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

Round of 8 predictions

Chase Elliott improved from his first to his second career full-time season to make the Round of 8. Even if he doesn’t improve much in 2018, an appearance in the Round of 8 is likely for him.

Jimmie Johnson knows how to get it done when it counts. Despite struggling down the stretch in 2017, he still managed to qualify for the Round of 8 even without a particularly strong Round of 12. Expect him back in the Round of 8 in 2018.

Denny Hamlin has become a regular in each of the first three playoff rounds over the years, including the Round of 8. Don’t expect that to change in 2018.

Kyle Busch not making the Round of 8 would shock the NASCAR world with how strong he has been in recent years. While he may not be the absolute best driver according to everyone, him being in the top 8 is a no-brainer.

Kevin Harvick is too good, and again, too consistent, to not get into the Round of 8. He has never failed to qualify for the Round of 8, and he has finished no lower than 8th place in the championship standings in any of the last eight seasons.

Ryan Blaney will continue to build on what he learned as the lone driver of Wood Brothers Racing for two years in his first season driving for Team Penske, and that will allow him to get back to the Round of 8.

Kyle Larson likely won’t experience the mechanical disaster he experienced in this past season’s Round of 12 two years in a row. Given his talent and speed, that means we can expect him in the Round of 8 for the first time.

Last slide, I mentioned that there definitely wouldn’t be 12 drivers who prove Martin Truex Jr. is not the best driver in the sport next year. There definitely won’t even be eight, either.