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NASCAR Cup Series: 2018 preseason playoff predictions

By Asher Fair

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, lead the field past the green flag to start the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19, 2017 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
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, lead the field past the green flag to start the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19, 2017 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) /
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FONTANA, CA – MARCH 26: Trevor Bayne, driver of the #6 AdvoCare Ford, races Ricky Stenhouse Jr, driver of the #17 Fastenal 50th Anniversary Ford (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)
FONTANA, CA – MARCH 26: Trevor Bayne, driver of the #6 AdvoCare Ford, races Ricky Stenhouse Jr, driver of the #17 Fastenal 50th Anniversary Ford (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images) /

Round of 16 predictions

No. 1. Chip Ganassi Racing, Chevrolet. JAMIE MCMURRAY. #1.

Jamie McMurray is still searching for his first victory in the Cup Series since the 2013 season, but he has been consistently racking up solid results along the way. Expect that to continue in the 2018 season, and expect him to advance to the playoffs even if he is unable to win a race in the regular season. In each of the last three seasons, he has been able to do so even without winning a single regular season race.

Roush Fenway Racing, Ford. TREVOR BAYNE. #6. . No. 6

Trevor Bayne hasn’t won a single race in the Cup Series since his win at the Daytona 500 opened up the 2011 season, a season during which he was not even a full-time driver. But in each of the last two seasons, he has one podium finish at a restrictor plate track. Expect him to grab a win at one of the three regular season restrictor plate races and advance to the playoffs for the first time in his career as a result of it.

#17. . No. 17. Roush Fenway Racing, Ford. RICKY STENHOUSE JR.

Like his teammate Trevor Bayne, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has also become a great driver at restrictor plate tracks, and Stenhouse Jr. has wins to show for it. He won two of the four restrictor plate races in the 2017 season, and he even had some great finishes at other races as well. Even if he isn’t able to win a restrictor plate race in the 2018 season, his growing strength at other tracks may be enough to get him to the playoffs.

#88. . No. 88. Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet. ALEX BOWMAN

Replacing 15-time reigning Most Popular Driver Award winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. is no easy task, but Alex Bowman is up for it. For the first time in his Cup Series career, Bowman has a ride with a top-tier team, and it could not have come at a better time with the new Chevrolet Camaro coming out. He should at least make the playoffs, especially given the fact that he was a solid replacement for Earnhardt Jr. to close out the 2016 season.

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