2024
The DRIVERS...
...THAT MAKE or "BREAK" our TEAM!
hey gang,
This page represents the last of the 2024 NGFL STATistics.
We had just 28 players again this season. At the start of the year, I was thinking that we all had a chance to score a win. It just doesn't happen that way.
So how was your season? Good, bad? Better or worse than you expected? Did you improve over the season before?
We did reach a huge milestone this season!! 1020 total wins in the league! Who would have guessed back in 1997 that we would still be going? I thank all of you for that!!
This year. Iowa was the new track for the 2024 season. We raced at the famous Indianapolis again, and not the Road Course there. We are up to 5 road races from our Sonoma and Watkins Glen days. I think the racing has gotten so much better! Side by side racing. Some races were 3 or 4 and sometimes a 5 wide battle.
No more Stewart Haas Racing but fortunately I have read all 4 drivers found a Cup ride.
Things got a little crazy with the penalties. First, we had Austin Dillon with his no holds barred win at Richmond2. And I will never forget the fiasco that was Denny Hamlin's crew reporting an engine change MONTHS later. That was the biggest penalty of the season.
We now have a new sports commentator. We have a different TV package for next season. We had a lot of races reach NASCAR history for one reason or another. Wrecks and darkness besides the weather. We even had an oval race run on wet tires.
I did take a lot of notes throughout the year and can only hope I remembered to update them all. I am hoping that everyone found their name somewhere other than just on the lists. I hope you found the notes interesting. Sometimes I think I go a bit crazy.
I do want to mention how much I appreciate all the kind words many of you passed along this season in your emails throughout the season. Always can use an uplifting comment. You keep me going which means you keep the NGFL going.
You are all my best fans!! I do want to mention how many players sent me a text, email or phone call to congratulate me on my championship. I love Nascar and I love NASCAR fans. But at the top, is my NGFL players. We are all competitors, but it didn't stop so many people from making me feel welcomed in my championship.
I hope that I will see you all in the lineup next season. And if you know someone who might be interested, please have them email me. I am in the setup mode for 2025 :) I can handle a few more players for sure.
To end the 2024 NGFL season, here are the drivers' stats and how
they affected our teams, results and standings.
Starting out with the price list....
| drivers | Daytona1 | Phoenix2 | difference |
| #48 Alex Bowman | $2.5 | $5.4 | $2.9 |
| #14 Chase Briscoe | $1.3 | $3.7 | $2.4 |
| #77 Carson Hocevar | $0.7 | $3.1 | $2.4 |
| #22 Joey Logano | $5.0 | $6.9 | $1.9 |
| #38 Todd Gilliland | $1.4 | $2.9 | $1.5 |
| #45 Tyler Reddick | $5.3 | $6.8 | $1.5 |
| #9 Chase Elliott | $4.5 | $5.9 | $1.4 |
| #71 Zane Smith | $0.1 | $1.2 | $1.1 |
| #23 Bubba Wallace | $4.2 | $5.0 | $0.8 |
| #2 Austin Cindric | $2.7 | $3.4 | $0.7 |
| #54 Ty Gibbs | $3.8 | $4.3 | $0.5 |
| #3 Austin Dillon | $1.2 | $1.6 | $0.4 |
| #41 Ryan Preece | $2.0 | $2.4 | $0.4 |
| #15 Kaz Grala | $0.1 | $0.3 | $0.2 |
