Projections updated after Saturday’s practice and qualifying.
Despite having all four of its drivers in the top five of the NASCAR Cup Series standings, Martinsville was something of a missed opportunity for the Hendrick Motorsports camp to track down the “perfection” Vice Chairman Jeff Gordon emphasized after Kyle Larson’s win at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Today’s race at Darlington Raceway (3 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN Radio, Sirius XM NASCAR Radio) is the perfect setting for Hendrick to bounce back and run the standings table.
MORE: Full Darlington race preview | Full starting lineup
Racing Insights’ early metric predicted all four Hendrick drivers to net top 10s — something the organization has already done twice this season. After practice and qualifying, Bowman dropped to 14th, but has has reeled in top 10s in the last two spring races at Darlington. Byron and Larson have won at the iconic track already and are great candidates to win again, particularly with Byron winning the Busch Light Pole. Elliott failed to record top 10s in either trip to South Carolina last year, but he has a best finish of third in this race two years ago and has finished top 20 in all seven races this season.
FANTASY: Set your lineup | Make a 36 for 36 pick
OTHER DRIVERS TO WATCH
TYLER REDDICK: Since the start of 2022, Reddick has been one of the best, if not the best, at Darlington. He has three top-three finishes, 275 laps led and an average running position of 6.8 at “The Track Too Tough to Tame.”
CHRIS BUESCHER: Buescher could’ve won this race last year if he hadn’t collided with Tyler Reddick, which led to a fiery discussion. Not only has Buescher started the last three Darlington races in the top 10, but he’s also recorded five top 10s in the last eight races there.
KYLE BUSCH: It was the fall race, but Rowdy had one of the best cars when he finished second to Chase Briscoe in the 2024 Southern 500. Busch hasn’t won at Darlington since the spring of 2008 but has recorded 15 top 10s over 26 Darlington starts. Plus, the track has a history of ending long winless streaks.
ROSS CHASTAIN: He nabbed a seventh-place finish last week and comes to the “Lady in Black” this week, where he’s had three top-five performances in 11 starts. Sunday will be a great opportunity for Chastain to string solid weekends together.
RACING INSIGHTS’ PROJECTIONS FOR THE GOODYEAR 400
Racing Insights’ advanced statistical formula includes current track, current track type, recent performance, team data and pit-crew data to arrive at a projected winner and full race results. Updated on race day with practice and qualifying factored in.
| Finish | Car Number | Driver |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24 | William Byron |
| 2 | 11 | Denny Hamlin |
| 3 | 5 | Kyle Larson |
| 4 | 45 | Tyler Reddick |
| 5 | 23 | Bubba Wallace |
| 6 | 9 | Chase Elliott |
| 7 | 20 | Christopher Bell |
| 8 | 12 | Ryan Blaney |
| 9 | 6 | Brad Keselowski |
| 10 | 17 | Chris Buescher |
| 11 | 8 | Kyle Busch |
| 12 | 60 | Ryan Preece |
| 13 | 19 | Chase Briscoe |
| 14 | 48 | Alex Bowman |
| 15 | 21 | Josh Berry |
| 16 | 22 | Joey Logano |
| 17 | 1 | Ross Chastain |
| 18 | 2 | Austin Cindric |
| 19 | 16 | AJ Allmendinger |
| 20 | 54 | Ty Gibbs |
| 21 | 77 | Carson Hocevar |
| 22 | 4 | Noah Gragson |
| 23 | 43 | Erik Jones |
| 24 | 3 | Austin Dillon |
| 25 | 71 | Michael McDowell |
| 26 | 7 | Justin Haley |
| 27 | 34 | Todd Gilliland |
| 28 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. |
| 29 | 41 | Cole Custer |
| 30 | 38 | Zane Smith |
| 31 | 99 | Daniel Suárez |
| 32 | 42 | John Hunter Nemechek |
| 33 | 10 | Ty Dillon |
| 34 | 88 | Shane van Gisbergen |
| 35 | 35 | Riley Herbst |
| 36 | 51 | Cody Ware |
| 37 | 44 | J.J. Yeley |
| 38 | 33 | Austin Hill |