Pit strategy and late-race chaos jumbled the leaderboard in the final 20 laps, but it was Kyle Larson finding Brickyard redemption after a speeding penalty hampered his Indianapolis 500 attempt back in May. Larson charged from outside the top 20 to the lead in the final 40 laps to score his fourth win of 2024 and first Brickyard 400 triumph.
RELATED: Race results | At-track photos
The Cup Series goes on its Olympic break before returning to action at Richmond Raceway on Aug. 11 (6 p.m. ET, USA, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NBC Sports App), see which drivers are climbing upward or tumbling downward.
THREE UP ⬆️
1. Todd Gilliland, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford
Started: 24th
Finished: 6th
What happened: There’s just something about Front Row Motorsports, no matter what layout is used at Indianapolis. Gilliland had enough fuel despite two overtime restarts to hold track position at the end and earn his fourth top 10 of the season, which matches a career-high set last season.
What’s next: Still needing a win to sneak his way into the 16-driver playoff field, opportunities are still present for the third-year driver to keep building momentum. The No. 38 team will have their best shot at stealing a postseason bid at Daytona International Speedway in August.
2. Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford
Started: 38th
Finished: 7th
What happened: Sunday could’ve been a lost cause for the No. 2 Penske team as it started at the rear of the field. However, a multitude of wrecks up front and drivers having to pit for fuel late cycled Cindric into the top 10 to give the Gateway winner his first top 10 since the surprise win in Illinois.
What’s next: With a playoff spot already locked up for Cindric, it’s all about finding speed and quality results as the Cup Series races to the playoffs. The two-week break will be much needed for the No. 2 stable to reset and lock in for the final month of the regular season.
3. Daniel Suárez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Started: 25th
Finished: 8th
What happened: Like Cindric, Suárez and the No. 99 team need any momentum they can get until their respective postseason runs begin. Suárez was able to survive the late-race attrition for just his fourth top 1o of the year and best result since finishing fifth at Texas Motor Speedway in April.
What’s next: It could be another trying push to the postseason for Suárez as Richmond, Michigan International Speedway, Daytona and Darlington Raceway don’t really suit the No. 99 driver. However, a top 10 heading into the Olympic break could be exactly what the doctor ordered for this team to be in postseason form when they look to sweep Atlanta to kick off the postseason.
THREE DOWN ⬇️
1. Chris Buescher
Started: 23rd
Finished: 22nd
What happened: In the opening laps, Buescher was one of few drivers who could actually gain multiple spots during a green-flag run. However, two flat tires in Stage 1 hampered the No. 17’s day, putting the team multiple laps down and couldn’t get out of the hole until the final OT restart where Buescher couldn’t steal some spots before the caution flew to end the race.
What’s next: Buescher is now in quite the fight for a playoff spot as he sits just 17 points above the provisional elimination line. With three consecutive finishes outside the top 10, a two-week break leading into Richmond — (which began Buescher’s winning stretch last season) — would be the perfect remedy for the No. 17 RFK team to be the 13th different winner of 2024. If not, self-nicknamed “Bad Luck Buescher” could find himself without a playoff berth come September.
2. Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Started: 13th
Finished: 31st
What happened: Bowman was in line for another top-10 outing all race long, but the Chicago Street Course winner found calamity as he was collected in a big wreck on the first OT restart entering Turn 1 that also took out the likes of Denny Hamlin and John Hunter Nemechek, who were having great days as well at the Brickyard.
What’s next: Top 10s at Daytona and Darlington earlier this season could keep Bowman’s regular-season points result strong as he looks for those coveted bonus playoff tallies awarded to the top 10 in the Cup standings. However, Richmond may be another setback as the No. 48 started fourth only to finish 17th at the Virginia short track in March.
3. William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Started: 4th
Finished: 38th
What happened: Keeping the streak of the No. 24 winning the Brickyard 400 every ten years was not in the cards for Byron Sunday as he was collected in a hard wreck during Stage 2 with AJ Allmendinger and Harrison Burton. After Chase Briscoe’s Ford pushed up the track in front of the No. 24, Byron was hit by Ryan Preece sent Byron into Harrison Burton and then spun out of control down the backstretch. Byron was hit by Allmendinger’s No. 16 Kaulig Chevy before slamming into the inside retaining wall.
What’s next: With the regular season title all but out of reach for Byron, the focus for the No. 24 team is to reset during the break and focus on quality results to build that momentum for the playoffs. Highlighted by his Daytona 500 win, the No. 24 driver also finished in the top 10 at Richmond and Darlington, which could serve as a huge push for Byron in the final four races before the postseason.
