Top-5 NASCAR performances halfway through the 2023 season
We are 20 races away from deciding the NASCAR Cup Series champion. With it being the off week, let’s talk about the best performances, so far. Through the first half of the Cup schedule, there have been some performances that were top-tier. From short tracks to the road course, we’ve seen some strong races all over the place.
Through the first 16 points-paying races and the All-Star race, we have had ten different drivers in Victory Lane. Looking back on the season, there were a number of races that could go on this list. However, we’ve narrowed it down to the top-5 performances of the season.
Now “best performance” is kind of subjective. However, based on the dominance of the win, overcoming adversity during the race, the significance of the win, and good old-fashioned gut feeling.
Top-5 NASCAR performances of the year (so far)
William Byron dominates out west
Now this one is a bit of a cheat. I’m lumping in both Las Vegas and Phoenix into this one. William Byron didn’t just lead a ton of laps. He didn’t just win both of these races. Byron had to go out and take down his teammate and 2021 Cup Series champion, Kyle Larson, to do it.
These two races set the tone for the rest of the Cup Series when it came to short tracks.
Kyle Larson runs away with All-Star win
Now, I wasn’t going to leave Kyle Larson out of this list. He has two points-paying wins at Richmond and Martinsville. However, there was only one race where Larson gave everyone an “old-fashioned ass whooping.”
If it wasn’t for a pit road speeding penalty, Larson likely would have lapped the field at North Wilkesboro.
Denny Hamlin gets it done at Kansas
This race is on here because of the amazing finish we got out of it. This was a race, like the other three on the list so far, that Larson had a chance to win. Denny Hamlin had a fast Toyota that was bound to make it to the front in this race.
When he got up next to Larson, he side-drafted him and delivered the most thrilling finish of the season so far.
Kyle Busch wins from the pole at Gateway
This win is still fresh in the minds of NASCAR fans. Kyle Busch was excellent in St. Louis. When he won the pole in his No. 8 3CHI Chevy, it felt like he’d have a big week. Then, he went on to lead the most laps and finish it off with the checkered flag. Even five late restarts couldn’t shake Rowdy in this one.
No one was going to take this one from Busch.
Tyler Reddick wheels and deals at COTA
When the NASCAR Cup Series went to COTA for some road course action, no one knew what to expect. This was the race that Ross Chastain won in 2022. However, it was a Tyler Reddick clinic in Austin this year. While others tried, the 45 drove deep into the corners and found what worked best.
So, he was the one doing burnouts in Victory Lane afterward.
When the Cup Series returns next week at Nashville, will we get another memorable performance?