NASCAR insiders predict Championship 4 ahead of Round of 8 finale at Martinsville

Two NASCAR insiders make their final Championship 4 predictions before the Cup Series Playoffs Round of 8 at Martinsville. On The Teardown podcast, Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic believe Christopher Bell will join Tyler Reddick and Joey Logano in the championship race (Reddick and Logano) have already clinched spots). As for who will get the fourth sport. Bianchi makes the case for Denny Hamlin but also says any of the drivers below the playoff cut line could get in.

“You could legitimately make a case for any of these guys to win the race,” Bianchi said. “…If this tire has wear like they expect, it’s a softer compound tire, tire management type race, this plays into Denny Hamlin’s strength as a driver. We saw it today (last Sunday), and [Chris] Gabehart is really good at putting him in position.

“He knows how to manage tires, he knows how to be there at the end, it’s why he’s so good at Richmond as well. If this is a tire management race, Bristol earlier this year for example, and you have got to manage your tires over a long green flag run which we typically see at Martinsville, I do think that gives Denny Hamlin a leg up on this.”

Could the NASCAR Martinsville race be another classic battle?

Gluck believes Chase Elliott could win at Martinsville and compete for his second Cup Series championship. “I have a weird feeling that [Kyle] Larson is gonna do enough to be in a position to make it on points like he’s going to outpoint [William] Byron. But somebody from below both of them is going to win, and I almost think it’s gonna be Chase Elliott,” Gluck said. “I think he could win his way into the championship race and knock out both of his teammates in the process. I also wouldn’t be surprised at all to see [Ryan] Blaney do it.

To recap, Bianchi is going with Logano, Reddick, Bel and Hamlin (or any of the four not mentioned), while Gluck is going with Logano, Reddick, Bell and Elliott (or Blaney). It’s clear that the eight drivers who are in the playoffs have what it takes to make it to the Championship 4. But with two spots already filled, and Bell very close to clinching the third slot, five drivers will do everything they can to have a shot at competing for the title next week.

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