NASCAR: Staff Picks for Championship Four

RICHMOND, VA - SEPTEMBER 09: Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 Mountain Dew Chevrolet,, Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 DOW Chevrolet,, Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Caramel Toyota, Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota, Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Haas Automation/Monster Energy Ford, Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Hurricane Harvey Relief Toyota, Ryan Newman, driver of the #31 Caterpillar Chevrolet, Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Target Chevrolet, Jamie McMurray, driver of the #1 McDonald's Chevrolet, Ryan Blaney, driver of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford, Kasey Kahne, driver of the #5 Great Clips Chevrolet, Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Fitzgerald Glider Kits Ford, Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John's Ford, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driver of the #17 Fastenal Ford, and Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, pose for a photo after making the playoffs following the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond Raceway on September 9, 2017 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

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JOLIET, IL – SEPTEMBER 15: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John’s Ford (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) /

Dustin Smith’s Championship Four

Kurt Busch: He’s already won at Daytona to earn himself the title of reigning Daytona 500 champion, so it’s possible he grabs his second superspeedway win of the season at Talladega.

Kyle Busch: To make the Championship Four, you need to be a driver who is willing to trade paint. I feel each of the four drivers listed, if given the opportunity, wouldn’t shy away from a little bumping and banging. Kyle Busch is no stranger to this concept. I can see him dominating at New Hampshire.

Martin Truex Jr.: I think he wins the first race of the playoffs at Chicagoland and rides the wave all the way to Miami.

Kevin Harvick: The “Closer” Kevin Harvick will use consistent finishes throughout the playoffs to win his second Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship.

Champion

Kevin Harvick: In his first season behind the wheel of a Ford after a long-time run with Chevrolet, Harvick will earn his second title and third for Stewart-Haas Racing since 2011.

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