re: 2024 NASCAR Season Thread - 2024-25 Offseason

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And those TikTokers don’t watch on TV like the other generations. They lose viewers to appease TikTokers. So imo yes, they are stupid. Granted, their first 4 races had higher viewership this year but that wasn’t due to Bubba or the TikTokers.

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While true that Gen Z doesn't watch any TV like other generations, studies have shown they still follow sports through other outlets.

Deloitte found that Gen Z is more likely to consume sports based on who they follow on social media, so the data supports it not being stupid.

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For this youngest cohort of sports fans surveyed, creating connections with their favorite athletes on social media proves important to their fanhood. Nearly all Gen Z fans are using social media to consume sports-related content, and they are more likely than those in older cohorts to prefer consuming interviews with athletes, posts from athletes, and posts from the athletes’ families on social media. Similarly, around 80% of Gen Z fans follow a professional athlete online, which leads them to watch and attend sporting events the athlete participates in, follow brands or other athletes they interact with, and buy products they promote.

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LINK

Throw in the Netflix series, and the Morning Consult survey that showed NASCAR is more popular among Gen Z than F1, NHL and UFC, and NASCAR appears to know what it's doing in terms of marketing itself.

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Not just for NASCAR but other sports.

The powers that be don’t give six cacas about the old farts clinging to their cable remotes.

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Exactly.

Question. Who currently out of playoffs will move up into playoffs and who in now will miss out. Not just for next week but for chase? Long ways to go but some good drivers going to miss out.

You have to figure Brad gets in. But then a wildcard winner or two could as well. Plus/minus is how far above/below cut line right now

Playoff Grid

William Byron x3
Denny Hamlin x2
Kyle Larson W
Christopher Bell W
Daniel Suarez W
Martin Truex +107
Ryan Blaney +73
Chase Elliott +70
Ty Gibbs +66
Ross Chastain +44
Tyler Reddick +41
Alex Bowman +39
Bubba Wallace +28
Chris Buescher +19
Joey Logano +3
Kyle Busch +1
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Chase Briscoe -1
Brad Keselowski -13
John Hunter Nemechek -32
Erik Jones -35
Austin Cindric -42
Michael McDowell -43
Josh Berry -60
Todd Gilliland -63
Carson Hocevar -64
Ryan Preece -77
Ricky Stenhouse -79
Corey Lajoie -84
Noah Gragson -88
Daniel Hemric -94
Austin Dillon -96
Justin Haley -104
Kaz Grala -107
Harrison Burton -117
Zane Smith -122

Thats the challenge. I can make cases like you for some of the below to get in but then have knock out someone already in. Bubba barely made it last year mainly because Chase got hurt and that was one extra free spot.

Unless Nascar finds some big penalties it’s going to be a dogfight. And we all know someone will win and get in. Someone way down the list.

Some early silly season ideas I've been kicking around.

Chase Briscoe has an expiring contract with Stewart-Haas and Ford. Given that Stewart-Haas is heavily rumored to be leaving at the end of the year, does Ford still want Briscoe. I personally see Briscoe in the 21, kicking Burton either back to Xfinity or to another team altogether.

Speaking of SHR.... I see them selling two charters. I think they move forward with Josh Berry and Noah Gragson (barring any drama). Preece will be shown the door.

Those two charters will go to Trackhouse and 23XI. Trackhouse will field the 97 for SVG next year. 23XI will field the 67 (or whatever other number) for Corey Heim.
SVG has hinted that he expects to be in Cup next year, and Heim is the best Toyota prospect coming up. Heim is basically banned from Gibbs because him and Ty hate each other, so free game for Denny and MJ.

I wouldn't be shocked if Kaulig sold a charter as well. They've been rumored to be struggling financially. And other than AJ and SVG, their rotating lineup does not contain anyone worthy of a full-time ride. If they do sell, I would not be shocked if RFK bought it and brought Justin Haley in-house. Brad ran the meeting with Rick Ware and Haley. Haley is a pretty underrated driver with a lot of upside.

Other drivers to watch...
Cindric (Roger can't be happy with the flagship car right now.
A. Dillon (rumored retirement)
Truex (I expect retirement this year)
Nemechek (Will go to Gibbs if Truex retires)
Zane Smith (Can't see him changing situations without improving in performance)
Suarez (Contract year)
Grala (could be out of luck if dominoes fall)

Cole Custer (Stay with Ford? Stay with Stewart-Haas?)
Riley Herbst (has to move up at some point. Could go to Rick Ware)
Sheldon Creed (strikes me as a Legacy driver-similar background to JJ)
Sam Mayer (same as Herbst, has to move up at some point)
Austin Hill (I expect him to replace Austin Dillon soon)
Cam Waters (Aussie V8 driver that really wants to race NASCAR full-time)

Any other ideas?

Given nascar considering going international…. I wouldn’t put it past either to aim for a companion weekend every year. One year in America. One year in Australia/NZ.

Maybe Sonoma one year…Bathurst next? One can only dream!

Wow! That’s awesome. That was quite the payday 27 years ago. Looks like it was from the Texas Busch race.

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Given nascar considering going international…. I wouldn’t put it past either to aim for a companion weekend every year. One year in America. One year in Australia/NZ. Maybe Sonoma one year…Bathurst next? One can only dream!

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I still remember the 3 races they had in Japan in the mid 90s.

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Chase Elliott +70
Ty Gibbs +66

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What's your point here?

Yes, Chase struggled early but seems to have found, finally, some balance and consistency in the car(and I'll call myself out for being very impatient w/Gustafson for the early struggles) and everyone who posts ITT knows how talented Gibbs is. But we also all know that he's a spoiled arse brat that needs his arse kicked a time or two to bring him down a notch.