| #51 Justin Haley | $0.9 | $0.9 | $0.0 |
| #12 Ryan Blaney | $7.0 | $7.0 | $0.0 |
| #24 William Byron | $6.8 | $6.7 | ($0.1) |
| #17 Chris Buescher | $5.1 | $4.9 | ($0.2) |
| #99 Daniel Suarez | $4.0 | $3.8 | ($0.2) |
| #34 Michael McDowell | $3.4 | $3.0 | ($0.4) |
| #10 Noah Gragson | $3.0 | $2.6 | ($0.4) |
| #20 Christopher Bell | $6.5 | $6.1 | ($0.4) |
| #11 Denny Hamlin | $6.2 | $5.7 | ($0.5) |
| #5 Kyle Larson | $6.9 | $6.4 | ($0.5) |
| #43 Erik Jones | $1.7 | $1.1 | ($0.6) |
| #21 Harrison Burton | $1.0 | $0.4 | ($0.6) |
| #42 John H. Nemechek | $1.1 | $0.5 | ($0.6) |
| #6 Brad Keselowski | $5.7 | $5.1 | ($0.6) |
| #47 Ricky Stenhouse | $3.4 | $2.5 | ($0.9) |
| #1 Ross Chastain | $5.5 | $4.6 | ($0.9) |
| #8 Kyle Busch | $4.9 | $4.0 | ($0.9) |
| #31 Daniel Hemric | $2.1 | $1.1 | ($1.0) |
| #84 Jimmie Johnson | $3.1 | $2.0 | ($1.1) |
| #7 Corie Lajoie | $2.0 | $0.8 | ($1.2) |
| #19 Martin Truex | $6.0 | $4.8 | ($1.2) |
| #4 Josh Berry | $4.7 | $1.9 | ($2.8) |
Of course there are notes for the DRIVERS too!
1. Alex Bowman is the most improved driver for 2024, running the full time schedule.
Daytona1 - $2.5 - Phoenix2 $5.4
(2023 - Brad Keselowski) (2022 - Daniel Suarez) (2021 - Kyle Larson) (2020 - Tyler Reddick)
(2019 - William Byron) (2018 - Joey Logano) (2017 - Erik Jones) (2016 - Chase Elliott)
(2015 - Martin Truex) (2014 - Denny Hamlin) (2013 - Kurt Busch) (2012 - Martin Truex)
(2011 - Brad Keselowski)
2. There were 14 drivers who cost more in Phoenix2 then when the season started in the Daytona 500.
(2023 - 14) (2022 - 22) (2021 - 10) (2020 - 15) (2019 - 15) (2018 - 10) (2017 - 13) (2016 - 8)
(2015 - 8) (2014 - 11) (2013 - 15) (2012 - 18) (2011 - 18) (2010 - 19) (2009 - 16)
3. Two driver's price was the same in the opener as it was in the finale. Ryan Blaney, Justin Haley
4. Biggest dropper in 2024 is Martin Truex.
2023 Chase Briscoe 2022 Brad Keselowski (but the best driver in 2023)
2021 Aric Almirola 2020 Kyle Busch 2019 Clint Bowyer 2018 Jamie McMurray
5. 7 of the 16 Chase drivers dropped in price from the Daytona 500.
(2023 - 4) (2022 - 4) (2021 - 9) (2020 - 6) (2019 - 8)
Martin Truex, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, Daniel Suarez, William Byron
6. There was ONE driver who earned his first career CUP win in 2024. Harrison Burton - Daytona2.
7. Brad Keselowski earned the most points from the farthest finishing position. (8th at Daytona2)
8. Twice 2 drivers earned most points in a race. (Indianapolis - Larson, Blaney - 49 pts) (Charlotte RC - Larson, Elliott - 48 pts)
9. All total, in 12 of 36 races, the winner did not earn the most points.
PENALTIES , points or position.
| R# | Race | driver | points | pos | Stage | players | ||
| 1 | 2 | Atlanta1 | Gragson | 35 | ||||
| 2 | 2 | Atlanta1 | Preece | 35 | 4 | |||
| 3 | 6 | COTA | Haley | 19 | 22 | 2 | ||
| 4 | 19 | Nashville | Hocevar | 25 | 5 | |||
| 5 | 23 | Richmond2 | A Dillon | 25 | 22 | |||
| 6 | 5 | Bristol1 | Hamlin | 75 | 12 | |||
| 7 | 32 | Charlotte Roval | Bowman | 29 | 20 | 10 | 2 | |
| 8 | 35 | Martinsville2 | Bell | 4 | 4 | |||
| 9 | 35 | Martinsville2 | A Dillon | 50 | 10 | |||
| 10 | 35 | Martinsville2 | Chastain | 50 | 1 | |||
| 11 | 35 | Martinsville2 | Wallace | 50 | 1 | |||
| Total | 397 | 46 | 10 | 59 |
Of course notes on Penalities...
