Four Beyond the Flag writers offered their rankings of the 16 NASCAR Cup Series playoff drivers. Each writer predicted how the Championship 4 will play out.
With the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs set to get underway tomorrow with the South Point 400, the first race of the first of four rounds of the playoffs, the round of 16, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, four Beyond the Flag writers offered their rankings of the 16 playoff drivers.
In addition, each of these four writers offered their predictions regarding who will get to the Championship 4 and how their four Championship 4 drivers will perform in the Championship 4.
Each of the four writers ranked the 16 playoff drivers from first through 16th, and these rankings were compiled into one larger set of rankings. Each driver’s first place driver received 16 points. Their second place drivers received 15 points, their third place drivers received 14 points, etc., all the way down to their 16th place drivers, who received one point.
Here are the consensus rankings of the 16 playoff drivers.
| Rank | Driver | Points |
| 1 | Kyle Busch | 61 |
| 2 | Kevin Harvick | 61 |
| 3 | Brad Keselowski | 51 |
| 4 | Martin Truex Jr. | 48 |
| 5 | Kyle Larson | 45 |
| 6 | Chase Elliott | 43 |
| 7 | Kurt Busch | 38 |
| 8 | Joey Logano | 36 |
| 9 | Erik Jones | 34 |
| 10 | Clint Bowyer | 31 |
| 11 | Ryan Blaney | 28 |
| 12 | Denny Hamlin | 25 |
| 13 | Jimmie Johnson | 17 |
| 14 | Aric Almirola | 12 |
| 15 | Alex Bowman | 8 |
| 16 | Austin Dillon | 6 |
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Kevin Harvick got two first place votes. Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott each got one.
Each of the four writers selected their four Championship 4 drivers and ranked them from first through fourth, and these rankings were compiled into one larger set of rankings as well.
Each driver’s first place driver received four points. Their second place drivers received three points, their third place drivers received two points and their fourth place drivers received one point.
Here are the consensus Championship 4 predictions.
| Rank | Driver | Points |
| 1 | Kyle Busch | 13 |
| 2 | Kevin Harvick | 13 |
| 3 | Brad Keselowski | 4 |
| 4 | Chase Elliott | 4 |
| 5 | Martin Truex Jr. | 3 |
| 6 | Kyle Larson | 2 |
| 7 | Erik Jones | 1 |
Once again, Kevin Harvick got two first place votes while Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott each got one. Harvick and Busch were in the Championship 4 predictions for all four writers. Brad Keselowski was in three of the four while Martin Truex Jr. was in two of the four. Elliott, Kyle Larson and Erik Jones were each in one of the four.
Where do you rank each of the 16 drivers in the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs? Which four drivers do you believe will reach the Championship 4 drivers, and how do you believe these four drivers will perform in the Championship 4?