Are Kyle Larson and Ryan Blaney on verge of playoff elimination? All you need to know about Martinsville playoff scenarios

2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson and defending NASCAR Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney finished 13th and runner-up, respectively, in the dramatic NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at Homestead-Miami on Sunday, October 27. Larson and Blaney both face high stakes heading into the Round of 8 elimination race at Martinsville as they try to secure their spots in the Championship 4 race.

While both championship contenders are yet to confirm a Championship 4 berth, defending champion Blaney is in the more precarious position. Both drivers could face playoff exits, depending on how the next race plays out.

After winning the Charlotte ROVAL, Kyle Larson advanced to the Round of 8 and put in a decent show in this round. However, his P13 place finish at Homestead has left him seven points below the Championship 4 cut line.

The 32-year-old is still a strong contender, as he just needs to race clean to avoid any last-minute drama or wreck at Martinsville to lock in his Championship 4 berth. He can secure his spot based solely on points.

On the other hand, Ryan Blaney is in a must-win situation despite a P2 result at Homestead. He had a shot at victory at Homestead, but Tyler Reddick’s last-lap pass snatched it away from the Team Penske driver.

The #12 Penske Ford driver is 38 points below the cut line in the points standings. Drivers like Denny Hamlin and William Byron are also vying for the Championship 4 spots.

Blaney will need to win at Martinsville or finish in the top-5. His situation will come down to how the race unfolds and if playoff drivers ahead of him in the standings encounter issues.

Joey Logano’s win at Las Vegas and Tyler Reddick’s win at Homestead have placed the two in the title-deciding race at Phoenix. Now, only two spots are left, with six drivers in the hunt.

Christopher Bell has a 29-point cushion, while William Byron has a seven-point advantage over the cutline, heading into Martinsville1.

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How have Kyle Larson and Ryan Blaney fared in the Round of 8?

HMS start driver Kyle Larson has had a decent performance in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 8 so far. He finished P11 and P13 at Las Vegas and Homestead, respectively. He is currently placed third in the Cup Series points table, seven points below the elimination line.

Ryan Blaney, meanwhile, has faced more challenges than Larson. He had a disappointing Las Vegas outing where he finished 32nd. He had a heartbreaking P2 result this week, narrowly missing out on the opportunity to place his car in victory lane.

Blaney sits sixth in the Cup Series points table, 38 points below the elimination line. He has shown resilience on short tracks and is likely to push hard for the win.

It will be interesting to see how playoff drivers will approach Martinsville's short track.