1. Biggest point penalty...Denny Hamlin - 75 points. he was on 12 teams.
2. Biggest position penalty...Justin Haley - 22 positions. he was on 2 teams.
3. The race where the penalty driver was picked the most...Richmond2. Austin Dillon was on 22 teams.
4. The race with the most penalties...Martinsville2 4 drivers each received a penalty.
5. Penalties this season affected 59 scores. (2023 - 62 scores) (2022, 57 scores)
6. Austin Dillon was penalized twice this season. 25 points in Richmond2. 50 points in Martinsville2 (affected 32 scores)
DRIVER PICKED MOST ON A WINNING TEAM....
1. #22 Joey Logano - 17 winning teams.
2. #8 Kyle Busch - 14 winning teams.
3. #Christopher Bell - 12 winning teams.
4. #22 Joey Logano was 1st this season to be picked on 2 winning teams.
5. #Joey Logano was the first driver to be on 5, 10 & more than 15 teams.
NGFL Teams with the winner of the race on their team.......... 23
NGFL Teams without the winner on their team.....................13
CUP TEAMS not on a winning NGFL team - ALL were picked at least once, that ran the full schedule.
9. Kyle Larson won 6X. He was on 4 winning teams. (Las Vegas1,Kansas1, Sonoma, Bristol2)
10. Joey Logano won 4X. He was on 3 out of 4 winning teams. (Nashville, Atlanta2, Phoenix2)
11. Ryan Blaney won 3X and was NOT on any of the winning teams. (Charlotte1, Talladega2, Martinmsville2)
12. There were 5 drivers to win one race and was not on the winning team...
Daniel Suarez, Ricky Stenhouse, Harrison Burton, Chris Buescher, Ross Chastain
13. There were 6 drivers to win one race and on the winning team...
Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski, Austin Cindric, Alex Bowman, Austin Dillon, Chase Briscoe
Who cost us $7.0 million on the price list?
#12 Ryan Blaney - Daytona1 - defending NASCAR champion
#24 William Byron - Atlanta1, Las Vegas1 - 2 races
#5 Kyle Larson - Phoenix1 - 1 race
#12 Ryan Blaney - Bristol1 - 1 race
#5 Kyle Larson - COTA - 1 race
#19 Martin Truex - Richmond1, Martinsville1 - 2 races
#5 Kyle Larson - Texas, Talladega1, Dover, Kansas1, Darlington1 - 5 races
#5 Justin Allgaier - Charlotte (Kyle Larson was "delayed" in Indianapolis) - 1 race
#11 Denny Hamlin - WWTR, Sonoma - 2 races
#5 Kyle Larson - Iowa - 1 race
#9 Chase Elliott - Loudon, Nashville - 2 races
#5 Kyle Larson - Chicago S, Pocono - 2 races
#9 Chase Elliott - Indianapolis - 1 race
#5 Kyle Larson - Richmond2, Michigan - 2 races
#45 Tyler Reddick - Daytona2, Darlington2 - 2 races
#5 Kyle Larson - Atlanta2 - 1 race
#12 Ryan Blaney - Watkins Glen - 1 race
#20 Christopher Bell - Bristol2 - 1 race
#5 Kyle Larson - Kansas2 - 1 race
#24 William Byron - Talladega2, Charlotte RC 2 races
#5 Kyle Larson - Las Vegas2 - 1 race
#20 Christopher Bell - Homestead, Martinsville2 - 2 races
#12 Ryan Blaney - Phoenix2 - 1 race
1. Longest streak for a driver to cost us $7.0 consecutively - Kyle Larson - 5 races.
2. This is the 5th time 8 drivers led the field. The most since 2010.
Ryan Blaney - 4 races. William Byron - 4 races. Kyle Larson - 15 races. Martin Truex - 2 races.
