Last year\u2019s two-week break for the 2024 Summer Olympics proved to be a blessing in disguise for several NASCAR drivers, Kyle Busch among them. Busch, who had been struggling to find form, came back from the hiatus swinging, notching three top-5 and two top-2 finishes in the final four regular-season races. But with this year\u2019s lone off week falling way back in April during Easter, the grind could be hitting differently. Yet, according to Joey Logano, the playoffs keep the competitive fire lit and the fatigue at bay.<\/p>\n
Like Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell, Logano believes the playoff chase keeps drivers sharp when the season starts to wear them down. Larson believes that staying in the playoff hunt and fighting for a championship helps drivers keep their minds off the grind, no matter how long the season drags on without a break.<\/p>\n
He suggested that those who missed the playoffs or bowed out early are likely just counting the days until the checkered flag drops on the season. But for drivers like him, still knee-deep in the title chase, there\u2019s no sense of wanting it to end. Even so, Larson admitted<\/a>, \u201cBut yeah, it\u2019s definitely a long year\u2026 it always is.\u201d<\/p>\n Bell echoed Larson\u2019s sentiment, admitting that without the Playoffs and the intensity of chasing a championship, the grind would wear him down too. But with the title on the line, he believes every contender is more focused and running on pure strength. The burnout, he conceded, might hit once the final checkered flag drops, but for now, as Bell put it, they\u2019re \u201call in.\u201d<\/p>\n