Gone are the feel-good stories and the underdogs – eliminated in the primary two rounds. Even Alex Bowman, who had gone from being the fourth driver in HMS to being one in every of the strongest drivers within the playoffs, was now eliminated after an unlucky disqualification. Half of the eight remaining title contenders are former Cup champions. In fact, all of the champions from the last 4 seasons are still within the running, and all 4 Championship 4 drivers from last 12 months also remain. There are not any weak links, which should make for an exciting and dramatic Round 8 that may see 4 of them have their hopes dashed and the remaining 4 move on to Phoenix.
At the highest of the rankings is Kyle Larson, the clear favorite of the championship. He has more wins, more top-five finishes and more lead laps than anyone else this season. There's not likely way more you possibly can say about him beyond the undeniable fact that he's “that guy” until one in every of the others proves otherwise, but there's rather a lot that might be said about that.
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports, HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro
Photo: Rusty Jarrett / NKP / Motorsport Images
Like his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott. NASCAR's hottest driver and 2020 series champion has only one win this 12 months, but leads the pack with the most effective average rating (11.7). He could be very consistent, all the time present within the front half of the sphere and can likely make some noise within the upcoming races. After a dismal 2023 during which a broken leg derailed his entire 12 months, he gingerly made his way through the chaos and unpredictability of this 12 months's championships without really feeling the pressure of being eliminated. He even took part in the ultimate race of round 12 on the bubble, but was never really an element of the tense story as he quickly racked up a mountain of stage points.
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports, Kelley Blue Book Chevrolet Camaro
Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Images
The only two-time Cup champion within the round of 16 is something of a surprise considering he wasn't on the board last weekend. Bowman's disqualification nearly three hours later allowed him to re-enter the playoffs. Joey Logano, who won the title in 2018 and 2022, is one in every of only two drivers to win multiple titles on this volatile playoff format. Team Penske can also be on the lookout for a 3rd straight Cup title within the Next Gen era, but despite Logano's restart, its performance is down in comparison with recent seasons. Still, he's shown he can speed up when the moment calls for it, and that's nothing latest for Logano. Arguably probably the most aggressive driver still fighting for the title, he won in any respect 4 tracks to finish the 2024 season.
Joey Logano, Team Penske, Shell Pennzoil Ford Mustang
Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Images
Then there's his Penske teammate and current champion Ryan Blaney. Despite scoring only one point within the round of 16 at Watkins Glen and a tricky loss at Talladega Stadium that left him with a season-worst thirty ninth place, he stays in contention. Like Logano, he knows tips on how to speed up when the pressure is on. In every other playoff race, he scored between 33 and 53 points per race. No driver has ever won back-to-back championships on this format, however the feisty No. 12 driver can do it.
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske, Discount Ford Mustang Tire
Photo: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Images
So half of the remaining title contenders have already won championships, including the last 4 from 2020-2023. They're here for a reason, however the challengers who haven't won the Bill France Cup yet are only as competitive.
There's Denny Hamlin, for instance, despite a reasonably rough playoff run. He also has rather a lot on his mind in the mean time on account of a controversial lawsuit against NASCAR regarding the team he co-owns, but as a driver he’s probably the most successful driver within the history of racing that has not yet won a championship. Three Daytona 500 wins, 54 Cup victories and five straight seasons ending fifth or higher in the ultimate standings. Since the format was introduced in 2014, he has never missed the play-offs and might be the hungriest driver here. We've seen him bash his good friend Larson for wins, we've seen him get into physical altercations with Logano (greater than once), and we've seen him benefit from the rain of boos from fans each time he wins. This is precisely the style of driver you would like on this round, which is more of a battlefield than a stock automotive race. He will do every part in his power to interrupt through the glass ceiling and develop into a champion.
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing, FedEx One Rate Toyota Camry
Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Images
What in regards to the third Hendrick driver moving up? William Byron began the 12 months by winning three of the primary eight races, including the Daytona 500. However, we haven't seen him in Victory Lane since April. However, the No. 24 driver appears to be finding his footing just in time for the ultimate stage. He finished on the rostrum thrice in a row within the round of 16, scoring so many points that he didn't even must win to qualify early for this round. It can be silly to count him out.
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports, Valvoline Chevrolet Camaro
Photo: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Images
Tyler Reddick might be probably the most interesting driver on this list. 23XI Racing never made it past the eighth round, and neither did Reddick. Of course, this lawsuit can also be hanging over them. Reddick rode like a champion on the Roval, using latest tires to tear through the sphere within the closing laps, overcoming a double-digit points deficit and narrowly avoiding elimination. Some could also be quick to dismiss him, but we should always do not forget that this driver won the regular season championship. He relied heavily on those extra points in a tricky playoffs, but this can be a driver who has just shown the world he can get every part after which some out of the automotive when his back is against the wall. After that charge at the top of the match in Roval, he already proved that he’s champion material.
Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing, Monster Energy Toyota Camry Justin Haley, Spire Motorsports, Mattress Warehouse Chevrolet Camaro Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports, UniFirst Chevrolet Camaro Joey Logano, Team Penske, Shell Pennzoil Ford Mustang
Photo: Danny Hansen / NKP / Motorsport Images
That's it. Wait, aren't we missing someone? That's right…Christopher Bell! As he’ll say, everyone all the time overlooks the driving force of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. And there's really no good reason for it. It's quiet and doesn't make much noise on the track, nevertheless it's all the time a contender. Bell is the one driver to complete 4th within the Championship in each years of the New Generation era. He has also finished seventh or higher in seven of the last eight races, with the one result worse being 14th. He is a consistent, pervasive and really legitimate threat to the title. Heading into the playoffs, this author picked him to win all of it for all the explanations we just discussed. He is the “silent killer” of NASCAR. People all the time wonder where Bell got here from when the massive prize is in sight, but he has all the time been there, but nobody – including his rivals – seems to understand it until it's too late.
Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing, DEWALT Toyota Camry
Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Images
