NASCAR Round Of 8 Preview And Predictions: Thoughts On Remaining Drivers

Denny Hamlin has been the best driver all season long. He is yet to win a championship, but this could very well be his year. He is just one win shy of 60 for his career. Could he reach that milestone with a victory to send him to the final four? He has the biggest cushion amongst the remaining drivers at eight points above the cutline, so as long as he remains consistent, he should advance.

Prediction: Advances

Ryan Blaney (+6)

Ryan Blaney has continued to be one of the best and most consistent drivers in the NASCAR field. There is rarely a time when he is not in the top ten at any track. This consistency has carried him to championships in the past, and it very well could do so again. He is great at getting stage points on top of his great finishes, something that not every remaining driver could claim. If he advances to the final four, he would likely be the championship favorite heading into Phoenix.

Prediction: Advances

Kyle Larson (+6)

Kyle Larson went through a tough second half of the 2025 season, but he has managed to regroup and put together some nice points finishes. His upwards trend will look to carry him through to the championship four. Anything can happen at Talladega, but Martinsville and Las Vegas should be good enough days for Larson to advance.

Prediction: Advances

William Byron (+6)

William Byron has seen a serious fall off as of late, and it could not have come at a worse time. His playoff points earned during his dominant regular season have fallen back down to earth, and he is now about even with the field. He can no longer rely on having a cushion each round, and if he still fails to get it together, he won’t be racing for a championship at Phoenix. It has been a tough couple of weeks for the NASCAR regular-season champion.

Prediction: Eliminated

Christopher Bell (-4)

Christopher Bell has done everything right this NASCAR season. He started the season with an incredible three-race win streak and produced solid finishes the rest of the way. Despite this, he is still -4 to the cutline heading into the round of eight. The competition may prove to be too strong for Bell to advance any further. He has nearly made the final four before, so it’s not impossible for the talented driver of the 20 to make another run.

Prediction: Eliminated

Chase Briscoe (-14)

Chase Briscoe has been one of NASCAR’s best in his first season at Joe Gibbs Racing. He consistently produces top qualifying efforts and backs it up with top-five finishes. This round benefits him much more than the round of 12, giving him a great chance to advance. His championship-level driving has not been talked about enough this season; he has everything it takes to win it all.

Prediction: Advances

Chase Elliott (-14)

Chase Elliott has seen consistent finishes all season long, but he lacks one vital aspect. He has been dreadful at qualifying, making it very difficult to produce stage points. If he can’t do this again in the round of eight, it will be hard for him to make it without another victory. If he’s able to stay clean through Talladega, he could advance off of pure consistency, but it’s not the best strategy to count on others failing to produce.

Prediction: Eliminated

Joey Logano (-24)

Joey Logano is the reigning series champion, but he finds himself in a deep hole to dig himself out of. At -24 to the cutline, he needs consistent top performances to advance on points, something he has not been able to produce this year. His biggest opportunity comes at Las Vegas, but if he can’t pick up a win there, it is hard to picture him advancing. If he does manage to advance, he very well could be the NASCAR champion once again with his dominance at Phoenix.

Prediction: Eliminated

End Of My NASCAR Rant

Each of these eight NASCAR drivers has one goal. They all want to advance to Phoenix and have a chance to win championship gold. They will do whatever it takes to do so, making the next three weeks some of the most anticipated races of the season.