GRADING the First Half of the 2024 NASCAR Season
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- Опубліковано 28 вер 2024
- Grades... If there is anything I remember from my time in school as a kid was that grades were always scary to receive, even when you knew that you did well. So today at the halfway mark of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season I am going to hand out semester report cards. As high as an A or as low as an F this field is all over the place. This is grading the first half of the 2024 NASCAR season.
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Video Credits:
Cup Scene
David Robidoux
Defined Fate
FOX Sports
Full NASCAR Races
Justin Haley
Motorsports on NBC
NASCAR
NASCAR on FOX
NBC Sports
RFK Racing
Skewcar
SportsNewsChannel
Stewart-Haas Racing
TEMPLE7D
TheWeirdHistoryGuy
Torakisl8
UA-cam Audio Library
Thumbnail Credits:
Getty Images
Toray Fox
USA TODAY SPORTS
Outro Song:
Strange Animal (Crowder Remix) by Gowan
Songs:
Thunder (NASCAR Theme) uploaded by David Robidoux
Cold Funk (Funkorama) uploaded to the UA-cam Audio Library
#nascar #motorsports #racing
What grade would you give to your favorite driver halfway through the 2024 season?
well, my guy is Bell
about a B-. pretty inconsistent, but 3 wins is great! i think we can go all the way! he is a cluch guy, and won phoenix in the spring!
@City_of_BAUERwell, anything better than last year is good! The best driver IMO this year
D
B+
@Hell0waducky The problem is that since Phoenix became the championship race no one has swept both plus he doesn't necessarily has to win there just finish ahead of the other 3 drivers that too are in the championship 4. Ross Chastain proved that last year. Hendrick or Penske to me if one of them makes it could be the front runner just over Bell. As for grade other then the start of the year A but including the start B he has momentum but can he keep it up from here?
I'm gonna be honest, I keep forgetting the Daniel Hemric is even in the Cup Series.
The only reason I remember him is because I like the Cirkul scheme
Just like 2018 when he drove the 8 you never knew he was even in the race
I forget that both Daniel Hemric and Austin Dillion are in the cup series. I only remember Dillion is driving because he usually ends up in a wreck at some point.
Daniel hemric is in the cup series??
Sameeee
And who would’ve thought a year ago that RWR would have a car and especially a driver of this caliber.
Justin Haley is already well on his way to one of the weirdest NASCAR careers of the 21st century and I am all for it
Gragson and Preece also had those point penalties, Preece would still be low in the points, but Gragson would be higher in points
Not really Gragson wrecks his car every other week.
Gragson would be 23rd
Preece would be 27th or 25th
yes this is biased but i would give blaney at least a b+. he's been great but his luck just isnt there. lost atlanta by .002, team didnt fill up his tank at gateway, got wrecked out at daytona.
a bit like truex! unlucky as hell! the hangover is not really there! Good luck to the champ from a bell fan!
Yeah, Truex and Blaney seem to have the worst luck when it comes to almost winning races.
I haven’t watched the video yet and I know Kyle Busch has an F
Hey bossman
@@TheCoolStyle wassup man
Some people might call me biased, but Chase Elliott so far is having a Solid Grade A season. Although he still has that lone win so far, but he's been incredibly consistent with the top 10's and top 5's (Outside of New Hampshire) to get himself tied with Kyle Larson for the points lead.
And some thought Elliott would continue to struggle after last season, well... what do you have to say now??
He'll struggle in the playoffs
@@LarsonRacingUpdates5 we'll see about that
honestly chase is quietly having the best season of his career
He has 18 straight top 20 only 3 other have done that in the modern era all in the 70’s and 80’s
Getting Matt Kenseth vibes.
