Dale Earnhardt Jr. reacts to NASCAR playoff standings heading into Round of 8

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is excited about the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 8 after looking at the standings. On Dale Jr. Download, Earnhardt revealed what the playoff standings look like heading into the three Round of 8 races.

The top eight remaining drivers are Denny Hamlin (+8), Ryan Blaney (+6), Kyle Larson (+4), William Byron (+4), Christopher Bell (-4), Chase Elliott (-14), Chase Briscoe (-14), and Joey Logano (-24). Earnhardt said he was surprised to see Bell below the cut line since they “had him as an early favorite.” He also pointed out that Elliott and Briscoe “got a little work to do,” but he also said that “any of these guys can do it.”

Earnhardt then revealed how the standings would look in the old Cup points system. He said Byron, who won this year’s NASCAR Regular Season championship, would be the points leader. Byron would be followed by Blaney (-27), Larson (-35), Bell (-46), Elliott (-64), Hamlin (-78), Briscoe (-100), and Logano (points not revealed).

Earnhardt is right when it comes to any one of the drivers winning it all. The point differential between the drivers is not big, meaning that all eight will have to be locked in for the next three races to give themselves the best chance to secure a spot in the championship race at Phoenix.

More on the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 8

BetMGM Sportsbook recently released its lastest NASCAR Cup Series Championship odds, and Blaney is the favorite at +400. He is followed by Bell (+450), Hamlin (+475), Larson (+475), Byron (+550), Elliott (+900), Briscoe (+900), and Logano (+1400).

Of the eight drivers remaining in the playoffs, four have won the Cup Series title. Blaney won it in 2023, Larson won it in 2021, Elliott won it in 2020, and Logano won the championship three times (2018, 2022, and 2024).

Logano came close to not making it to the Round of 8. On Sunday, he battled Ross Chastain for the final spot and got past him by four points. “Such a close finish there. Yeah, knew it was within a point there,” Logano said after the race at Charlotte. “I knew we were going to be tied there at the end, and Ross was going to do whatever he had to do to make it happen. Geesh, just wasn’t quite fast enough today with our car.”