Kyle Larson NASCAR crew chief predicts major Cup Series strategy shakeup

It is the big question where we still don’t fully know the answer - how will the new NASCAR Cup Series format impact strategy this season?

NASCAR gave the fans what they wanted (okay, not totally but at least part of the way there) when they ditched the hated playoff format which saw Joey Logano claim three titles in six seasons. Sorry, Joey.

Coming in to replace it was the Chase - a blast from the past which features a 10-race postseason format with no more ‘win and you’re in’ or three-race resets.

The defending champion of course is Kyle Larson, and the Hendrick Motorsports superstar’s crew chief Cliff Daniels joined Sirius XM Nascar Radio to talk strategy and how the new format may impact things moving forward.

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The road to the Chase - story so far

Daniels believes the early going has made little difference to the way teams are approaching things.

“The way the old points format was, the regular season really did have a big impact, because with stages paying playoff points more than just regular-season points, there was always that carrot to go get a stage win plus the points payout at the end of the regular season. Points that paid playoff points. Moving ahead, that was always the big deal to us.

“How I think, at least what I understand of the field and what I know is true to us, everyone is still chasing regular-season points, really the way we always have.”

So no signs of a big shakeup yet, but Daniels expects that to come, much closer to the end of the regular season and that postseason battle.

When will the strategy change?

“Now where I think we may see some differences show up is gonna be when we get closer to the Chase and we get into the Chase without the reset every three races and ‘win and you’re in’ and having that guarantee.

“I think that’s when some of the strategy may change just a little bit on how people approach getting through that 10-week stretch of the Chase. So we’ll see, we’ve got our eye on it.”

Ultimately, while strategy will play a major part as ever in the destination of the Cup Series championship, Daniels says his #5 crew will retain a very internal focus. Impacting what they can impact, every single day.

“Right now, our path to having a good Chase is gonna be how well did we develop through the year as a team, how did we improve on areas we were weak. Have a good showing in regular-season points and carry that into the Chase.”