NASCAR Cup Series: 2018 preseason playoff predictions

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HOMESTEAD, FL – NOVEMBER 19: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, and Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Toyota (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) /

With the start of the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series season right around the corner, which drivers are poised to advance to the playoffs and beyond?

The first of 26 regular season races in the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series season is set to take place in just a few days. That race, the Daytona 500, will kick off the 2018 season and give us a first glance of which drivers are poised to have big seasons in 2018.

At the end of the first 26 races of the season, a total of 16 drivers will advance to the playoffs. After three more races, four will be eliminated while 12 move on. After three more races, four more will be eliminated while eight move on. And after three more races, four more will be eliminated while the final four move on.

After that, there is one race that will determine the 2018 Cup Series champion. Which of the four drivers who qualify for the Championship 4 will end up winning the title?

Here are round-by-round predictions for the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. Note that there are four drivers on each slide. For the round of 16, round of 12 and round of 8 slides, the four drivers on those slides are the drivers I expect to make those rounds but be eliminated in them.

The Championship 4 slide will discuss each of my predicted Championship 4 drivers, while the final slide will discuss who I believe the 2018 champion will be and why.

But let’s first get started with what we know as far as the full-time 2018 NASCAR Cup Series driver lineup.

NOTE: On all slides, drivers are listed in number order.

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