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NASCAR: 5 Predictions For The Monster Energy Cup Series Kobalt 400

By Michael Guadalupe

Mar 6, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers make their way around the track during the Kobalt 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 6, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers make their way around the track during the Kobalt 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /
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A changing of the guard is happening and younger drivers are starting to take over NASCAR. Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
A changing of the guard is happening and younger drivers are starting to take over NASCAR. Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /

Young Drivers Continue to Impress

Regardless of how confusing the points system is right now, or that veteran drivers have won the first two races of the season, the younger drivers in NASCAR have improved and impressed right from the start of 2017.

Two specifically, Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson, are keeping up with the veteran drivers at NASCAR’s premiere level.

Elliott won the pole for the Daytona 500 and had a real chance at winning the race until he ran out of gas. He went on to Atlanta and finished the race in the Top 5, and is currently fourth in the standings.

Elliott is taking advantage of the new points system and it’s only a matter of time before he earns his first win.

Kyle Larson has also run well early this season, and like Chase Elliott had a chance to win the Daytona 500 before running out of gas. He also had a chance to win at Atlanta, but decided to run high instead of the low line on the track and ended up finishing second place to Brad Keselowski.

Larson won his first race of NASCAR’s premiere series last year but he is another young driver who could easily end up in Victory Lane in 2017.

But these two aren’t the only young drivers who have run well and are sitting high in the standings. Ryan Blaney and Trevor Bayne  are in the top 10 of the standings.

Newcomers Erik Jones and Daniel Suarez have not been running as well as some of these other drivers but are both ahead of seven time champion Jimmie Johnson in the standings after the first two races of the season.

As more veteran drivers retire, younger drivers are stepping up and taking their place. Expect the youth movement to continue this Sunday at Las Vegas as the younger drivers continue to run well and look to make a name for themselves in NASCAR.

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