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The NASCAR playoff grid is now down to eight title contenders after the Round of 12 cut-off race at the Roval in Charlotte Motor Speedway. The series now heads to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the opening race of the Round of 8.
Kyle Larson clinched a dominant victory at the Roval, further extending his lead to the cutline. Larson has a 33-point cushion, while Christopher Bell (+13), Tyler Reddick (+10), and William Byron (+4) are currently in a position to advance to the season finale.
Reigning champion Ryan Blaney (-4), Denny Hamlin (-8), Chase Elliott (-9) and Joey Logano (-11) are below the cutline, with Logano advancing due to Alex Bowman's disqualification at the Roval. Among the eight remaining playoff contenders, four are Cup champions, while the rest are strong championship contenders, setting up a fierce battle for the 2024 title.
After navigating the unpredictable first two rounds, the Round of 8 features more predictable, traditional tracks. With Las Vegas Motor Speedway kicking off the semifinal round, let's look at four NASCAR playoff drivers who have a strong chance of winning at the 1.5-mile oval and securing their spot in the Championship four.
4 NASCAR playoff drivers to watch out for at Las Vegas
#4 Tyler Reddick
Tyler Reddick made a valiant charge through the field at the Roval to advance into the Round of 8. Although Reddick's form has dipped in the NASCAR playoffs, the intermediate ovals in the Round of 8 provide the #45 Toyota driver an opportunity to bounce back.
Reddick has the third-best average finish among playoff drivers at Las Vegas, at 9.4, in his last seven starts at the track. He narrowly finished second to Larson in the spring race earlier this season.
#3 William Byron
William Byron and the #24 Hendrick Motorsports team have had a remarkable Round of 12, finishing in the top three for the last three races. Despite experiencing a win drought over the summer months, Byron and the team are in strong form as they head into the Round of 8.
Byron has the second-best average finish among playoff drivers at Las Vegas, at 8.9, including a win in Spring 2023. He also secured a top-10 result at the 1.5-mile oval earlier this season and will be in the mix to win the race this weekend.
#2 Denny Hamlin
Denny Hamlin has managed to scrape through the first two rounds to advance to the Round of 8. The upcoming tracks align well with the strengths of the #11 Joe Gibbs Racing team. A victory this weekend would offer the team a much-needed break after a challenging playoff campaign.
The veteran NASCAR driver has a 10.1 average finish at the track in the last seven races and finished eighth earlier this season. He has led the second-most laps at the track in the same period and has won one race in the process.
#1 Kyle Larson
Coming off a victory at Charlotte, Kyle Larson is the driver to beat at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. His impressive track record at intermediate ovals is underscored by his success at Las Vegas, where he has claimed victory in the last two races.
The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion boasts the best average finish at Las Vegas (7.4) among playoff drivers over the last seven races, which includes three victories. In his last five outings at the track, he has finished in the top two on four occasions.
Larson is the odds-on favorite to win the race and secure his spot in the season finale, mirroring his path to championship four last season.
