NASCAR: Staff Picks for Championship Four

By Shane Carlson | Sep 18, 2017

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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RICHMOND, VA – SEPTEMBER 09: Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Target Chevrolet (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)

RICHMOND, VA – SEPTEMBER 09: Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Target Chevrolet (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images) /

Shane Carlson’s Championship Four

Martin Truex Jr.: Based on what Truex Jr. and his No. 78 team have done this season, it would be impossible to leave him out of the Championship Four. He is a legitimate contender to win every weekend and after making it to the Championship Four in 2015, he has experience going deep into the playoffs. He’ll use that as fuel to prove all of his doubters wrong.

Kyle Larson: Larson is enjoying a breakout year in which he’s garnered four wins and is peaking at the perfect time after winning at Richmond International Raceway last weekend. He’s having fun, too, as Chip Ganassi Racing has let Larson race his beloved sprint cars which seems to help. Chip Ganassi Racing has had a great season after being a Chevrolet backmarker the past couple seasons. He and teammate Jamie McMurray will try to power the two-car team to NASCAR prominence.

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Jimmie Johnson: Seven-time has had a relatively quiet but solid season to date, earning three wins. His lack of dominance has many questioning whether he can make another deep run in the playoffs and win a record eighth title. I’ve learned over the years to never question what Jimmie Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus have planned because the No. 48 team always seems to show up when it counts.

Kevin Harvick: As long as Phoenix International Raceway is the final cut race before Homestead and Kevin Harvick is racing, I’ll pick Kevin Harvick to win that race every time. The most clutch driver in the sport hasn’t had the raw speed he has had in the past, but he has managed to get the finishes he needs, earning 16 top 10 finishes this season, second to only Martin Truex Jr. Harvick has the experience necessary to battle for the championship yet again at Homestead.

Champion

Kyle Larson: If Kyle Larson can make himself eligible to win the championship in Miami, Homestead-Miami Speedway, he should be the favorite to win. The past two seasons in MENCS competition, he has finishes of 5th place and 2nd place, respectively.

Next: Ranking the 16 playoff drivers in 2017

Larson has never finished outside of the top 7 at Homestead in four XFINITY Series starts, including a win in 2015 and two other top 3 finishes. He also has two top 4 finishes in the Camping World Truck Series at the track as well. Needless to say, Homestead suits Larson well.