My grades
Ross Chastain: B
Austin Cindric: C+
Austin Dillon: F
Josh Berry: B
Kyle Larson: A
Brad Keselowski: A-
Corey Lajoie: D+
Kyle Busch: D-
Chase Elliott: A
Noah Gragson: B-
Denny Hamlin: A-
Ryan Blaney: B+
Chase Briscoe: B-
Chris Buescher: C+
Martin Truex Jr: B-
Christopher Bell: A-
Harrison Burton: F
Joey Logano: B-
Bubba Wallace: B-
William Byron: A-
Daniel Hemric: D
Micheal Mcdowell: C+
Todd Gilliland: B-
Ryan Preece: D
John Hunter Nemechek: C+
Erik Jones: C
Tyler Reddick: B+
Ricky Stenhouse Jr: C-
Alex Bowman: B+
Justin Haley: A-
Ty Gibbs: B+
Zane Smith: F
Carson Hocevar: B+
Daniel Suarez: B-
Don't kill me for grading Erik Jones
Sounds like you learned a new phrase! "Out to lunch" 😂
I feel like harrison last 4 races has been progressively better
Don't think you should consider their potential in grading. Potential doesn't count for what already happened.
B+ for MTJ is fair. On the hand the Pit Crew and James Small. F-------
Brad Keselowski, A+ +
I would like to see Brad Keselowski win more races.
Austin Dillon still deserves an F- IMO.
Jaret is what you meant to say Reddick is tied with Christopher for the most Top 10's with 11!! They are tied! I would give Christopher an A, not A-!! 👍😂
Cant disagree with a B grade for Ry Blane, but his season has not been worse than Truex who got a B+
Kyle Busch is some what D in my opinion
For sure. We've actually seen him up front a bit. Still not a great season at all but not an F
In my opinion I would give Bubba a B-
Since he has the speed but it all comes down with costly decisions by crew chief, even pit crew mistakes, and even can’t catch a break whenever he gets involved in wrecks that’s not his fault (ex: latest is New Hampshire)
This isnt the NFL you race by points not playoffs. The stage racing took away the stradagy and the fun to watch and the one lug nut isnt as fun to watch as the crew changing five. Nascar ruined in my opinion.
I thought Zane smith got a top 10 at Texas
I give Bubba an F. He needs to go.
I hear how you feel! hope he's happy Tennessee is national champions cause that is the only thing he's gonna win. AND No I wasn't rooting for the volaonteers either.
Hailie Deegan = C-. Shes driving cars that are blowing up on her, and guys do purposefully hit her from times. However when its in her control she has multiple top 25's 20's and 15's. She has to improve and get a fast car in any series full or part time next year. AM racing full time is killing her.
Bubba Wallace = D. I love bubba, but he can drive better than this and needs to. He is i think being a little self destructive.
Natalie Decker = B she came in and led laps in an xfinity car, hoping to see more from her, shows her truck team did NOT like her.
Toni Breidinger = A she is having a hailie deegan level season in arca.
Frankie Muniz = Most races are in the future for this season for him.
A b+ for carson and an A for haley are spot on. Both young guys driving their shit box cars into the top 15 and 10 every week it seems like. Both are gonna be stars later in their careers just hoping they both get better rides.
the cars are actually solid but i get your point
Rick Ware is Roush's satellite team. Those cars are anything but shit box.
I think Justin Haley's only like 23 years old. dudes got plenty of time to be a real contender.
@@iBolt07 hes 25, which is surprising because he won a cup race 5 years ago
14:10 Fun Fact: Since Ricky Stenhouse Jr. punched Kyle Busch, Busch has had about a 26th place average finish.
@@hunterracez "I SUCK JUST AS BAD AS YOU!"
Now, that's no longer true..........................he's even worse.
@@noahcoleman5556 and wreckys even better
Spinhouse even has back-to-back top 10s. Gotta hand it to them (the team).
Cory lajoy crying a river how he deserves a ride at hendrick meanwhile carson hocevar outruns him😂
That’s why I like to call him lajoke lol
Carson Hocevar still has no talent. He spun out at New Hampshire.
Reminds me of when Blaney was doing to Glass case of emotion, it's like he is working a second job and performance in the important one is suffering as a result.
@@runrafarunthebestintheworldI take you never watched his truck career, guy is chastain 2.0
@@runrafarunthebestintheworld * Spun Himself out. That and his shenanigans at Bristol have proven he has matured... smh
Every time you said F, I laughed. So serious😂.
Lmao
I agree with the A grade for Elliott. This season has been such a breath of fresh air after last year,
we’re still missing that winning/dominant speed but we’re close
He’s very sneaky. He doesn’t really lead much laps, but he always exists in the top five and I think that’s what Chase wants.
