Kyffin Simpson Aims to Build on Nashville Success and Secure a Top‑10 Championship Finish

Kyffin Simpson is heading back to a familiar comfort zone this weekend, with eyes firmly set on a late-season surge.

The 21-year-old Caymanian driver returns to Nashville Superspeedway — the site of a stellar fourth-place finish last year — aiming to replicate that performance and elevate the #8 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda into contention for a top‑10 spot in the championship.

Currently 15th in the championship standings, Simpson has demonstrated strong pace throughout the season, highlighted by a season‑best fourth-place finish at Road America last month. Returning to Nashville instills particular confidence in the young driver.

Last year’s race on the 1.33‑mile concrete oval represented a key development milestone, marking the first non‑Indy oval where Simpson felt fully dialed in. Although weather conditions and extreme summer heat may differ this weekend, he remains optimistic.

Kyffin Simpson, Chip Ganassi Racing

Photo by: Jake Galstad / Lumen via Getty Images

“The team was very strong there last year,” Simpson told Motorsport.com. “We had strong cars and felt comfortable. It was the first non‑Indy oval where I truly felt at ease with the car, and I was delighted with its performance. I hope we can reproduce last year’s result and perhaps improve by a few positions.”

Simpson reflected that competing at the front of the field provided valuable learning. Battling side‑by‑side with the series’ elite forced him to adapt quickly, turning early‑race errors into a polished finish at the checkered flag.

“Running with the fastest drivers always puts you in the deep end; you must adapt rapidly,” Simpson said. “I made several mistakes on restarts early in the race, but by the end we were putting everything together, which showed in our performance.”

Despite a season that included some challenging races, Simpson’s preseason target of finishing within the top‑10 of the championship remains attainable. With four top‑10 finishes already achieved, a strong points haul this weekend could dramatically shift his campaign’s momentum.

“I am confident we can still achieve a top‑10 championship finish,” Simpson said. “There are several tracks where we expect to be competitive, and Nashville should be a strong weekend. With God’s blessing, we’ll score well and stay in the fight.”

Source link