Although it feels like the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season just started, we have made it to the regular season finale. It feels like these 25 regular-season races have gone by in a blink of an eye. But the anticipation and excitement are sky-high before the start of the Southern 500 race this weekend.

Like every season, all eyes will be on the drivers who are tussling for the final few playoff spots. However, let us not forget the bigger picture here, as the title of the regular season champion and an additional 15 playoff points are also up for grabs. On an initial view, Kyle Larson and Tyler Reddick seem to be outright favorites to win, however, a silent Chase Elliott could sweep away the glory on the back of his consistent run.

Even the legendary HMS crew chief, Steve Letarte, had to admit that he overlooked Elliott’s chances to win the regular season.

Do not sleep on Chase Elliott

NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver hasn’t had an eventful 2024 so far. Thanks to his win that came at the mile-and-a-half track in Texas, he was able to secure his playoff qualification. However, when it comes to scoring points, he elevated himself to a different league altogether.

If we are to exclude his two races at Chicago and Daytona, Elliott has managed to finish all his outings inside the top 20. Out of those, he has also notched up six top 5 results, showcasing his under-the-radar yet stellar performances on a weekly basis. Fun Fact: He is just 18 points away from the leader, Reddick. So, he does have the opportunity to make a final push this weekend.

Steve Letarte was also shocked to see his co-host of Dirty Mo Dough putting Chase Elliott as his preferred pick as a winner for the Southern 500. But only to realize that the HMS star, indeed, has a genuine shot at clinching the regular season title. “I thought I would never say this on this show. But he’s the best value on the board. Like I never thought the books would drop the ball just because of the fandom, right? That’s really what we’re talking about.”

“We always see Elliott a little lower. Every number you throw out there he’s always one or two numbers lower because of the fandom. I had him like at 14 or 16. I mean, he runs really good there to see him at 24 to 1,” Letarte added. Another motivating factor for the HMS star is that he hasn’t won at Darlington Raceway, so he does have an added incentive to go all out this weekend.

Speaking of not having won in Darlington, that’s also the case for regular-season leader Tyler Reddick. And unlike Steve Letarte, he’s aware of the treat that Chase Elliott brings. Had Reddick finished inside the top two in Daytona last weekend, he would’ve sealed the regular season championship. But because of his DNF, both Larson (15 points) and Elliott (18 points) are within touching distance.

Moreover, Larson’s the only one of the three to have won in Darlington before. As for Reddick, he registered his worst result on that track earlier this year, courtesy of a P32. Reflecting on Daytona and looking forward to Darlington, the 23XI driver said, “I really wish I could have looked into the future and saw where I’d be [in the] points. I would have taken that second place right about now because I’d be just going into Darlington and not worrying about racing the 5 (Larson) or the 9 (Elliott) at all.”

As interesting as the three-way regular championship battle is, so is the tussle for the last few spots in the playoffs. As far as they’re concerned, Steve Letarte didn’t fancy Bubba Wallace’s chances. Rather, he went with a wildcard pick.

Ross Chastain could pull off a dramatic win at Darlington

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Now, a lot of drivers haven’t been able to perform according to their standards or expectations. And them missing to hit their markers has allowed the likes of Austin Cindric, Daniel Suarez, and Harrison Burton to book their playoff tickets. However, thanks to this format set up by NASCAR, heavy hitters like Kyle Busch, Chris Buescher, and Ross Chastain will have one final shot at redemption.

Letarte felt that Kyle Busch does have a good chance of turning his season around with a win at Darlington. However, he kept the door open for the struggling Ross Chastain, stating the No. 1 team might have a trick up their sleeve for the crucial race. “Ross Chastain has not had the equipment, but every once in a while, like last year at Nashville, they showed up running average and whipped everybody’s bu-t. So maybe Trackhouse has something held back and they are going to drop it this weekend.”

Given how the drivers are stacked up, every prediction right now is an educated guess. So, who do you think makes the playoff cut?