Alex Bowman pilots his nighttime version of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet for the Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway. (Photo: Trish McCormack | The Podium Finish)
LEBANON, Tenn. – For the past three seasons, the 1.333-mile Nashville Superspeedway has greeted the NASCAR Cup Series for the start of the push for the Playoffs. In many ways, it is the unofficial kickoff to the second half of the year with 10 regular season races remaining before the postseason hunt.
Indeed, the winner enjoys a Gibson guitar to be the next country rock star or Conan O’Brien during the 2008 writer’s strike. Whatever the cause, it is sweet music to emerge victorious after the 300-lap race at this venue just over 36 miles to the southeast of Nashville.
Although Nashville’s corners are banked at just 14 degrees, the frontstretch has a nine degree banking while the backstretch has a six degree banking. Altogether, it is one of the more grueling tracks with its sweeping corners and the intense heat and humidity prevalent in Southeast Tennessee in late June.
Regardless, it is site of Round 16 of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season. The early laps of a race at Nashville can be tricky considering how slick the corner exits may be on somewhat colder tires.
At any rate, contenders must be ready for changing track conditions considering the green flag unfurling around 7:22 p.m. ET. With sunset around 9:06 p.m. ET, nightfall likely sets in just before the end of Stage 2.
Drivers must communicate effectively and accurately about their car’s handling to their crew chiefs even if their machines feel like they are running on rails. Missing these key, changing variables can result in a miserable Sunday night in The Volunteer State.
Last year, Chase Elliott strummed his way to his second win of the season and Hendrick Motorsports’ second Cup victory at Nashville. A victory is exactly what Elliott needs if he intends to be in this season’s Playoffs field although Kyle Larson, Ross Chastain, Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr. and William Byron may have something to say about that before the night is through.
Once the NASCAR official unfurls the green flag on race day, it is anyone’s guess as to who will prevail in this year’s Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway. For the time being, come along for the ride this and each race weekend with Podium Preview.
This weekend, Kobe Lambeth, Luis Torres, Matt Sisoler, and yours truly contemplate about Josh Berry’s move to Stewart-Haas Racing in 2024, a driver and team ready for the final 20 races of the NASCAR Cup Series season and our race picks for Nashville Superspeedway!
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Question 1
Josh Berry focuses on fighting for a NASCAR XFINTY Series championship before taking over the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing entry in 2024. (Photo: Eric Parks | The Podium Finish)
What can we expect from Josh Berry going into the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season as he takes over the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing entry driven by Kevin Harvick for the past 10 seasons?
Sisoler : I think we’ve got a good chance to see something special out of Josh Berry. In limited fill-in starts as a super-sub this year for Hendrick, he’s put together some really solid outings, including finishing in second place at Richmond. While that is a short track and Berry does come from a short track background, to finish second in what I believe was only his sixth Cup Series start, and fourth in front-line equipment, is nothing short of impressive, so I think once he gels with SHR and Rodney Childers, he will be a consistent playoff threat.
Torres : Josh Berry is a rare breed in racing these days because he has earned his shot in a quality ride in the Cup Series. It’s been since 2013 we’ve seen a Cup rookie over the age of 30 in 2024. I don’t see it as a disadvantage, but he’ll definitely see some growing pains as SHR aren’t anywhere near the sport’s elite like Kevin Harvick was able to do since 2014.
In fact, the No. 4 team isn’t on par like they were in 2020 when they were dominating the series. But with Berry joining, I don’t see the performances dip to where Aric Almirola and Chase Briscoe are. He’ll make the Playoffs and get a win. I’d say if he accomplishes those two goals, it’s a success.
Question 2
Kyle Larson hopes to be more consistent about the highs than lows in the final 20 races of 2023. (Photo: Eric Parks | The Podium Finish)
Which driver and team seems most up to the task for changing track conditions for Sunday night’s Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway?
Lambeth : If any driver and team can take on the challenge of keeping up with changing track conditions, it’s the No. 5 team and Kyle Larson. On multiple occasions in the past, we’ve seen Larson and crew chief Cliff Daniels continue working on the car throughout the night to unlock the sweet spot on the No. 5 Chevrolet. The team’s win in the 2021 Coca-Cola 600 immediately comes to mind.
During the early portions of the race, Larson struggled with his car and it was really off. Larson felt dejected on the radio, but Daniels made the right adjustments and improved the car after each pit stop. Eventually, the No. 5 Chevrolet got up to the front and never looked back. Larson already has a win in the Music City and it wouldn’t be surprising to see this team in Victory Lane again.
Tiongson : I will concur with Kobe about this. Kyle Larson and Cliff Daniels are the best with adjusting their car if the handling is off in the opening moments of a race. While the result in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte this year wasn’t the best, Daniels and the No. 5 team adjusted the car to bring Larson back into contention in Stages 3 and 4.
This hard work paid off at Gateway when Larson was all the way down in 32nd in the opening run. He went from the caboose to nearly leading the pack in the closing laps against Kyle Busch. Of course, it is hard to sustain that level of precision and ingenuity when facing adversity on a consistent basis. Still, Larson and the No. 5 team know how to make it happen and I look for this bunch to stop their topsy turvy ways starting at Nashville.
Those were two competitive laps around Nashville Superspeedway, bringing us closer to playing our virtual guitar! Now, let us rewind to two weeks ago with the race and points reports from Round 16 of 36 of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season, the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway!
It was a decent day for the panelists.
On the other hand, Sisoler’s lead has shrunk to mere whiskers over Lambeth.
Next, here is a look at the top 10 starters for Sunday night’s Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway!
Row 1 – Ross Chastain and Tyler Reddick
Row 2 – Justin Haley and Joey Logano
Row 3 – William Byron and Martin Truex Jr.
Row 4 – Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin
Row 5 – Bubba Wallace and Daniel Suárez
Lastly, here are our picks to win Sunday night’s Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway!
It is a battle between two of Chevrolet’s most tenacious Cup racers. (Photo: Trish McCormack | The Podium Finish)
Lambeth : After being quiet for the last month, I think it’s time for Ross Chastain to rise again and contend for wins. With Nashville being a home race for Trackhouse, expect Chastain to give it his all en route to Victory Lane in the Music City!
Sisoler : The Melon Man put his No. 1 Chevrolet in the No. 1 starting position for tonight’s Ally 400, and I think he has a good shot to keep that Camaro up front. Ross Chastain’s gonna break another melon, and the other drivers’ hearts, at the end of the night.
Torres : Ross Chastain has a lot to lose in Nashville. He brought the team its maiden pole and has had a solid season, points wise.
However, if he really wants to be penciled in as NASCAR’s second coming of Dale Earnhardt (which he isn’t), a win is paramount. With all the buzz around Chastain, he’s yet to win a race in 2023 and must capitalize with a statement win in Nashville in what truly is the organization’s home race.
Tiongson : If Kyle Larson and Cliff Daniels can get the handling right with the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and don’t need to make huge swings with it, I look for the 2021 Ally 400 race winners to win again at Nashville on Sunday night.
We’re ready for some racing. How about you? What do you think are the biggest storylines heading into the race? Who are your favorites to win? Tweet us now @ThePodiumFinish and tell us now!
Thanks as always to the TPF team for their amazing efforts this week as we celebrate our 15th anniversary of operations!
The opinions and thoughts expressed in Podium Preview are solely of the authors. They do not reflect any organizations affiliated with the participants and author outside of TPF. This weekly feature is strictly for entertainment purposes. Ultimately, they are not indicative of TPF, the organization and its staff.
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