"Stubbs: Revamping the Round of 8 Field in the Cup Series"
This Sunday, the NASCAR Cup Series will kick off the second-to-last round of its 2024 playoffs at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway with the South Point 400. In the Round of 8, consistency is no longer a viable strategy for advancing; only excellence will be enough for the championship contenders to move on.
With that being said, let's take a look at the eight drivers who are still in the running for the Bill France Cup and their prospects for the Round of 8.
Kyle Larson (+33)
Larson's victory at the Charlotte Roval on Sunday marked the sixth win of the year for the No. 5 team, an incredibly impressive feat considering that no other driver has won more than three races. As the circuit heads to Las Vegas, Larson is the clear favorite for the championship, and his 33-point lead above the cut line provides a solid safety net in case of any misfortune.
Christopher Bell (+13)
Bell is the "other" top contender for the championship as the Round of 8 begins. His second-place finish behind Larson at Charlotte continues a strong playoff run that has seen the No. 20 team finish in the top 10 in five of the six postseason races. Bell is currently the only driver who can match Larson's speed, and he's aiming to make it to the Championship Four for the third consecutive season.
Tyler Reddick (+10)
No one was more relieved to see the points reset after the Round of 12 than Reddick, who had to fight his way into the Round of 8 after a tumultuous day at Charlotte. However, there are concerns for the No. 45 team as the speed they showed over the summer has disappeared. Reddick did finish second to Larson at Las Vegas in March, though, and Sunday presents an opportunity for him to secure his first Championship Four appearance with a win.
William Byron (+4)
Byron and the No. 24 team have turned up the heat in the playoffs. After winning three of the first eight races of the season, Byron cooled off over the summer. However, the Round of 12 saw a return to form as Byron finished in the top five in all three races. He looks like the same driver who made the Championship Four last season and is hoping to show his strength in the penultimate round for the second year in a row.
Ryan Blaney (-4)
It's been a quiet postseason for the defending champion, who snuck into the Round of 8 with a 10th-place finish on Sunday. The good news? Blaney caught fire in the Round of 8 last season, leading to his championship-winning performance at Phoenix. Now armed with a championship pedigree, the No. 12 team has just as good a chance as any other team to make it to Phoenix.
Denny Hamlin (-8)
It's time for the No. 11 team to find more speed. Hamlin hasn't looked like a driver capable of winning his first championship since receiving a major penalty after Michigan, but a new round brings new opportunities. Don't be surprised if Hamlin powers his way into the Championship Four as he looks to finally claim a championship ring.
Chase Elliott (-9)
Similar to Hamlin, Elliott falls into the category of having a good season, but not one that's quite championship caliber. His lone win of the season came at Texas in April, and a fifth-place finish at Charlotte was only his second top-five of the playoffs. Elliott and the No. 9 team must turn up the speed in the Round of 8, or they'll see their hopes of a second title disappear in an instant.
Joey Logano (-11)
Logano's season has been saved by several extenuating circumstances. A five-overtime victory at Nashville on June 30 secured his spot in the playoffs, while Alex Bowman's disqualification on Sunday evening knocked Bowman out of the postseason and gave Logano new life. The No. 22 team may not be dominating at the moment, but they have history on their side. Since the elimination-style format was introduced in 2014, Logano has never missed the Championship Four in an even-numbered season.
The NASCAR Cup Series will begin the Round of 8 on Sunday at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The green flag will drop shortly after 2:30 p.m. ET, with coverage on NBC, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
