Best ever: Stats show 2018 Championship 4 is best of all

Numbers don't lie. Buoyed by dominant performances from Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch -- and with hearty contributions from Martin Truex Jr. and Joey Logano -- this year's Championship 4 field, top to bottom, is NASCAR's best in the five-year history of the playoff format. We analyzed every Championship 4 field by driver and analyzed four key stats: wins, top-five finishes, top-10 finishes and average finish, all heading into Miami for each season. We totaled them up and compared 'em side by side. And the answer is clear. Scroll through to see how each class stands up.

2014 Championship 4: Denny Hamlin, Ryan Newman, Joey Logano, Kevin Harvick


Combined wins: 10 (Rank: 4/5)

Combined top fives: 40 (Rank: 5/5)

Combined top 10s: 73 (Rank: 5/5)

Combined average finish: 13.0 (Rank: 5/5)

2015 Championship 4: Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch


Combined wins: 9 (Rank: 5/5)

Combined top fives: 46 (Rank: 4/5)

Combined top 10s: 84 (Rank: 3/5)

Combined average finish: 11.5 (Rank: 3/5)

2016 Championship 4: Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards, Joey Logano


Combined wins: 14 (Rank: 3/5)

Combined top fives: 51 (Rank: 3/5)

Combined top 10s: 82 (Rank: 4/5)

Combined average finish: 12.5 (Rank: 4/5)

2017 Championship 4: Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr.


Combined wins: 17 (Rank: 2/5)

Combined top fives: 59 (Rank: 2/5)

Combined top 10s: 88 (Rank: 2/5)

Combined average finish: 11.3 (Rank: 2/5)

2018 Championship 4: Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Joey Logano


Combined wins: 22 (Rank: 1/5)

Combined top fives: 74 (Rank: 1/5)

Combined top 10s: 100 (Rank: 1/5)

Combined average finish: 9.8 (Rank: 1/5)