The threat of the next race is a common theme for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series. It was no different in Sunday’s round of 16 at Watkins Glen, which ended in a playoff.
A record 12 of the 28 races have been decided in the seasons, and because of the high stakes, the drivers’ label hasn’t been as good as Chris Gabhart would have liked.
Gabhart, crew chief for the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing team, said after Sunday’s race that “the optics are starting to come into the bumper cars.” Gabhart lamented the lack of real competition at the end of the tournament.
“You see it every week, you saw it yesterday in the Xfinity race,” Gabhart told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. In all of these NASCAR races now, a caution comes out after the final caution. You just see the problem. And you know, as far as I’m concerned, I’ve never been a driver with so much money on the line. And that’s great.
Training is good. This means that everyone should be able to push. It’s a lot of work, I know. But it looks like the wheels are turning on the lead cars, and not the race. “I don’t know what you’re doing, but it looks bad.” The NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen will see chaos on stage.
There were several cautions late in the race, including lap 83 when Joey Logano rear-ended Brad Keselowski. This led to his former Team Penske teammate William Byron, and the two were buried in the wall.
Martin Truex Jr. Very disappointed with the race going into the finals at Watkins Glen. Truex, who was putting together another disappointing run in a season that claimed them, was disappointed at the end of the race and was unappreciated.
“It’s crazy how all these people come to this,” Theroux said. I don’t really understand how guys can think they are the best in the world when they all run from start to finish in these races. It’s sad, but that’s the way it is these days, so I’m out of here.”
