Toyota enters the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series championship as the betting favorite, and the manufacturer's drivers know it. Bubba Wallace laid it out plainly: "I think it's Toyota's championship to lose. Based on how many races we've won, it would be a shame if we didn't seal the deal."
The numbers back Wallace up. Toyota has accumulated enough wins this season to justify the favorite's label. But here's the thing that separates this story from typical preseason hype: Wallace and his teammates aren't buckling under the weight of expectation. They're treating their success as evidence rather than pressure. Wallace framed it as a matter of finishing what they started, not as a burden hanging over their heads.
That confidence matters in a long playoff grind. Teams that let favorite status become a psychological anchor tend to tighten up when it counts. Toyota's driver roster appears to understand the simple math instead: more wins already, better equipment, better odds. Execute down the stretch and the trophy follows.
The real test comes in the playoffs. Toyota has the machinery. Now it needs its drivers to keep that same edge when championships get decided.