Well, that was interesting. Starting the Cup playoffs with a superspeedway-type race certainly turned things upside down a bit.
The drama was palpable. And, if you ever doubted just how important those regular season stage wins were, you found out right out of the box as Kyle Larson went from a comfortable first to just 15 points above the cut line.
But, isn’t that what playoffs are supposed to be about? Drama and uncertainty? Isn’t that why folks love the NCAA Basketball Tournament so much; the chance to see the “little guy” knock off the “big, bad powerhouse”?
This 2024 first round isn’t going to get much, if any easier, with Watkins Glen making its first playoff appearance followed by the always nerve-wracking Night Race at Bristol.
Enjoy. This is a one-off. Things will be a little more on the normal side next year when we go back to opening with Darlington before welcoming Gateway to the post-season. But, then aren’t those weeks where you expect calm, just when all hell breaks loose?