Kyle Larson, Tyler Reddick among our final 4 drivers' predictions for a shot at the 2024 NASCAR Cup championship

The NASCAR Cup Series enters its playoff stretch with 16 drivers competing for the championship over the next 10 weeks. Kicking off in Atlanta this weekend, the playoff field will be whittled down to four drivers vying for the title at Phoenix Raceway on November 10.

Kyle Larson enters the playoffs as the #1 seed with four victories and 40 bonus points. Regular season champion Tyler Reddick is the third seed and has 28 bonus points. Joe Gibbs Racing drivers Ty Gibbs and Martin Truex Jr. were the only two drivers to advance on points.

Larson and Reddick are favorites to reach the season finale based on their impressive regular-season performances. Denny Hamlin is also a strong contender for the remaining spots in the finale, but Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, William Byron, and Christopher Bell could easily upset the favorites.

Ahead of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, let us take a look at our predictions for the final four drivers at Phoenix Raceway.

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4 NASCAR driver predictions for the season finale

#1 Kyle Larson

Kyle Larson (Source: Imagn)

Kyle Larson enters the playoffs with 40 bonus points, aiming for his second NASCAR Cup Series championship. The #5 Hendrick Motorsports team has consistently delivered race-winning speed on different tracks, with Larson securing four victories this season.

Larson is a strong contender for victories at the short tracks, intermediates, and road courses, however, the two superspeedways in the playoffs might hinder his progress. If the #5 Chevy driver manages to reach the Round of 8, which includes a trip to Las Vegas and Homestead, he is very likely to advance to the season finale.

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#2 Tyler Reddick

Tyler Reddick (Source: Imagn)

Having clinched the regular season title, Tyler Reddick enters the playoffs in hot form, aiming for his maiden final-four appearance and NASCAR Cup Series championship. Despite having only two victories this season, Reddick has shown incredible consistency with 11 top-five finishes.

Like Larson, Reddick is a strong contender on intermediates and road courses. Although his past results at the final two venues, Martinsville and Phoenix, haven't been impressive, his current form suggests that the team will be competitive and has a good chance of making its first final-four appearance in the NASCAR Cup Series.

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#3 Denny Hamlin

Denny Hamlin (Source: Imagn)

Denny Hamlin could join 23XI Racing driver Reddick in the season-finale, both fighting for their maiden Cup championship. Hamlin has endured wretched luck in recent weeks, entering the playoffs as the sixth seed with 15 bonus points.

Hamlin is a consistent frontrunner on short tracks and intermediate ovals. The penultimate race at Martinsville has been challenging for the #11 Joe Gibbs Racing driver, as he has failed to advance to the season finale in the previous two seasons. Nevertheless, Hamlin and his crew chief, Chris Gabehart, are determined to clinch the elusive championship this year.

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#4 Christopher Bell

Christopher Bell (Source: Imagn)

Alongside Christopher Bell, drivers like Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, and William Byron are strong contenders for a spot in the final four. However, Bell is the only driver to have advanced to the season finale in NASCAR's Next-Gen era and is capable of delivering clutch victories in the playoffs.

A formidable competitor on short tracks and road courses, Bell is also strong on intermediate ovals. If the #20 Joe Gibbs Racing driver makes a hat trick of final four appearances this season, he will be a favorite to win the championship race at Phoenix given his impressive results at flatter short ovals.