Not-so-expert Playoff Predictions: Cup Edition

Jon Knoll - Co-Lead Writer

Round of 16

-Kyle Larson goes back-to-back with a victory at Chicagoland to become the first qualifier for the Round of 12

-Kyle Busch wins at New Hampshire to join Larson in the next round

-Jimmie Johnson returns to form in the House that JJ Built and wins Dover to move on.

-Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman ride hot streaks to move on.

Round of 12

-Martin Truex Jr. dominates Charlotte to move on to the next round

-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. makes it three-in-a-row at plate tracks to move to the Round of 8

-Matt Kenseth wins Kansas for his first victory of the season to advance

-Chase Elliott and Kurt Busch crash while battling for the lead at Talladega, virtually eliminating them. Brad Keselowski blows his motor at Kansas ruining his quest to advance

Round of 8

-Denny Hamlin remembers how to win at Martinsville to put the first JGR Toyota in the Finale

-Kyle Busch gets his third win at Texas to punch his ticket to Homestead

-Kevin Harvick does what he does best and wins Phoenix to advance

-MTJ’s playoff points carry him to Homestead, as expected

Finale

-Kyle Busch shows his speed and dominance, winning both stages, and the race, to bring home his second MENCS Championship. Truex and Hamlin bring home their Toyotas 2nd and 3rd respectively, while Harvick suffers from re-occurring pit road mistakes to place 4th in the standings.

Amerigo Allegretto - Co-Lead Writer

Round of 16

-Martin Truex Jr. immediately shows his dominance by leading the most laps and pulling a repeat victory at Chicagoland, moving him forward to the round of 12.

-Kyle Larson follows suit at New Hampshire and notches his fifth win of the season, keeping pace with Truex like he has all season.

-Jimmie Johnson once again shows everyone why Dover is his yard and the rest are just there to visit with another victory at the Monster Mile.

-Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman, Austin Dillon and Matt Kenseth’s mediocre finishes are not enough to propel them into the second round of the Playoffs.

Round of 12

-Jimmie Johnson makes it two in a row as he takes Charlotte by storm and advances into the round of 8.

-Jamie McMurray shocks the world and gets his first Cup Series win in four years, edging Ricky Stenhouse Jr. to win at Talladega and advance to the round of 8.

-Mr. Where’d He Come From lives up to his name as Kevin Harvick repeats in the Kansas fall race and comes alive just in time to chase his second championship.

-Stenhouse, Kurt Busch, Brad Keselowski and Ryan Blaney are eliminated from contention.

Round of 8

-Kyle Busch gets his second win in four Martinsville races, checking himself into the final four for the third consecutive year.

-Martin Truex Jr., who has four consecutive top-10 finishes at Texas, finally gets his first win in the Lone Star State, making it to his second final four appearance.

-Kevin Harvick continues his mastery of Phoenix, dominating en route to this third final four appearance.

-Jimmie Johnson’s consistency and playoff points carry him through to Homestead.

Finale

-Martin Truex Jr. caps his career best season with his long-awaited first championship, winning Stage 2 and the race. Kevin Harvick finishes second, Kyle Busch (Stage 1 winner) take the bronze and Johnson finishes fourth in a tightly contested race.