"Since punching Kyle Busch" 💀
Buescher had it not been for bad luck in race winning situations has the potential to be a B+, but this 17 team is a second half of the year team so I'm trusting the process.
I completely agree with what you said about Haley, if there's anyone deserving of being in that third RFK car it's him. The fact he's consistently getting the best out of that 51 car is more than enough to say he's impressed me the most out of the Ford camp.
Goodbye Andy Petree have a nice retirement but RCR gets an F.
I really think the problem is the 2 drivers here, the speed is in the cars when a guy from Australia can jump in and be 3rd fastest out of everyone.
The most interesting thing about FRM this season is that McDowell is REALLY freaking fast. He's constantly qualifying well and is there early in races and sometimes at the end. If there's a #1 at FRM in terms of equipment, it's him
Todd Gilliland, on the other hand, has no early race speed. What he's absolutely excelled at, though, is making the strategy plays work. If he and Bergenty can combine their skills with these strategies and they'll be a force to be reckoned with. It's really, really great to see him do so well.
Since it seems FRM is in on The Toddfather as their franchise driver, it'll be interesting to see how things shake up. I think this season for McDowell isn't really a wash. For FRM especially after their incredible qualifying success early on, my guess is they started having talks about the future, and while McDowell is a great driver who's served as a solid foundational piece for years, their plan may not be what he wants, and he may've gotten a more lucrative offer at Spire for the twilight of his career. Looking forward to seeing where this team goes in the future. I can honestly say that both FRM drivers should get, at minimum, a B if not an A. If not them, then at least the team as a whole
Zane Smith might deserve a G. He's been atrocious. And I'm a big fan of the guy. 🙁
i think he just needs a season or two, and he will get better. Also, i see some bias from Spire too, since hell be gone next year
Most drivers struggle their rookie year but I think he’ll turn it around!
@@miketwotwenty Yeah but he also has a rookie teammate who is in the top 20 nearly every weekend
Agree, I mean Zane put his car in the wall in every of 6 or 7 first races this year. Talk about consistency right there…
Maybe even an H
Trackhouse's problem is a Chevrolet and Hendrick level problem ever since they had the "talk" since then Trackhouse's overall performance went downhill
yea... i guess they really got 2nd tiered!
Trackhouse is also probably stretching resources thin by having to prepare cars for Zane Smith and Shane VG.
Not going to lie, it would be awesome if Honda did come in and Trackhouse went there since Hendrick will undoubtedly always be the top tier Chevrolet team. I’d hate to see Trackhouse leave Chevy, but I’d completely understand. Let me also add that I don’t think any of that is going to happen either lol
@@DaytonaPrototypes i get it zane smith is a trucks champion but unless his car is literally undrivable keep him in spire until he can get a top 15
Blaneys 1 lap and 6 inches from 3 wins and points lead , that’s not even counting what could have been at Charlotte and Darlington
Even Rowdy can’t make a slow race car go fast. Very sad. I don’t understand whats up with RCR.
the same thing since... i guess since Harvick left? theyve beem bad for like 10 years... yea, they had glimces with Reddick, but i tgink it was more the driver, not the car
@@TheRabbitHouseHole
But Kyle did win three races last year and was waaaay better than this year.
I think RCR actually has 2 pretty good cars and it's both drivers that are the problem.
Ross Chastain: B-
Austin Cindric: C
Austin Dillon: F
Josh Berry: B
Kyle Larson: A+
Brad Keselowski: A
Corey Lajoie: D-
Kyle Busch: F
Chase Elliott: A+
Noah Gragson: B
Denny Hamlin: A
Ryan Blaney: A-
Chase Briscoe: B-
Chris Buescher: B
Martin Truex Jr: A-
Christopher Bell: A
Harrison Burton: D-
Joey Logano: C-
Bubba Wallace: C-
William Byron: A
Daniel Hemric: D+
Michael McDowell: B-
Todd Gilliland: B+
Ryan Preece: D+
John Hunter Nemechek: C
Erik Jones: C-
Tyler Reddick: A-
Ricky Stenhouse Jr: C
Alex Bowman: B+
Justin Haley: A
Ty Gibbs: B+
Zane Smith: F
Carson Hocevar: B-
Daniel Suarez: C
A for Chase Elliott. This season is definitely much better than last year. For Kyle Busch I’d have to give him either a D or an F. I feel bad for him. Never seen him struggle this much. Josh Berry definitely gets a B. Him and Childers have definitely hit their stride these past couple weeks with running up front at Iowa and having a top 5 run this past weekend at New Hampshire. Michael McDowell for me has definitely had a season of missed opportunities. They’ve ran well with 4 top ten finishes on the year but it feels like that team could have more. They could definitely do more this season.
