2024 Champion Picks

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As we move closer and closer to the start of 2024, talk starts ramping up about which drivers and teams are going to be the ones to watch in the upcoming season. So, since a few other outlets have started talking about their 2024 favorites for the title, it got me thinking who could be the contenders for 2024.

Cup Series:

I believe we are in for one entertaining 2024. For me, that makes it hard to really zone in on one driver or one organization that is the top threat to win a title. Because of that I am excited to see what 2024 has in store for us and what drivers punch their way through the competition and are the true contenders for the championship.

As we have seen the last two years, a Penske car has won early in the year, run fine the rest of the year, and popped off late in the playoffs to win the title. I'm not convinced that will happen a third straight year, and I think we keep the streak going of no back-to-back champs in the playoff format for the Cup Series. So, who are the real contenders when it comes down to it at Phoenix? Here ya go:

Ross Chastain: There's something about Ross and the Trackhouse bunch that has me intrigued by them. They are a flashy team, the cool team, and they're doing things different. There is a swagger about that whole team that just excites me about them going into 2024. Oh, and they can win. And Ross is a damn good driver. I think they take this to the next level and win a bunch of races in 2024. I expect Ross wins 5-7 races in 2024, wins the regular season title, and is the top seed heading into Phoenix. Denny Hamlin: DH continues to win races and be a threat to show up in the Championship 4 each year. Even though there seem to be more and more folks saying his time has past or is rapidly coming to an end. Or that he's too distracted to drive when he's running a team or a million other excuses that I find to be total BS. DH can still get it done and still compete with the top of the sport. DH does that in 2024 with 5 wins, one of which will be crown jewel win. He gets into the Championship 4 at Phoenix again and he is coming full force at the title in 2024 for JGR.

William Byron: Willy B. was the guy throughout most of 2023. Led the series in wins, looked good at Phoenix at times, but just couldn't cap it off. He also wants to assert himself as the top dog at HMS yet again. (Tough to do when your teammates are Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott). I think Willy B keeps his winning ways going in 2024, but with only 4 wins. He makes it back to the Championship 4 as a real contender for the title.

Ryan Blaney: He's the defending champion. He's much more confident now, and has a swagger about him that cannot be denied. The Ford Mustang Darkhorse has been rumored to be a dominant car that will make the entire Ford camp more competitive. He got hot when it mattered 2023 and knows how to get it done. He backs that up in 2024 with four wins in 2024 and another appearance in the Championship 4.

So, who wins it? My heart and brain are torn for the Cup Series. I can make arguments for these four drivers and about half a dozen more. But, after the checkered flag falls on the 2024 Cup Series season, the champion will be...Denny Hamlin. I just think it's time and he put's it all together. LFGDH!

Xfinity Series:

Obvious choice for the Xfinity Series is returning and defending champion, Cole Custer. And that is absolutely a solid choice. Cole has the experience in the Xfinity Series, several wins each of his last full-time seasons, and is the defending champion. But as we know, it's not going to be that clear cut and easy. Heck, last year I figured all year that John Hunter Nemecheck would easily win the title, yet when we made it to Phoenix he faltered and fell short of capturing the title. I fear the same for Custer in 2024.

That begs the question: who is the favorite? And for the first time in a few years, I honestly do not know. This Xfinity Series field is stacked for 2024. Legitimately may be the best top to bottom as any lower tier NASCAR series in decades, and will likely put on better racing yet again than the Cup Series. With that being said, it's going to take a few things to stand out this year and win the title. In years past it was usually just the fastest and best team, the team the best at the last race, and a little luck. In 2024 those things will still play a huge factor in determining the champion, but two more things I believe will determine the champion: experience and fearlessness. All things considered, here are my final four for the Xfinity Series title in 2024:

AJ Allmendinger: AJ just fits the Xfinity Series. He was successful in his last full-time season, there's hella road courses, and he has fun when racing these cars. Couple that with being in solid equipment, his experience, hitting his peak, and him even recognizing that his best years are dwindling, AJ will be a real threat to win a boatload of races and contend for the Xfinity Series title.