Denny Hamlin - 2 races. Chase Elliott led 3 races. Tyler Reddick - 2 races. Christopher Bell - 3 races.
(At Charlotte1, Kyle Larson was actually the $7.0 driver. Justin Allgaier was the substitute driver)
(2023 - 8) (2022 - 5) (2021 - 3) (2020 - 6) (2019 - 4) (2018 - 4) (2017 - 5) (2016 - 8)
(2015 - 6) (2014 - 8) (2013 - 4) (2012 - 8) (2011 - 6) (2010 - 3)
3. Kyle Larson cost us $7.0 million the most. 16 of 36 races
4. We had 21 leader changes this season.
(2023 - 20) (2022 - 12) (2021 - 4) (2020 - 7) (2019 - 15) (2018 - 10) (2017 - 7)
(2016 - 15) (2015 - 6) (2014 - 15) (2013 - 7) (2012 - 14) (2011 -17) (2010 - 7)
5. Chevrolet won 15 races. Ford won 12 races. Toyota won 9 races.
Chevy - William Byron - 3 Daniel Suarez - 1 Kyle Larson - 6 Chase Elliott - 1
Alex Bowman - 1 Austin Dillon - 1 Ross Chastain - 1 Ricky Stenhouse - 1
Ford - Brad Keselowski - 1 Austin Cindric - 1 Ryan Blaney - 3 Joey Logano - 4
Harrison Buron - 1 Chase Briscoe - 1 Chris Buescher - 1
Toyota - Christopher Bell - 3 Denny Hamlin - 3 Tyler Reddick - 3
6. Drivers who won in 2023 and didn't win in 2024. ( 4 )
#8 Kyle Busch, #16 AJ Allmendinger, #19 Martin Truex, #34 Michael McDowell
7. NO drivers won 2 races in a row!
8. 4th consecutive season that at least 15 drivers won a race. (There were 18 this year.)
9. Noah Gragson, Brad Keselowski, Zane Smith were biggest movers the most. ( 3X )
10. Kyle Larson & Michael McDowell were the biggest droppers the most this season. ( 4X )
11. Zane Smith was the best "under $1.0" the most. (11X) Justin Haley was 2nd. ( 5X )
12. Ryan Blaney was worst over $5.0 the most. (5X)
Ty Gibbs, William Byron, Christopher Bell, Alex Bowman were next. ( 3X )
13. There was 1 race with more than one Biggest Mover. Michigan (Harrison Burton, Zane Smith)
14. There were 2 races with more than one Biggest Dropper.
Richmond1 - Corie Lajoie, Todd Gilliland Darlington2 - Carson Hocevar, Martin Truex
15. There was 1 race that had more than one best under $1.0 driver. Bristol1 - Josh Berry, Ryan Preece
STAGE POINTS
1. There is a total of 4015 stage points.
Toyota earned 1378 points. Chevy earned 1365 points. Fords earned 1209 points. 0 Drivers earned 63 points.
2. Kyle Larson earned most stage points of Chevys. 312 points. (He didn't earn stage points in 9 races.)
Ryan Blaney earned most stage points for Fords. 289 points. (He didn't earn stage points in 9 races.)
Denny Hamlin earned most stage points for Toyotas. 283 points. (He didn't earn stage points in 9 races.)
3. Of the drivers listed as "0" but received stage points...Shane Van Gisbergen received the most. 31 points
4. Of the drivers who ran full time in 2024, Zane Smith did NOT earn stage points.
2nd and 3rd earners
Chevy...........William Byron 264 points Chase Elliott 236 points.
Toyota..........Christopher Bell 267 points Martin Truex 242 points.
Ford............Joey Logano 193 points Brad Keselowski 164 points.
0 pointers......AJ Allmendinger 22 points Joey Hand 10 points.
