he did was mind-blowingly stupid, but I do hope that he takes the time that he's going to have to really work on himself. I don't think liking a meme makes him a shitty human; I think he's a human who made a shitty decision. Hopefully he takes the Larson path, spends a year learning and growing, and gets another chance in the future. Can't imagine he's in NASCAR in 2024.

 

[Stellar]

Was coming here to post about Gragson requesting his release.

Him "liking" something that is bad was a poor decision and horrible. At the same time I have felt like as long as he keeps owning up to the mistake and tries to improve himself he should be able to return fairly quickly. Obviously not this year. All that he did was "like" a meme. It's not like he outright verbally said anything like Larson did. So yes, I admire Gragson for requesting to leave LMC so that he can focus completely on himself but at the same time I don't want to see him beat himself up over this.

...and who knows, when Gragson returns and is reinstated maybe he will end up in a better ride. This is a dull year for LMC because Chevy cut them off on helping them when they announced going to Toyota next year.

 

[Tommy Bedlam]

Updating the Silly Season list.

#1: Ross Chastain-Signed through 2025
#2: Austin Cindric-No contract details available, but it's confirmed that he will be back in this car next season.
#3: Austin Dillon-No contract details available, but reports say he signed a multi-year extension…and his grandpa owns the team.
#4: Josh Berry-Just announced that he’s replacing Harvick. Haven’t seen contract details
#5: Kyle Larson-Signed through 2026
#6: Brad Keselowski-No contract details, but he owns part of the team.
#7: Corey LaJoie-Signed multi-year extension to stay at Spire which is now an affiliate of Trackhouse.
#8: Kyle Busch-No contract details available, but no reason to think he’s going anywhere.
#9: Chase Elliot-Signed through 2027
#10: Aric Almirola-Still waiting to see what he's going to do. Turns out, he has a driver option for next season. SHR put him on a 30-60 day deadline to tell them if he's staying or going, but I'm not entirely sure how they can enforce it.
#11: Denny Hamlin-Now it's official. Hamlin is staying put. 23XI is staying with Toyota.
#12: Ryan Blaney-Conflicting information out there on this one. Some sources say his contract is up after this year, while others have it ending after 2024 and even 2025. Doubtful that he leaves Penske, and even harder to guess since we don’t know his contract details.
#14: Chase Briscoe-No contract details available. Jayski has his deal running through 2026, while Sportrac says it ends after this season.
#16: AJ Allmendinger-Not expected to return next season; no replacement has been named, though.
#17: Chris Buescher-Signed a multiyear deal in 2022, and it’s expected that he’ll be back next season. Fastenal, the primary sponsor, is signed through 2024. Has some good results this year. Some reports also said that Keselowski bought into the team because he really believed in Buescher, making it even less likely that he's gone.
#19: Martin Truex Jr.-Returning to JGR next year. Says he's only doing 1-year deals.
#20: Christopher Bell-No contract details available.
#21: Harrison Burton-Free agent after this season. Underperformed last year and is statistically worse this year. All of that is still true, but somehow (sponsorship), this kid gets a third year to drive terribly.
#22: Joey Logano-Signed through 2025
#23: Bubba Wallace-He’s either signed through 2024 or 2025.
#24: William Byron-Signed through 2025
#31: Justin Haley-Leaving to join the RWR 51 car. Daniel Hemric will be in this car next season.
#34: Michael McDowell-FRM picked up his option, so he's back next season.
#38: Todd Gilliland-Same as McDowell
#41: Ryan Preece-Confirmed on 9/26 that he would be returning to the 41 next season.
#42: Noah Gragson-Replaced by John Hunter Nemechek with the team's switch to Toyota.
#43: Erik Jones-Believed to be signed through 2024 after signing a multi-year deal in 2022.
#45: Tyler Reddick-Believed to be signed through 2024 after joining 23XI this season.
#47: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.-Signed a multi-year extension in 2023.
#48: Alex Bowman-Signed through 2026
#51: Cody Ware (and some other people since he’s been suspended)-Replaced by Justin Haley
#54: Ty Gibbs-No contract details available, but his grandpa owns the team.
#77: Ty Dillon-Replaced by Carson Hocevar. Also, this car is now an affiliate of Trackhouse racing.
#78: BJ McLeod (with Josh Bilicki and Anthony Alfredo)-This team has sold its charter to Spire (Trackhouse affiliate). Still unclear on who is driving this car. Zane Smith will be driving this car after signing with Trackhouse. Car number TBD.
#99: Daniel Suarez-Signed through 2025

Rumors:
Some speculation that Noah Gragson could be replacing Aric Almirola in the 10 next season, but that's not been confirmed. After missing out on everyone they really wanted, it does seem possible.

 

[Hidden Blaze]

 

[Doom]

Props to Gragson for claiming responsibility for his mistake and wanting to take time to find himself and work his way back up. I hope he sees the error his ways and works his way up to get back into the Cup Series. We all deserve a second chance.