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

By Asher Fair

HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 19: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Toyota, celebrates with teammates after he won the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19, 2017 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 19: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Toyota, celebrates with teammates after he won the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19, 2017 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /
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HOMESTEAD, FL – NOVEMBER 19: Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Credit One/DC Solar Chevrolet (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)
HOMESTEAD, FL – NOVEMBER 19: Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Credit One/DC Solar Chevrolet (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images) /

Championship 4 predictions

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

With zero career NASCAR Cup Series victories, Chase Elliott nearly made it into the Championship 4 this past season before finishing in 5th place in the final championship standings. With how much he improved this past season even without winning a single race for the second straight season, anything short of an appearance in the Championship 4 in 2018 would be a disappointment for him.

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

Kyle Busch has been in the Championship 4 in each of the last three seasons. He won the NASCAR Cup Series championship back in the 2015 season and has not finished lower than 3rd place in the standings since then, as he finished in 3rd in the 2016 season and 2nd this past season. Expect him back at Homestead-Miami Speedway competing to win his second career title yet again in 2018.

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

Kyle Larson was one of the favorites to get to the Championship 4 for most of this past season. Engine issues, however, prevented him from even getting to the Round of 8. Assuming he doesn’t have the same misfortune two years in a row, he should have a great chance to get to the Championship 4 in 2018 and compete for his first career NASCAR Cup Series championship at a track he has had success at.

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

Martin Truex Jr. has been on the rise for quite some time now. Even though he had driven in the NASCAR Cup Series as a full-time driver for a full decade coming into the 2016 season, he still doubled his career win total in both the 2016 and 2017 seasons en route to winning his first career championship this past season. Don’t expect him to fail to qualify for the Championship 4 just one year after winning the title.

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