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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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TALLADEGA, AL – OCTOBER 15: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Toyota, races Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 First Data Chevrolet (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
TALLADEGA, AL – OCTOBER 15: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Toyota, races Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 First Data Chevrolet (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) /

Championship 4 predictions

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

Chase Elliott finished in 5th place in the championship standings in the 2017 season after failing to win a single race. Seeing as how he has come so close to winning races several times, especially as of late with four of his seven career 2nd place finishes coming in last season’s playoffs, expect him to win early and often in the 2018 season. If that happens, it is hard seeing him not advancing to the Championship 4.

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

Kyle Larson was considered a lock to make the Championship 4 for most of the 2017 season. However, misfortune in the round of 12 in the playoffs prevented him from even making the round of 8, much less the Championship 4. However, with four wins in the 2017 season, he proved that he is one of the sport’s top drivers. The odds of him having two straight misfortune-laden playoffs are low, so expect to see him in the Championship 4 in the 2018 season.

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

After failing to win a championship for just the fifth time in the last 12 seasons in the 2017 season, expect Jimmie Johnson to have a bounce-back season in 2018. Even last season in what was a “down” season for him, he still won three races and made it to the round of 8. With the new Chevrolet Camaro coming out for the 2018 season, expect to see Johnson benefit from this and use that to get himself back to the Championship 4 in an attempt to win his eighth career title.

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

More from NASCAR

After Martin Truex Jr.’s dominant 2017 season, it is hard to see him not getting back to the Championship 4 for the second consecutive season. He won eight races last season and more than doubled his career win total for the second straight year last year. While it will be hard for him to double his career win total, which is now 15, in the 2018 season, he is still likely to put up extremely impressive numbers to get him back to the Championship 4.

2018 NASCAR Cup Series champion prediction

Stay tuned for the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series champion prediction!

Next: Top 10 NASCAR drivers of all-time

Which NASCAR Cup Series drivers will qualify for the round of 16, the round of 12, the round of 8 and the Championship 4 in the playoffs during the 2018 season? Who will end up winning the championship? The season opens up with the Daytona 500 on Sunday, February 18th.

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