Justin Allgaier: Justin has been contending and close for the JRM bunch for years. He's in arguably the best equipment in the field, JRM is looking to put a disappointing 2023 behind them, and Justin is likely just at or right past his peak. If he's going to get it done it's within the next two, maybe three years. He knows that his chances are dwindling and that he can still get it done now. We all know he's damn good at Phoenix and add that into him know his chances are dwindling, he's going to be all in for the 2024 title. That can make him dangerous in 2024.

Austin Hill: Austin was likely the second, maybe third, best driver and team on the track in 2023. There were some mistakes made and opportunities missed (some even not of his doing) that took him out of the championship race in 2023. He takes that consistency and winning ways from the last two years and makes an all out blitz for the 2024 title. We know that Austin is rumored to go to Cup in 2025, and very much deserves that opportunity. He wants to make the best of what could be his last full-time Xfinity Series season and win the championship. He's got the speed, he's got the team, he's got the talent. 2024 could be his year to hoist the championship trophy in Phoenix.

Riley Herbst: This is the one that might surprise some folks. Riley hadn't done much in his career until about midway through 2023. And even then most were celebrating that he was just running where a Stewart-Haas Racing Ford should be running and not wrecking out of the race. But as the season progressed Riley kept showing massive improvement. He was even in contention and ran quite well in the Cup drafting tracks. Nearly won twice in the last four races of the season and snagged his first win at his home track in Vegas. Coming into 2024, Riley will have a wave of confidence, a team that showed they can win, and an organization that won the title last year. In my opinion, 2024 is put or shut up year for Riley, and I believe he puts it up winning several races and contending for the title.

After the checkered flag falls on the 2024 Xfinity Season, I predict the champion will be...Austin Hill. I believe he will be out for revenge in 2024. He and his team will ride the wave of a great 2023, they have a few years experience together, he is happy where is he at with RCR, and he was taken out of a chance for the title in 2023. He puts it all together for 2024 and becomes the Xfinity Series Champ.

Truck Series:

The truck series is the only series I can comfortably say that the reigning champ has the best shot to repeat. Not that Custer and Blaney can't repeat, I simply think their chances are slimmer than Ben Rhodes repeating as Truck champ in 2024. With that being said, he won't have an easy road towards it. Corey Heim, who likely should have won in 2023, is back. I never feel comfortable counting out Matt Crafton or Stewart Friesen. And inevitably some young driver (like Layne Riggs going full-time in 2024) or Truck Series veteran (like Grant Enfinger with his new team) will peak at the right moment and put up a real fight for the Truck title. With that, here are my four top contenders for the championship:

Ben Rhodes: He's the defending champ: what more do you want me to say? And not just that, he's made a home in the Truck series, he's with likely the best team in the Truck series, and he's having fun. That combo is dangerous. It might not be flashy, sexy, or dominating, but they're going to be there all race, every race, and that makes him a threat to go back-to-back and snag his third title. Plus, the post-championship presser will be banging.

Corey Heim: Corey should've won the title last year until Carson Hocevar's dumb move late in the race, and Corey's plain stupid retaliation solidified he'd have no chance. He's in a great truck, with loads of talent, and feels robbed from 2023. He will be a contender to win many races and be a problem when it comes for the playoffs. Look for Heim to make another strong run to the championship in Phoenix.

Nick Sanchez: Nick should have won several races last year. But inexperience and bad luck took him out of victory lane. He rights those wrongs this year and wins a race or two. Come playoff time he's going to have the bonus points and experience to be a real threat. I believe he capitalizes that and wins his way into the Championship race. And as we saw last year, anything can happen at Phoenix. That could play into his favor and allow him to hoist the championship trophy in the desert.

Ty Majeski: This one confounds me the most. A dominant team with a superbly talented driver. But they left a few wins on the table last year and incurred a massive penalty late in the year. It's no doubt they have the capabilities team and driver wise to complete and win, but can they stop making critical errors and critical points? In 2024, the answer to that is yes. I feel like Ty wins three or four races and is the top threat to unseat Rhodes in 2024.

After the checkered flag falls on the 2024 Truck Series Season the champion is....Ty Majeski. They clean up the errors from last year, they don't get smacked with a huge penalty and crew chief suspension late in the year, and Ty wants to prove his not just a winner on the short tracks. In 2024, he proves he's a champion by winning the Craftsman Truck Series championship in Phoenix.