NASCAR Grade Standings:
1. Kyle Larson: A
2. Chase Elliott: A
3. Justin Haley: A
4. Denny Hamlin: A-
5. Tyler Reddick: A-
6. Christopher Bell: A-
7. William Byron: A-
8. Brad Keselowski: A-
9. Martin Truex, Jr: B+
10. Josh Berry: B+
11. Carson Hocevar: B+
12. Ryan Blaney: B
13. Ross Chastain: B
14. Alex Bowman: B
15. Chase Briscoe: B
16. Ty Gibbs: B-
17. Joey Logano: B-
18. Todd Gilliland: B-
19. Noah Gragson: B-
20. Chris Buescher: C+
21. John Hunter Nemechek: C+
22. Bubba Wallace: C
23. Michael McDowell: C
24. Ricky Stenhouse, Jr: C
25. Daniel Suarez: C-
26. Austin Cindric: C-
27. Corey LaJoie: D+
28. Ryan Preece: D
29. Daniel Hemric: D
30. Kyle Busch: F
31. Austin Dillon: F
32. Harrison Burton: F
33. Zane Smith: F
34. Erik Jones: N/A
No idea how blaney gets a B and MTJ gets a B+ with the argument that “he could easily have 2/3 wins in things fell right” when blaney lost at the line at Atlanta, ran out of fuel while leading, and was wrecked while running 2nd at NH. Not only that but the bad luck he’s had finishing races has hurt his average finish.
And the fact that logano is basically rates the same, the speed for blaney has been there nearly weekly. Well over half of his crappy finishes this year have not been because of driver mistakes. Darlington, Texas, New Hampshire, Charlotte. All are either on the crew or other guys taking him out. While yea obviously the results haven’t been great he’s absolutely been the best ford pretty consistently all year minus a small stretch where the RFK due showed up.
@@alexortega626 it’s a random UA-cam video so it has no bearing on actual performance but the lack of logic hurts my brain
Yeah. The video dies cause Larson doesn’t have an A Plus.
He leads in EVERYTHING, including the points, while skipping the most points possible in a race this year.
Gragson would be higher if he didn’t get penalized at the beginning of the season
Not really he wrecks his car every other week.
@@runrafarunthebestintheworld to be fair, he has had some good runs.
Meanwhile Zane Smith gets runner up lol
As an Elliott fan he’s quietly having a pretty good season sure he has 1 win but he’s been sneaky consistent he gets a solid A from me
I see Elliott getting another win before the season is over. Championship four also. 🏆🏁
Ryan preece A+ ☝️
Jaret talking about drivers being "Out to lunch" while I'm eating lunch 😆
Justin Haley switched to a worse team and literally has worse stats in every category compared to himself last season.
2023 through 18 races
T5-1 T10-4 Led 23 laps Avg fin 18.3
2024 through 18 races
T5-0 T10-2 Led 4 laps Avg fin 23.8
He's a bum
I mean when you take in to context the equipment he's driving, it's amazing that he seems to be more recognized at RWR than he was at Kaulig
I was at bristol last year, Watching Hocevar race in his fill in ride.
The way he drove just felt like he was going to be the solid pick to be a cup driver if anybody, and I'm glad I was right. Congrats to him and that 77 team.
