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Enjoy!

Turn 4: If the Chase started today, Kyle Larson and Austin Dillon would be the last two drivers in the field. Which rookie has a better shot of making the Chase?

Hinton: Larson, but in a way it's a tossup. Larson is the better driver but Dillon has the better equipment and support. I've just got to go with Larson, though, because he's more capable of winning a race in the regular season -- and indeed, during the Chase itself. Want my Homestead dark horse already? He's it, although he probably won't arrive there in the Final Four. Ever since Chip Ganassi said he always seems to show up at the end of a race, I've paid attention -- and that's largely true.

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

James: Dillon has proved himself a productive points-racer, winning the 2011 truck series title with two victories and the Nationwide crown last season with none. Though it is increasingly likely multiple drivers will advance to the Chase by virtue of points standings, the new emphasis on winning seems to play against his strength. Granted, Dillon has seven victories in NASCAR's top three series and Larson has just one, in the Nationwide series this year, but Larson feels more likely to break through in Cup this season after finishing second at Fontana and fifth at Texas.

McGee: If you'd asked the question last year I would've said Dillon. He established consistency early. But it isn't last year, it's 2014 and this is win-and-you're-in the Chase, so I'll say Larson. I think both drivers have a chance to win a race before the season ends, but Larson is taking the Kasey Kahne go-or-blow route while Dillon is taking the more traditional see-you-in-the-second-half approach.

Oreovicz: I'll take Larson using the same logic I used to answer the Johnson vs. Kenseth question in Turn 2. Larson has just looked more likely to win a race this year, and that's even more impressive when you consider that he has much less NASCAR race experience than Dillon. Whereas Dillon had the benefit of multiple full, championship-level seasons in Trucks and Nationwide, Larson had fewer than 40 stock car starts under his belt before he was elevated into a Cup seat. The great news for NASCAR is that they both should have long careers in front of them, but already have the talent to win races as rookies.

Smith: Larson. Granted, Dillon has the horse to win Daytona in July so he's a player, too. I believe Larson will win a Cup race this year. He has one of the fastest cars every weekend, and he's among the top 5 more often than not. He's run 11 races. It looks like 11 years. I knew he was good. Anybody who listened to Gordon and Stewart gush over him the past couple of years knew. But I didn't know he'd be this good immediately. The transition to Cup was like LeBron's to the NBA. When you have superior God-given ability, and couple that with the desire to learn and continue to improve, it's special. 

 
I LEARNED ESP FROM MY MOM

"PUT YOUR SWEATER ON: DON'T YOU THINK I KNOW WHEN 
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Thanks for posting this. Those two always seem to be just a spot or two away from each other, be it in qualifying or at the checkers. Certainly has kept my interest in NASCAR this year.  Normally, at this time of year I'm semi-excited about Indy, but more so, counting the days until NFL training camps open at the end of July! Thanks again opnwhlr.

Posted By: opnwhlr on May 13 2014 at 03:59:41 PM Enjoy! Turn 4: If the Chase started today, Kyle Larson and Austin Dillon would be the last two drivers in the field. Which rookie has a better shot of making the Chase?     Hinton: Larson, but in a way it's a tossup. Larson is the better driver but Dillon has the better equipment and support. I've just got to go with Larson, though, because he's more capable of winning a race in the regular season -- and indeed, during the Chase itself. Want my Homestead dark horse already? He's it, although he probably won't arrive there in the Final Four. Ever since Chip Ganassi said he always seems to show up at the end of a race, I've paid attention -- and that's largely true.   Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images     James: Dillon has proved himself a productive points-racer, winning the 2011 truck series title with two victories and the Nationwide crown last season with none. Though it is increasingly likely multiple drivers will advance to the Chase by virtue of points standings, the new emphasis on winning seems to play against his strength. Granted, Dillon has seven victories in NASCAR's top three series and Larson has just one, in the Nationwide series this year, but Larson feels more likely to break through in Cup this season after finishing second at Fontana and fifth at Texas.   McGee: If you'd asked the question last year I would've said Dillon. He established consistency early. But it isn't last year, it's 2014 and this is win-and-you're-in the Chase, so I'll say Larson. I think both drivers have a chance to win a race before the season ends, but Larson is taking the Kasey Kahne go-or-blow route while Dillon is taking the more traditional see-you-in-the-second-half approach.   Oreovicz: I'll take Larson using the same logic I used to answer the Johnson vs. Kenseth question in Turn 2. Larson has just looked more likely to win a race this year, and that's even more impressive when you consider that he has much less NASCAR race experience than Dillon. Whereas Dillon had the benefit of multiple full, championship-level seasons in Trucks and Nationwide, Larson had fewer than 40 stock car starts under his belt before he was elevated into a Cup seat. The great news for NASCAR is that they both should have long careers in front of them, but already have the talent to win races as rookies.   Smith: Larson. Granted, Dillon has the horse to win Daytona in July so he's a player, too. I believe Larson will win a Cup race this year. He has one of the fastest cars every weekend, and he's among the top 5 more often than not. He's run 11 races. It looks like 11 years. I knew he was good. Anybody who listened to Gordon and Stewart gush over him the past couple of years knew. But I didn't know he'd be this good immediately. The transition to Cup was like LeBron's to the NBA. When you have superior God-given ability, and couple that with the desire to learn and continue to improve, it's special.

