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With the end of the races at Atlanta, Watkins Glen, and Bristol, the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series has entered the Round of 12. The field has narrowed down to 12 drivers, with Brad Keselowski, Ty Gibbs, Martin Truex Jr., and Harrison Burton eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.
Driving the #5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro, Kyle Larson took the victory at Bristol Motor Speedway in one of the most dominant performances in recent years in NASCAR. Larson led 462 of the 500 scheduled laps around the iconic racetrack and managed a gap of over seven seconds over runner-up Chase Elliott.
Apart from Larson, Denny Hamlin's fourth-place finish from P8 at the start also helped him get out of the elimination bubble and secure a place in the Round of 12. With the top 12 field set, Here's a look at the NASCAR teams looking strong ahead of the next playoff stage.
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#1. Hendrick Motorsports
With three of its four drivers above the cut-off mark after Bristol, Hendrick Motorsports is poised as one of the strongest teams in the 2024 playoffs. As of now, Kyle Larson is leading the pack, with William Byron in fourth place and Chase Elliott in seventh. Alex Bowman is the only HMS driver on the elimination bubble for the Round of 8.
If the tables remain largely unchanged in the next three races at Kansas, Talledega, and Charlotte, Hendrick will have at least Larson, Bryon, and Elliott competing for the top 8s and top 4s.
#2. Team Penske
Team Penske is the second team with all drivers present in the Round of 12. However, much like HMS, it also has one driver (Austin Cindric) below the cut-off mark. Ryan Blaney is leading the charge in fifth place, while Joey Logano is on the cusp of entering the elimination bubble (just four points above the cut-off).
The defending Cup Series champion Blaney happens to be the team's trump card against rivals such as Kyle Larson, William Byron, and Denny Hamlin.
#3. Joe Gibbs Racing
Despite losing two of its four drivers in the first stage of eliminations, Joe Gibbs Racing stands a chance at reaching the Round of 8 or even the Championship 4. While Martin Truex Jr. and Ty Gibbs were not able to cross the cut-off mark, Denny Hamlin's performance at Bristol and Christopher Bell's consistency allowed the two to reach the next round.
Taking into consideration their progress in recent months, both Hamlin and Bell are among the top contenders for the NASCAR finale.
#4. 23XI Racing
While 23XI Racing only has one driver in the playoffs, he has the potential to upset the status quo in the Round of 8 or Championship 4. With consistent performance throughout the year, Tyler Reddick captured the 2024 Cup Series regular season title ahead of the likes of Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott.
He is currently third on the playoffs list and one of the top contenders for the NASCAR title.
