1. Which driver is more likely to bounce back from their Las Vegas Motor Speedway DNF to make the NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4, Ryan Blaney or William Byron?
Christopher Hansen: Ryan Blaney. Talladega Superspeedway and Martinsville Speedway are arguably two of Blaney’s best tracks in the playoffs, with a combined five victories at those tracks alone. Blaney also emerged victorious at the last drafting track race in the Cup Series at Daytona International Speedway in August, and there’s no question his Team Penske Ford will be strong again in the draft this weekend. As long as he accumulates stage points and has a solid finish at Talladega, Blaney could just as easily go to Martinsville and win a third fall race in a row, giving him a chance at championship two.
Mike Neff: Both of them have a good chance to rebound this weekend. At the same time, Talladega is definitely a wild card. Looking at this week and next, Blaney has a stronger history at both tracks. There is a great possibility that he could win his way to the Championship 4 in one of these two races. While William Byron has had a very strong season, look for Blaney to finish better.
Joy Tomlinson: Blaney looks to have the best chance to bounce back after Vegas, at least at Martinsville he does. He’s crashed out of the last two Talladega races, but at Martinsville, he won the past two fall playoff events. Blaney hasn’t finished worse than 11th there since 2019. Though both drivers have a good chance of moving on to the Championship 4, I’ll give Blaney the edge, especially since he made the cut the last two years, winning the title in 2023.
2. Would Las Vegas be a great site for the championship race?
Neff: As good as the finish was last weekend, the rest of the race was a snooze-fest. If NASCAR could have tires that fall off more, 500 miles and a long final stage, it might work. Phoenix Raceway, Homestead-Miami Speedway and maybe another sleeper are still better options.
Tomlinson: Why not? It has a good appeal with all the lights and spectacles in the city. The racing’s pretty great (as it has been on the 1.5-milers with the Next Gen car). Plus, I’m sure a lot of fans would attend from the West Coast. Add Vegas to the championship rotation.
Hansen: Vegas would make a suitable host for NASCAR’s championship weekend in the future. The bread and butter of the Next Gen car are the 1.5-mile intermediate ovals like Vegas, and last weekend we were treated to great racing all afternoon, with drivers running from the bottom of the track all the way up against the SAFER barrier looking for speed. Plus, the average high temperature for Las Vegas in November is a mild 70 degrees, the perfect conditions to enjoy Championship Weekend. Las Vegas is also one of the most well-known tourist destinations, and when NASCAR is in town, that only makes the city that much more popular.
3. Sunday’s race will be the first superspeedway race to take place during the Round of 8. How will that impact the racing at Talladega, if at all?
Tomlinson: Who knows? The first couple of stages could be fuel-saving games where the field rides in a pack, and perhaps drivers can manage their moves to get near the front toward the end of the race. But if there’s just one car to get out of shape, it could set off the Big One. It doesn’t matter whether it’s in the Round of 12 or Round of 8, Talladega is still an unknown track.
Neff: There is a decent possibility that the playoff drivers will try to stay out of the hornet’s nest. That can mean running at the front or the back. That said, there will probably be three or four playoff drivers who end up torn up and way down the results. Expect to see a significant shake-up at the cut line.
Hansen: With 2025 marking Talladega’s debut in the semifinal round of the NASCAR playoffs, this is only going to increase the intensity of the racing on track from start to finish this weekend. Drafting tracks are some of the most nerve-wracking races for a driver to compete in, but a team can strategize all it wants and see a good run go out the window with one wrong push, setting off the Big One in an instant. For the remaining seven playoff drivers not named Denny Hamlin, stage points and a good finish will be crucial going to the cutoff race at Martinsville Speedway the week after. However, the driver that wins this weekend will have the right balance of patience and aggression while staying out of trouble to advance to the Championship 4 in Phoenix.
4. Who will drive the Spire Motorsports No. 7 Cup car in 2026?
Neff: There are a handful of potential replacements for Haley. There could be a couple existing NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series drivers given serious consideration. At the Cup level, the most logical choice is Daniel Suarez. He has financial backing, experience and a fan following. He would be a perfect fit for Spire.
Hansen: Suarez. He brings plenty of experience behind the wheel in the Cup Series, while Spire, a team that has made gains over the past few seasons, could be exactly what Suarez needs to rejuvenate his career following a disappointing 2025 season.
Tomlinson: Suarez seems to be the best candidate for it. If he doesn’t want to go back to Xfinity or Trucks, this opening is probably his best to remain in the Cup Series, as most of the other rides are already locked. He’s also in a Chevrolet, which means he wouldn’t have to adjust to a new manufacturer. Suarez would be a good fit for the No. 7, as both he and Michael McDowell ran well at Sonoma and on other road courses. It’d be the best chance for him to reset his career as he hopes to run his 10th Cup season next year.
What is it that Mike Neff doesn’t do? Mike announces several shows each year for the Good Guys Rod and Custom Association. He also pops up everywhere from PRN Pit Reporters and the Press Box with Alan Smothers to SIRIUS XM Radio. He has announced at tracks all over the Southeast, starting at Millbridge Speedway. He's also announced at East Lincoln Speedway, Concord Speedway, Tri-County Speedway, Caraway Speedway, and Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Joy joined Frontstretch in 2019 as a NASCAR DraftKings writer, expanding to news and iRacing coverage in 2020. She's currently an assistant editor and involved with photos, social media and news editing. A California native, Joy was raised watching motorsports and started watching NASCAR extensively in 2001. She earned her B.A. degree in Liberal Studies at California State University Bakersfield in 2010.