Now that Ryan Blaney is crowned NASCAR Cup champion, a too-early look ahead to 2024
Not two hours after Ryan Blaney celebrated with a burnout on the frontstretch of Phoenix Raceway as NASCAR’s newly minted champion, he was asked about the future.
About who he’d be racing against for the sport’s top prize next year.
“It’s nice that these younger drivers, the newer guys, are succeeding in their own way and being able to have championships and wins,” Blaney said. “For a fan base to grow up with that, that driver who is in their mid or late 20s, it’s something I think people can latch onto.”
It had been talked about all week: Sunday marked the end of a generation in a lot of ways. Kevin Harvick’s Cup driving career came to an end at the same time the youngest Championship 4 in NASCAR history took the spotlight.
It’s conceivable that this group of drivers will be ascending together for years to come. But several veterans made compelling resurgences this season and don’t look intent on slowing down.
Here’s a way-too-early look at the drivers (in a historically deep garage) who showed flashes of championship potential in 2023 — and who thus appear worthy to contend for Blaney’s spot as champion in 2024.
Martin Truex Jr., Joe Gibbs Racing
Truex falls in the camp of “veterans who made compelling resurgences” this season. After debating retirement all year, which was fueled by a frustrating 2022, the 43-year-old Joe Gibbs Racing star had a great season in 2023. He was the regular-season points champion and endured through to the Round of 8 despite struggling in the playoffs. It’s possible 2024 will be his last; look for him to end his storied career on a high note.
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing
Hamlin told reporters Saturday that he felt like he was at peace with not making the Championship 4, a stage NASCAR fans have grown accustomed to seeing him on. The 42-year-old driver of the 11 Cup car said this because he felt like he did everything he could to deserve to be in the mix at Phoenix — bad luck just triumphed in the final few weeks. Hamlin finished fifth in the final standings this season, is a perennial title contender on a perennial title contending team and is still hungry for that first championship.
Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing
To say Kyle Busch’s first season at RCR was a success would be an understatement. The all-time winningest driver in NASCAR (across all national series) looked rejuvenated in 2023. He won three Cup races — and that happened despite coming onto a new team and working through a few weaknesses (like its lukewarm short-track program). Busch took the blame after being eliminated in the Round of 12 this season. Don’t expect an early exit like this in 2024.
Chris Buescher, RFK Racing
At last, a Ford! The manufacturer swept all three NASCAR championships this weekend — Truck, Xfinity and Cup — for the first time since 2001, marking only the sixth time a manufacturer has done this in NASCAR history. It’s probably true that Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney are the faces of the Ford Cup program at the moment, but Buescher proved that he is certainly on the rise — winning three races down the stretch of the regular season and finishing eighth in points standings. His boss and RFK teammate, Brad Keselowski, doesn’t get a subhead to himself in this list, but the superspeedway aficionado could have a championship caliber season in 2024, too.
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports
Now for a driver who didn’t make the playoffs at all but who is a championship contender nonetheless: Chase Elliott. The pilot of the No. 9 car and NASCAR’s most popular driver had a bunch of struggles in 2023 that were well-documented. That included breaking a bone in his leg in a snowboarding accident and a one-race suspension — both instances contributing to missing seven race weekends. Still, though, he made it to the Round of 8 in the owner’s championship and won’t be missing another playoff anytime soon.
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports
The Charlotte native took another step in 2023, leading the series in wins and flat-out dominating at times, much like the Hendrick 24 car of old used to. Byron, 25, also notched the most Top 10s in the series and was the youngest driver of the young Championship 4 in NASCAR history, so he won’t be leaving the contention conversation soon, either.
Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing
Bell was the only Championship 4 driver this year to make it in 2022 as well. So making deep playoff runs is sort of his deal now. A brake rotor explosion knocked him out of championship contention earlier than expected on Sunday, but no one doubts that he’ll be back next year.
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports
Larson finished the season second in points and had a 2023 season to remember. Beyond triumphing at Martinsville — a racetrack he once wanted to burn to the ground — and at Richmond and at Darlington and at North Wilkesboro and at the Knoxville Nationals and elsewhere, he also made a deep playoff run in the NASCAR Cup playoffs. What’s scary? It seemed as if he left a bunch on the table still. On to 2024.
Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing
Bubba Wallace called his 23XI Racing teammate “Road Course Jesus” earlier this year. Others in the garage probably nodded in understanding. Anyone who commands such respect as Reddick does on road courses — and who has proven he can win at other venues, too — is dangerous in the playoffs. Reddick finished sixth in playoff points this year.
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske
One question that will be addressed over the next few months. Can Blaney repeat? It’s reasonable to think the driver of the No. 12 car had a breakout year after a winless 2022. But it’s worth remembering that he slid through to the Round of 8 last year even without winning a race. In other words, he was and is consistent — even when Team Penske and his Ford teammates are not. Count Blaney out of repeat contention at your own peril.
