4 potential eliminations as NASCAR playoffs head to final race after Martinsville

The NASCAR Cup Series is scheduled for the final Round of 8 race for the Xfinity 500 event at Martinsville Speedway on November 3. With two of the eight drivers having a confirmed spot with a win, only two remaining spots are left to fill the final Championship 4 race at Phoenix Raceway.

With a recent win at Homestead-Miami, the 2024 regular season champion Tyler Reddick has made his way to the final race of the season at Phoenix, Arizona on November 10. Moreover, Team Penske's Joey Logano has confirmed his spot for a chance to lift the Cup Series championship trophy for a third time.

Ranked at P3 in the playoff picture, Joe Gibbs Racing driver Christopher Bell has a 29-point cushion over the other five drivers as they proceed to the 0.5-mile short asphalt track. He is followed by Hendrick Motorsports star William Byron who had four top-five finishes in his last five starts in the 2024 playoffs. The 2024 Daytona 500 winner Byron is placed fourth and seven points above the cutline.

Let's take a look at the remaining four drivers who are on the verge of elimination as we advance to the short-track racing at Martinsville:

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4 potential eliminations from the Round of 8 after the Martinsville race

#1 Chase Elliott (-43)

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2020 Cup Series champion Chase Elliott is in the worst spot in the playoff picture. The HMS driver is ranked at the bottom of the playoff picture and is in a 43-point deficit. A DNF at the first Round of 8 race at Las Vegas worsened his situation. However, a recent top-five finish at Homestead-Miami didn't do him good.

With other fierce competitors in contention, a win at Martinsville like on his way to his maiden championship title would benefit NASCAR's Most Popular driver.

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#2 Ryan Blaney (-38)

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Reigning Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney has been battling hard to retain his title. After losing out the last-lap battle with 23XI Racing's Reddick last weekend, the Team Penske driver is 38 points below the cutline.

With a history of winning the final race of the Round of 8 last season, the #12 Ford driver is one of the top drivers in contention to qualify for the Championship 4 race in Phoenix.

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#3 Denny Hamlin (-18)

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After a total of 54 Cup Series wins, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver is on the lookout for his maiden championship title this season. With a history of several wins on short tracks and five on Martinsville Speedway, the #11 Toyota driver would look to tame the Arizona track and gather enough points.

The three-time Daytona 500 winner had a dominant run this season, accumulating three wins and seven stage wins.

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#4 Kyle Larson (-7)

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2021 Cup Series champion Kyle Larson has been the top contender for the championship title for the better part of the current season. With a total of six wins and two in the playoffs, the #5 HMS driver has dominated the Cup Series season. However, after finishing outside the top 10 in the Round of 8 races, the Hendrick star has found himself seven points below the cutline and his HMS teammate Byron.

Having a history of performing on short tracks and his dominant run of leading the most laps this season, Larson would require good fortune to get back for his second championship title.