Ranking the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Drivers

The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season has reached 25% completion. Which drivers are off to a hot start? Which drivers need to make adjustments?

Race nine of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series occurred on Sunday, April 14th at Texas Motor Speedway. Only 17 races remain in the Regular Season as full-timers look for their spot in the ten-round, 16-seed Playoffs. Talladega Superspeedway’s GEICO 500 will kick off the second quarter on Sunday, April 21st.

The following list accounts for 35 drivers who have made all nine starts in 2024 (34 full-time, 1 part-time). Stage points, finishing position, average running position (A.R.P.), average finish, laps led, and observable driving prowess were all accounted for. No calculations or metrics were used to create a ranking. A reminder that this is a personal ranking and all lists are subjective.

With the first nine races of 2024 in the books, here are my first-quarter rankings for the NASCAR Cup Series drivers.

*Note – a parenthesis beside Stage Points indicates Playoff Points*

35) Harrison Burton

Standings: 34th | Stage Points: 7 | Laps Led: 7
Top Five’s: 0 | Top Ten’s: 0 | Best Finish: 11th

Things are not looking great for Harrison Burton. Despite being involved in three cautions all year, and although none resulted from self-error, the Wood Brothers Racing driver has only managed one finish inside the Top 25. His average finish of 29.3 and A.R.P. of 27.6 rank 34th and 35th, respectively. Being in his third season, things will need a drastic turnaround for Burton to retain his seat next season.

34) Daniel Hemric

Standings: 31st | Stage Points: 2 | Laps Led: 1
Top Five’s: 0 | Top Ten’s: 0 | Best Finish: 16th

Daniel Hemric returned to the NASCAR Cup Series for his first full-time season since 2019. Unfortunately, things in 2024 have not been off to a great start. He stands as one of two drivers without a Top 15 result with a best finish on a non-superspeedway coming in 19th at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Additionally, Hemric has been faced with more races at least one lap down than on the lead lap.

33) Zane Smith

Standings: 35th | Stage Points: 0 | Laps Led: 0
Top Five’s: 0 | Top Ten’s: 0 | Best Finish: 13th

Rookie Zane Smith has not had the success he was hoping for. The 2022 Truck Series Champion was signed on to a contract with Trackhouse Racing in a partnership and ride owned by Spire Motorsports. A rough start to the year it has been having a best finish of 13th in the season-opening Daytona 500. Despite a few glimpses of speed including last weekend’s race at Texas, Smith sits as the lowest driver of 35 drivers to have made all nine starts.

32) Kaz Grala

Standings: 33rd | Stage Points: 0 | Laps Led: 0
Top Five’s: 0 | Top Ten’s: 0 | Best Finish: 14th

Expectations exceeded? Expectations exceeded. Kaz Grala does not have a full-time ride this year, but he has found a seat for all races so far. Fans took notice with his sneakily-impressive performance at Bristol Motor Speedway where…