On Sunday, the NASCAR Cup Series kicks off the penultimate round of its 2024 playoffs with the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. As the competition heats up in the Round of 8, only exceptional performances will secure a spot in the Championship Four. Here’s a breakdown of the remaining eight drivers still in the hunt for the Bill France Cup, along with their outlook for this critical round.
Kyle Larson (+33)
Larson’s victory at the Charlotte Roval on Sunday marked his sixth win of the season for the No. 5 team—an impressive feat, as no other driver has more than three wins. Larson enters Las Vegas as the championship favorite, with a comfortable 33-point cushion above the cut line, providing some security in case of any setbacks.
Christopher Bell (+13)
Bell is Larson’s main rival for the championship as the Round of 8 begins. A second-place finish to Larson at Charlotte capped off a strong playoff run, with Bell finishing in the top 10 in five of the six postseason races. The No. 20 team’s speed makes Bell a serious contender, and he’s aiming for his third consecutive appearance in the Championship Four.
Tyler Reddick (+10)
Reddick, who struggled at Charlotte, was likely relieved when the points reset after the Round of 12. However, the No. 45 team has seen a dip in performance since their strong summer. Despite this, Reddick finished second to Larson at Las Vegas in March, presenting him with a chance to win his way into the Championship Four for the first time.
William Byron (+4)
After a midseason lull, Byron and the No. 24 team have reignited their performance in the playoffs. Following a summer slump, Byron bounced back in the Round of 12, finishing top five in all three races. He’s looking to continue that momentum and make his second straight appearance in the Championship Four.
Ryan Blaney (-4)
The defending champion has had a quiet postseason, narrowly advancing to the Round of 8 with a 10th-place finish at Charlotte. Blaney caught fire in this round last year en route to winning the championship, and with his experience, the No. 12 team is well-positioned to make a run at Phoenix once again.
Denny Hamlin (-8)
Hamlin’s No. 11 team has struggled with speed since a penalty after Michigan, but the start of the Round of 8 offers a fresh opportunity. Hamlin has yet to win a championship, but his experience and determination make him a strong contender to muscle his way into the Championship Four.
Chase Elliott (-9)
Elliott’s season has been solid, but not quite championship-worthy. His lone win came at Texas in April, and his fifth-place finish at Charlotte was only his second top-five result in the playoffs. To keep his title hopes alive, Elliott and the No. 9 team need to step up their performance in this round.
Joey Logano (-11)
Logano’s season has been saved by some fortunate circumstances, including a five-overtime win at Nashville that earned him a playoff spot, and Alex Bowman’s disqualification at Charlotte, which helped Logano advance. While the No. 22 team isn’t the strongest right now, history favors Logano—since the elimination format began in 2014, he’s never missed the Championship Four in an even-numbered season.
The NASCAR Cup Series Round of 8 begins Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, with the green flag set to wave shortly after 2:30 p.m. ET. Coverage will be provided by NBC, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
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