1.  James--Larson has won 2 events in the top 3 divisions--he won a truck race also over Joey Logano.

2.  McGee--Go or Blow?  He has 1 DNF, 5 top 10's, and 2 top 5's in 11 races and is currently in the Chase for the Cup.  How in the sam hell is that go or blow?

3.  Smith--everyone except for about 10 guys have the horse to win Daytona.  Danica could win Daytona.  How does Dillon have any better chance to win a restrictor plate race than anyone else in the top 35 in points?  The motors are..........RESTRICTED!

i hope these 3 didn't spend a lot of time writing this.  Very poorly researched.

Dillion has a better chance at a plate track becauase he drives for RCR....their advantage has been obvious during the last 10 years. 

Hasn't Larson beat Dillion every time except for the Daytona 500 when the silver spooner lost control and wrecked the 42? 

LARSON!

Lincoln 1845 ft/.35 mile T1=118MPH 
Eldora 2287 ft/.43mile T3=135MPH
Port 2716 ft/.51 mile T3=TBD
Grove 2792 ft/.53 mile T3=135MPH
Selinsgrove 2847 ft/.54 mile T1=136MPH
"I didn't move to PA from El Paso in search of better 
weather." Van May

Larson is still learning and improving. With Dillon what you see is what you get.

Man, that is spot-on in my opinion. I couldn't have said that any better. +1

Larson x 10

Perhaps the data I am getting off of the web is different than what you have.  ?   In the past 20 races at Daytona, (10 years) Childress racing has won 2 races and Ganassi has won 1 race.  I am at odds at the obvious advantage.  I always thought of plate tracks as complete wild cards with no real advantage other than possibly a driver putting a crafty move on someone to steal a win here and there.  (Gordon, Jr., Jimmie, Sr.?)

But:  Trevor Bayne?  Sterling Marlin?  (especially in the Kodak car)    Michael Waltrip?  Ward Burton?   John Andretti?   These are all guys that got there only wins, or majority of their wins at restrictor plate tracks.  Hardly drivers that challenged (with exception for Marlin for a year or two) to win any titles or be regular winners.   I am not saying Dillon won't be in the winner's circle at Daytona, but I would be hard pressed to give him any advantage over Larson.

It sure is a wildcard to win,  but RCR cars are ALWAYS strong on the plate tracks....always running up front if not finishing there.   Harvick and Bowyer gave RCR 3 trophies out of the last 9 in Dega.    

Actually,  I give RCR equipment the advantage over EGR equipment on all tracks.   Thankfully Chip has himself a better shoe 

where do the Ganassi cars come from? do they build them in house?

their motors come from Hendrick so i would think they are as good as anyone.

at one time i thought the Ganassi cars came from RCR but i may be wrong.

to indy and beyond!!

I'm just here for entertainment's sake... But wondering where all the people are that kept posting the NASCAR points when Dillon was still ahead? Those people sure went quiet

Real race cars don't have fenders...

true dat!

I'm not going to disagree with you that RCR has better equipment than Chip.  And, I know equipment means a lot at all of the tracks.  However, and you will get all drivers to agree with this, the equipment means the least at the restrictor plate tracks.  Almost (i said almost) no difference in cars there.