NASCAR Cup Series: Way-too-early 2018 playoff predictions

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TALLADEGA, AL – OCTOBER 15: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Ford, and Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 First Data Chevrolet (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) /

Round of 12 predictions

#9. . No. 9. Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet. CHASE ELLIOTT

Chase Elliott is getting better and better even without a career victory, so there is no reason to believe that he will fail to qualify for the Round of 12 for the first time in his career.

WILLIAM BYRON. #24. . No. 24. Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet

Once he gets into the playoffs in his rookie season, William Byron won’t stop there. While advancing to the Round of 8 may not happen yet in 2018, him appearing in the Round of 12 is a great possibility.

Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet. JIMMIE JOHNSON. #48. . No. 48

Even if Jimmie Johnson’s career is on the decline, that won’t be enough to keep him out of the Round of 12. There don’t appear to be any Round of 16 eliminations in his future.

DENNY HAMLIN. #11. . No. 11. Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota

Unless he has a catastrophic Round of 16, which isn’t impossible, Denny Hamlin will be back in the Round of 12. I don’t know if there is anyone who would pick his as one of the four drivers eliminated in the first round.

#18. . No. 18. Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota. KYLE BUSCH

Kyle Busch is pretty much as much of a shoe-in for the Round of 12 as he is for the Round of 16. As long as he’s driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, he’ll make it at least this far.

#20. . No. 20. Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota. ERIK JONES

Erik Jones will take that next step into the playoffs for the first time in his career one step further by advancing to the Round of 12, perhaps with his first career Cup Series win in the books.

#4. . No. 4. Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford. KEVIN HARVICK

Like it will in terms of the Round of 16, Kevin Harvick’s consistency is what will carry him to the Round of 12 yet again. The fact that he can win pretty much anywhere also bodes well for him in the playoffs.

#2. . No. 2. Team Penske, Ford. BRAD KESELOWSKI

Brad Keselowski got hot at the right time this past season after somewhat of an inconsistent year. For him to fail to qualify for the Round of 12, he will need to go extremely cold, which isn’t likely.

RYAN BLANEY. #12. . No. 12. Team Penske, Ford

An unexpected run to the Round of 8 this past season gives me reason to believe that Ryan Blaney is pretty much a shoe-in for at least the Round of 12 in 2018, especially since he will now drive for Team Penske.

#22. . No. 22. Team Penske, Ford. JOEY LOGANO

Joey Logano will want more than just a playoff appearance in a potential bounce-back 2018 season following his 2017 disappointment. He will get it in the form of a Round of 12 berth.

#42. . No. 42. Chip Ganassi Racing, Chevrolet. KYLE LARSON

In order for Kyle Larson to not advance to the Round of 12, he would need mechanical issues in the Round of 16 perhaps even worse than those he experienced in this past season’s playoffs. Not likely.

MARTIN TRUEX JR.. #78. . No. 78. Furniture Row Racing, Toyota

Martin Truex Jr. is the best driver in the NASCAR Cup Series until someone else can prove otherwise. There is no way that 12 drivers will prove otherwise and leave him out of the Round of 12 in 2018.

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