The texture-good tales and underdogs are gone — eradicated via the primary two rounds. Even Alex Bowman, who went from being the fourth driver at HMS to one of many strongest playoff drivers, has now been eradicated after an unlucky DQ. Half of the eight remaining title contenders are former Cup champions. Actually, each champ from the final 4 seasons continues to be within the struggle, and all 4 Championship 4 drivers from final 12 months stay as nicely. There aren’t any weak hyperlinks, which ought to make for an exhilarating and dramatic Spherical of 8 as 4 of them will see their title hopes shatter into items whereas the opposite 4 transfer on to Phoenix.
Sitting atop the standings is Kyle Larson, the clear championship favourite. He has extra wins, extra top-fives, and extra laps led than anybody else this season. There’s actually no more to say about him past the truth that he’s ‘the man’ till one of many different show in any other case, however there’s a lot that might.
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports, HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro
Picture by: Rusty Jarrett / NKP / Motorsport Pictures
For instance, his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott. NASCAR’s Most Common Driver and the 2020 sequence champion solely has one win this 12 months, however he leads your entire pack in finest common end (11.7). He has been nothing if not constant, ever-present within the front-half of the sphere and more likely to make some noise within the races forward. After a dismal 2023 the place a damaged leg derailed his whole 12 months, he has rigorously made his manner via the mayhem and unpredictability of this 12 months’s championship with out ever actually feeling the strain of being eradicated. He even entered the Spherical of 12 cut-off race on the bubble, however he was by no means actually a part of that tense storyline as he rapidly scored a mountain of stage factors.
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports, Kelley Blue E-book Chevrolet Camaro
Picture by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Pictures
The one two-time Cup champion within the Spherical of 8 is a little bit of shock, contemplating the truth that he was out on the checkered flag final weekend. Bowman’s disqualification practically three hours later paved the best way for his playoff re-entry. Joey Logano, who gained the title in 2018 and 2022, is one among simply two drivers to win a number of titles underneath this risky playoff format. Workforce Penske can also be searching for its third straight Cup title within the Subsequent Gen period, however regardless of Logano’s resume, he has truly underperformed in comparison with current seasons. Regardless of this, he has proven the flexibility to step it up when the second calls for it, and that is nothing new for Logano. Probably essentially the most aggressive driver nonetheless within the title struggle, he has gained in any respect 4 tracks that finish the 2024 season.
Joey Logano, Workforce Penske, Shell Pennzoil Ford Mustang
Picture by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Pictures
Then there’s his Penske teammate and reigning champion Ryan Blaney. Regardless of scoring only one level at Watkins Glen within the Spherical of 16 and crashing out closely at Talladega to complete a season-worst of thirty ninth, he stays in competition. Like Logano, he is aware of the right way to step it up when the strain is on. In each different playoff race, he is scored anyplace between 33 and 53 factors per race. No driver has ever gained back-to-back championships on this knockout format, however the the feisty driver of the No. 12 simply may.
Ryan Blaney, Workforce Penske, Low cost Tire Ford Mustang
Picture by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Pictures
So, half of the remaining title combatants have already gained championships, together with the final 4 from 2020 – 2023. They’re right here for a motive, however the challengers who’ve but to hoist the Invoice France Cup are simply as aggressive.
For instance, there’s Denny Hamlin, regardless of a considerably rocky playoff run to this point. He is additionally obtained lots occurring proper now with a contentious lawsuit towards NASCAR involving the crew he co-owns, however as a driver, he’s essentially the most profitable to ever race that has but to win a Cup title. Three Daytona 500 victories, 54 Cup wins, and 5 consecutive seasons ending fifth or greater within the closing standings. He has by no means missed the playoffs since this format was launched in 2014, and he’s maybe the hungriest driver right here. We have seen him wall his good good friend Larson for wins, we have seen him get into bodily altercations with Logano (greater than as soon as), and he thrives off of followers’ bathe of boos each time he wins. That is the precise type of driver you need going into this spherical, which is extra a battlefield than a inventory automobile race. He’ll do no matter it takes to smash via that tumbler ceiling and change into a champion.
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing, FedEx One Fee Toyota Camry
Picture by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Pictures
And what concerning the third Hendrick driver to advance? William Byron began the 12 months by profitable three of the primary eight races, together with the Daytona 500. Nevertheless, we have not seen him in Victory Lane since April. However the driver of the No. 24 seems to be discovering his footing simply in time for the ultimate stretch. He scored three straight podium finishes within the Spherical of 12, scoring so many factors that he did not even must win to be able to lock himself into this spherical early. It might be silly to rely him out.
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports, Valvoline Chevrolet Camaro
Picture by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Pictures
Tyler Reddick is probably essentially the most fascinating driver on this checklist. 23XI Racing has by no means made it past the Spherical of 8, and neither has Reddick. In fact, there’s additionally that lawsuit hanging over them. Reddick drove like a champion at Roval, utilizing contemporary tires to chop via the sphere in closing laps, erasing the double-digit factors deficit and narrowly escaping elimination. Some is likely to be fast to ignore him however we should always keep in mind that this driver gained the common season championship. He has closely relied on these bonus factors via what has been a tough playoffs, however it is a driver who simply confirmed the world that he can extract all the things after which some out of the automobile when his again is towards the wall. After that late cost on the Roval, he is already confirmed to be championship materials.
Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing, Monster Vitality Toyota Camry Justin Haley, Spire Motorsports, Mattress Warehouse Chevrolet Camaro Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports, UniFirst Chevrolet Camaro Joey Logano, Workforce Penske, Shell Pennzoil Ford Mustang
Picture by: Danny Hansen / NKP / Motorsport Pictures
In order that’s it for thi — wait, aren’t we lacking somebody? Oh proper … Christopher Bell! As he himself will let you know, everybody at all times overlooks the motive force of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. And there’s actually no good motive for it. He’s quiet and makes little noise on the monitor, however he’s at all times a contender. Bell is the one driver to have made the Championship 4 in each years of the Subsequent Gen period. He has additionally completed seventh or greater in seven of the final eight races — the one consequence worse than that was 14th. He’s constant, ever-present and a really respectable title menace. Earlier than the playoffs, this author picked him to win all of it for all the explanations we simply lined. He’s NASCAR’s ‘silent murderer.’ Individuals at all times marvel the place Bell got here from when the large prize is in sight, however he is at all times been proper there, however no person — together with his rivals — appear to appreciate that till it is too late.
Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing, DEWALT Toyota Camry
Picture by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Pictures