Ross Chastain: B
Austin Cindric: C
Austin Dillon: D- (I'd give him an F, but he is still better than some guys and RCR is overall bad this season, so it's not just him)
Josh Berry: A-
Kyle Larson: A+
Brad Keselowski: A-
Corey Lajoie: D
Kyle Busch: D (still in top 20 in points, not great for Busch, but not a total disaster like Dillon last few years)
Chase Elliott: A
Noah Gragson: B+
Denny Hamlin: A
Ryan Blaney: B+
Chase Briscoe: B
Kaz Grala: C+ (I didn't consider him being even Xfinity ready, but he is better than Zane Smith and in RWR, so he is doing great I think)
Chris Buescher: C+
Martin Truex Jr: A
Christopher Bell: A-
Harrison Burton: F
Joey Logano: C-
Bubba Wallace: B-
William Byron: A-
Daniel Hemric: D
Michael McDowell: C
Todd Gilliland: A-
Ryan Preece: B- (he is really close to Gragson, but somehow people put Gragson really high and Preece as some disaster)
John Hunter Nemechek: C+
Erik Jones: C+
Tyler Reddick: A
Ricky Stenhouse Jr: C+
Alex Bowman: B+
Justin Haley: B+
Ty Gibbs: A-
Zane Smith: F
Carson Hocevar: B+
Daniel Suarez: B-
Honestly, I'm more impressed with Haley than anyone else in the field. He's in arguably one of the worst cars, but he's still managing to make hay. Give him a competitive ride and I think he could go places.
Yep Haley could win at a Road course this year honestly he literally finished 2nd to SVG at Chicago last year.
I would like to mention the part-time driver of the 15. Kaz he has done amazing being part time even being ahead of Zane at sometime in the points
Buescher deserves at least a B-. He's been very fast and probably should have won already. C+ is a stretch
Guess we are gonna ignore Kyle Busch running top ten but get dumped 💀 like it wasn’t even once
Kyle Busch gets a double grading - E+D because he can't get up anymore.
My wife is a huge fan of Justin Haley she is always looking for his gold wheels on track
Disagree with Buesher/Blaney/JHN ratings.
Kyle Busch should have signed with RWR not RCR
Haley in a 3rd RFK car will be sick!
Kyle Busch 2024 = Jimmie Johnson 2018-2020
You should grade every first half race.
As a Bell fan, B-
Inconsistent for aure, a run of suppar races, but 3 wins is extremly good! i think we can go all the way, but im delulu
before the injury I would give my favorite driver, Erik Jones a solid B because he was on the cut off battle before Talladega
Of course you give chase an A. Get off his junk
Chill dude
Justin Haley is just plain impressive. If he doesn’t win within the next 2 years I’ll be shocked. He’s a wheelman!
Without stage points Elliot is almost 70 ahead of Larson. Just proves how consistent Elliot is, just not at getting stage points
most of blakey’s bad finishes weren’t even his fault and without bad luck would have 3 wins rn if u include atlanta
Chase Elliott is really having a 2020 Kevin Harvick season just not near as dominant and without the wins
Hope Josh Berry gets the 21 now we know Burton is most likely out
I'd rather him go to Front Row tbh
@@whoasked9500nah.
@@runrafarunthebestintheworld dawg have you seen wood brothers since the next gen era they've been awful
yeah harrison burton is trash but I doubt he's the only problem
@@whoasked9500 yeah Wood Brothers was also bad when Paul Menard was in the 21 but I don't think Berry will be picked up by Wood Brothers or Front Row. It wouldn't be good for either.
@@runrafarunthebestintheworld it would if he gets to stay with rodney childers
they have really stepped it up within the last month
Go C Bell 🔔
Spire is terrible except hocevar
Chase is a B. Haley is a B, and JH Nemechek is a D-
Chase Elliott is b
To many B's
It’s crazy with the season Bryon is having and what it could be he has an A- I believe he could easily have 5-7 wins this year if not for bad luck.
1. Mcdowell crashing into him entering pit zone at Atlanta with top 5 car
2. Biggest trash bag known to man at Kansas or Vegas with a top 3 car.
3. Josh berry running him in the wall at charlotte and still finishing at the front
4. Josh berry striking again at Sonoma with another fast car making his way back up through the field. (Maybe not the fastest car but with the right strategy and being a good course racer who knows)
5. I believe there’s one more but you get the idea.
I am a Byron fan so maybe I’m biased but am I wrong?
The 600 finishing second. Bell was super fast so maybe not but you never know. They definitely need to step it up, though. There's been a few weekends where they are just completely irrelevant.