5. There were 3 drivers who missed just one race in the final 10 in getting stage points.
Christopher Bell (Talladega2) Brad Keselowski (ChicagoSC), Kyle Larson (Martinmsville2)
6. Martin Truex & Tyler Reddick received stage points in 8 consecutive races. Best of all drivers.
7. Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney received stage points in 7 consecutive races. 2nd & 3rd best of all drivers.
8. Chase Elliott, William Byron, Christopher Bell received stage points in 6 consecutive races. 4th best of all drivers.
9. Alex Bowman, Ross Chastain, Brad Keselowski, Bubba Wallace received stage points in 5 consecutive races.
That rounds out the top 5 best stage point earners.
More NOTES of course.
1. 28 drivers lead a race this season. Only 2011 had more leaders. (32 drivers)
2. Green flag passes - 23,027 in 2024 21, 245 in 2023
3. Daniel Suarez beat Ryan Blaney at Atlanta1 by 0.003 seconds (3rd closest in history)
(Kyle Busch finished 3rd 0.007 seconds back making this finish the closest in history among 3 cars.)
4. William Byron went 60 consecutive races without a speeding penalty.
5. Kyle Larson is the 4th consecutive driver for Hendrick to lead the most laps in a season.
6. SVG and Joey Hand won both stages in Chicago SC. First time a Cup regular didn't win a stage in a race.
7. In Chicago SC, Alex Bowman only driver to earn stage points in both stages.
8. Zane Smith has only run Daytona 3X and finished in 13th all 3 times.
9. Carson Hocevar's team recorded the fastest 4 tire pitstop in NACAR history. 8.29 seconds at Homestead.
10. In 2023, Shane Van Gisbergen won the Chicago Street race but finished DL in 2024. Top to Bottom.
11. Kyle Larson attempted to do the Memorial Day double. Rain in Indianapolis prevented him from making it to Charlotte.
12. Kyle Busch lost his bid to extend his win streak to 20 consecutive seasons. Joey Logano is now 1st with 13.
TRACK STUFF
1. Average number of lead changes this season was 37.7. (Only 2011 had a better average - 41.0.)
2. Bristol1 seen the most lead changes for a short track in NASCAR history. 54 leader changes.
3. Talladega had 70 lead changes. The most of any race this season. Actually, the most of any race since 2011!
4. In Kansas1, Kyle Larson beats Chris Buescher in a close finish. 0.001 seconds.
5. Atlanta1 saw the closest finish in history amongst 3 drivers. Daniel Suarez, Ryan Blaney, Kyle Busch. 0.003 seconds.
6. In Talladega2, Ricky Stenhouse, Brad Keselowski, William Byron had a close finish. 0.006 seconds.
7. Loudon was first oval race to run after a 2-hour 14-minute rain delay using wet tires.
8. Talladega2 was the scene of the biggest wreck in NASCAR history. 28 cars wrecked on lap 184.
9. Qualifying was rained out at 4 tracks. Loudon, Michigan
10. There were two races this season that were postponed to the following day. Daytona1, Michigan.
11. There were 4 races that were delayed by rain. Loudon, Nashville, Chicago SC, Michigan.
12. There was one race that was shortened on account of rain. Charlotte1
13. There was one race that was shortened due to darkness. Chicago SC
14. Nashville & Texas had the most cautions - 15.
15. Texas tied the record for most cautions on a 1.5 mile track.
16. COTA had the least cautions. 2 (Stage yellows)
17. Talladega1 had the most leaders (24) and Talladega2 was 2nd. (23)
18. Bristol1 & Charlotte RC had the least number of drivers lead the race. just 4
19. Charlotte1 had the most drivers finish on the lead lap with 35. Followed by Chicago SC & COTA with 34.
20. Bristol1 had the least drivers finish on the lead lap with 5. Followed by Bristol2 with 10.
I hope you enjoyed the stats for 2024.
And hope to see you next season for the 2025 NGFL season.
And that will be it!