NASCAR insiders predict final four, championship drivers after Charlotte elimination race

Two NASCAR insiders make their final four drivers for the Cup Series championship after the field was trimmed down from 12 to eight at Charlotte. On The Teardown podcast, Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic revealed who they think will compete for the championship race at Phoenix next month.

Gluck picked Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, and Chase Briscoe as his final four. Biancchi selected Blaney, Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, and Joey Logano to compete in the title race.

Both insiders also picked their NASCAR Cup Series champion for the 2025 season. Gluck believes that Logano will win it all for the fourth time, while Bianchi predicts Blaney will win it for the second time in three years. The interesting thing about that is Logano and Blaney have won the last three championships. Logano won it in 2022 and 2024, while Blaney won it in 2023.

Gluck and Bianchi also talked about the one playoff driver that concerns them. William Byron, who won this year’s NASCAR Cup Series Regular Season Championship, has finished in the top 10 in just two of the six playoff races. Gluck then pointed out that Byron “has led zero laps in the playoffs so far.”

NASCAR insiders share more thoughts on the championship race

“We overhyped them based on him winning the regular-season championship because they were able to just knock out decent finishes,” Bianchi said to Gluck. “But you look at laps led with the exception of Iowa, where he won. He has not led a bunch of laps there this year. He’s not won stages, he’s not done the things that you want to see, and there’s nothing about their performance that screams this team is going to a championship.”

Byron may not look strong heading into the three Round of 8 playoff races, but Gluck pointed out there’s not a lot of point separation with all eight drivers. Hamlin is the points leader but only eight points above the cut line.

“Except for Logano, most of the lower points guys are gone. It’s very, very, very tight,” Gluck explained. “Pretty much all your advantage is wiped out, and now it’s a pretty much straight battle for these final four races.”

The NASCAR Playoffs Round of 8 will begin this Sunday, with the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The championship race will be held at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday, Nov. 2, and will air on NBC at 3 p.m. ET.