Bets have started coming in as the deadline day gets closer. Experts and bookmakers have their eyes set on the results of Daytona, which will be make or break for some of the drivers in the Cup Series. While some drivers have their hopes hanging by a thread, others are still trying to get off the slippery slope. Even a former champion like Chase Elliott has been in the mix, making the situation more unpredictable. SHR team owner Tony Stewart will also be hoping to add another driver to support Kevin Harvick in the final 16.

As for who cuts into the next stage, it has been a question of great intrigue in the community. The spotter trio of Brett Griffin, TJ Majors, and Freddie Kraft will be hoping for a smooth entry for their drivers, Brad Keselowski and Bubba Wallace, while being honest about their expectations. One of the major takeaways from their discussion on the podcast Door Bumper Clear would be some rejuvenating speculation from Kraft for Tony Stewart, who will also be wary about a reality where only one of his drivers qualifies for the playoffs.

TJ Majors names his list of potential winners at Daytona

Brad Keselowski earlier pointed out that the elimination system that has been brought in by NASCAR is also considered a possibility because big names missed out on the cutoff mark. If things don’t change, a big name like Elliott will have to try again next season. Yet apart from Elliott, many other drivers have shown in the past that they can win in the Cup Series. Griffin tries to draw out some names from the unqualified pot, enquiring about the odds of qualifying from TJ.

“Here’s who has to win at this point and I’m going to say his name because in my mind 30+ points at Daytona counts as a lot, so Ty Gibbs. Can he win at Daytona?”. TJ firmly replies, ” I don’t believe so.”

When the bottle spins toward the Hendrick Motorsports duo of Elliott and Alex Bowman, he says, “Yes, but there is an asterisk right there. It was easier when you had one car to get in. Now you have two cars that are racing for that position. They are gonna align some cars in there, and they are not gonna leave the bumper of that car. We’ve seen it before.”

Griffin then claims that the onus will be on Chevrolet to help out their drivers, who have a large percentage of teams availing of their services. Qualifying for the playoffs will also be important for every manufacturer’s representation. “Chevrolet is going to be massive. We keep going because a lot of these guys have wins at Daytona,” said the former Kaulig Racing spotter.

As the list continues, TJ approves the chances of Austin Cindric, Justin Haley, Ryan Preece, Aric Almirola, Corey LaJoie, Erik Jones, and Austin Dillon. Two drivers for Tony Stewart and co. after a dismal season seems surprising. Griffin is surprised that the race looks so open-ended, as he added,

“Holy f**k. People are like oh it’s gonna be really hard, I think we’re gonna have a new winner’. There are ten guys right here that have won races in the top 3 series that are gonna be highly competitive.”

This is an accurate representation of the amount of talent and skill that will be on display at Daytona. Drivers will be hoping to shine on Sunday as the fight for the final spot in the playoffs commences.

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“It’s hard to get away from them”: Freddie Kraft has some hopes for Tony Stewart and Aric Almirola

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As the clash of opinions continues, Griffin throws another interesting nuance into the argument that could turn out to be advantageous to some and not quite so to other hopeful drivers. With special emphasis on the dedication of Chevrolet to the less profitable drivers, he states,

“I think the Justin Haley, AJ Allmendinger thing is gonna be the hardest because they are not a key partner and Chevrolet couldn’t care less if they make it. They’re gonna want to put their boys in there which is Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman. There’s a bunch of guys over here Freddie, that make me nervous for you.”

Kraft’s protégé, Bubba, has also experienced the bubble battle up close. He is the final name on the list of the top 16 drivers with a 32-point lead over Ty Gibbs and will be aware of the fact that it might not be enough for him, even more so if someone from the unqualified drivers wins on Sunday. However, Freddie does not have him as a favorite to win the race. Instead, he has faith in Tony Stewart‘s driver, Almirola, who will be hoping to end his career on a happy note.

“I think you’re gonna have Aric Almirola and I think you’re gonna have Austin Cindric. These are the two guys I am concerned the most about because one manufacturer seems to dominate the races and it’s Ford. If they get control of the race, it’s hard to get away from them. And the thing is you need to win for playoff points because that’s a big deal for you.”

The Fords have dominated the past month with three consecutive wins at Richmond, Michigan, and Indianapolis with Chris Buescher and Michael McDowell. RFK Racing has led the Mustang’s uproar after a relatively silent patch in the middle of the season.

Owner and driver Keselowski has led the charge by himself with his consistency, which has put him in a strong position even without a win. Stewart-Haas Racing, on the other hand, has a sole driver as their ray of hope, which is Kevin Harvick. Apart from him, it has been a dismal outing for the team, which has maintained the pattern of its struggles in the last two seasons. If the course of fate goes as Freddie predicts, it will be another reason to celebrate Tony.

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