My dream offseason scenario is Gragson to the 34 and justin to the 60 would be awesome and have berry in the 36 car sense he’s still new and learning so let me develop in a meh car or put him in the 21 car
Justin Haley to the 26 or 60 would be goated.
JHN getting a c+? That's wild... i think both he and Hemric deserve F's lol
How many cautions has JHN caused this year, I just about guarantee he is leading that stat. Definitely a D or worse.
Bruh this is not school this is NASCAR 💀
Dude…read the room
Ok
Overall, I give it a C-, because Fox completely ruined the season with its $#!+ coverage, nature ruining Kyle Larson's Double Duty attempt, no Auto Club, TexARSE is still on the schedule, the handling of the Kyle Busch fiasco at North Wilkesboro, and NBC only having 2 races... on CABLE (though the 2nd half should he better)
I would have least given a c, maybe slightly higher if well you know why.
Actually I want give NASCAR themselves a grade cause I'm generous, sadly though its not a good one, I would have said C cause we've had two of the closest finishes ever and a 72 lead change race most since 2011, had most lead lap finishers for Charlotte, Las Vegas and Texas, and last race in New Hampshire most since 2004. you had several races with 40 or more lead changes including Bristol of all places! I would have been happy to do it. But why I am being my known professor, not because I am not happy, it is well because of today I want ask you professor Iceberg did you hear why I am livid at NASCAR? Go see the video and look, and I am more wanting to hear from people in the comments section cause NASCAR has gone too over the top with inclusion, and diversity, when I wish they fixed the short flag package, instead of making me angry!!! Cause I AM!!! So my overall grade to them is AN F!!!! Thats towards everybody at the top of the sport. The leadership is bad enough, Cause the company has effed up enough! There is a lot things they should be doing instead of promoting sexuality. Cause I really don't care no other motorsports major ones especially are promoting this crap Indycar with the infamous Pride rainbow car that just won the last race and I was not really happy about that, I believe in traditional marriage, and I am sick of celebrating things that I do not have a place in something like motorsports! especially pride month. You see!!! You may not care but NASCAR is promoting political agendas something you said should not be happening!!! rather they said they weren't gonna do, they was wrong! I am not proud of that!!!! I've watched the sport since 99 and I was too young at the time to know about stuff like that. But I am older and I am being serious about this. Racing fans don't celebrate Creepy people. are you gonna address the elephant in the room? Do you think I am predicting don't be shocked if they get the Bud Light TREATMENT! I bet you may have heard what happened to them right. BOYCOTT!!!! I bet after this week I might get away from them for a time. I know I will for two weeks thanks to the SUMMER OLYMPICS YES I am not interested. But I AM SICK OF WOKENESS AND I AM FED UP WITH NASCAR'S CRAP!!! Sorry I am being this harsh, its not directed to you its more of how I feel this towards the sport. I more wished I just talked racing, I know This is a mature subject and I am trying to just talk about this, call out of the sport, call out everyone within all of them, again NHRA is not doing this, IMSA is not, F1 did some of that a few years back but they just about stopped, IndyCar look will see how the new car will work, I am not excited but will see, again had a DHL Car all decked in rainbow colors, from Indy 500 till this weekend past at weathertech Raceway. Most Motorsports in America aren't doing this!!!!! Again Not a favorite month of mine at all, out of all of them, Summertime, not my time to love anything. Maybe you, but look I like writing in comments gives me something to do some of the time. I only started doing this a few years ago and guess what was it about me calling out NASCAR for doing things I didn't think they should have done. I mean they're pleasing folks who do not watch. I ask myself where is your new viewers NASCAR! Man this one is really long here, you don't need to read all of it. But I want to try to engage myself within the chat as you do on NWP. I really have done rarely. But I need too!!!! I freakin need an escape for crying out loud!!!!
Idk if it's just me but this season has been incredibly boring so far
ehh, we had some wild finishes and great stories! its like a C+ season
Bro, we seen two of the closest finishes ever. Plus Bristol was pure chaos.
It's just you. This so far has been one of the best seasons we have seen in the last 10 years.
It's just Fox making it $#!+ with their mid coverage, in person and radio paints a whole different story
So Real! Nascar ruined it for me when they forced teams to not be able make their own cars, and build their own parts.