Despite Ford’s woes throughout most of the 2023 season, Joey Logano managed to get a win, and top-10s in roughly half the races. He was eliminated early in the playoffs, but he’s the type of driver who can always compete for a title, so expect him back in the hunt in 2024 along with Blaney.
Regarding Austin Cindric, I’m not sure what to say other than his year in the 2 car was pretty dreadful. He has lots of talent, which we saw on display during his dominating time in Xfinity cars, but the Cup car has not been kind to him lately. He has to make improvements and step up his game in 2024.
Hendrick Motorsports
Results: Kyle Larson (2nd in points); William Byron (3rd in points); Chase Elliott (17th in points); Alex Bowman (20th in points)
Grade: B+
Team Hendrick is all about winning. It’s kind of what they do, going back to Geoff and Jeff and Jimmie, etc. And it’s kind of what they did in 2023, taking home 10 checkered flags between Kyle Larson and William Byron — their two Final Four drivers.
Then there is the flip side. Both Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman missed races this season due to injuries suffered away from NASCAR, and neither one took a victory or made the playoffs. And the two Final Four drivers were outdueled by Blaney at Phoenix, despite Ford not being as strong this season as Chevy has been.
Looking ahead to 2024, all drivers will return to Hendrick, and no one is in danger of losing their seat. But Elliott and Bowman both seem to be stuck in neutral and need to get charged up for better runs in 2024. Otherwise they’ll be looked on as the disappointing half of the Hendrick lineup, and fans (and Mr. H) will wonder why they aren’t measuring up yet again.
23X1 Racing
Results: Tyler Reddick (6th in points); Bubba Wallace (10th in points)
Grade: B+
23XI Racing — owned by a couple guys named Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin — went into the 2023 season with the goal of both teams making the playoffs, and that’s what they did.
Tyler Reddick arrived via a pair of victories, and Bubba Wallace pointed his way in after flirting with victory on several occasions. The team, which is heavily allied with Joe Gibbs Racing, delivered fast cars week after week, and both drivers were consistently strong in qualifying. This relatively new team at the Cup level firmly established itself as one the competition needs to watch out for each weekend.
The key for 2024 will be translating those strong starting positions into more victories and stacking up playoff points that will help them advance into the Final Four.
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