Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 2018 Playoff Drivers

By RJ Kraft | Published: November 9, 2018 17

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NASCAR Creative Design

The Championship 4 is set with Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr. and Joey Logano. We analyze how the drivers stack up at Homestead-Miami Speedway, and how the postseason eliminations have gone this year.

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1. Joey Logano; Points: 5,000
Homestead history: Two top fives, four top 10s, 14.9 average finish in nine starts.

Championship 4 history: 2014 (4th) and 2016 (2nd).

Notable: Logano is the lone driver in the Championship 4 without a title. In fact, he's finished fourth the previous two instances in which he advanced to the Championship 4.

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2. Kyle Busch; Points: 5,000

Homestead history: One win, three top fives, six top 10s, 18.5 average finish in 13 starts.

Championship 4 history: 2015 (1st), 2016 (3rd) and 2017 (2nd).

Notable: This is the fourth straight Championship 4 appearance for Busch. He appeared to have the best car last year, but couldn't quite catch Martin Truex Jr. on a late run when he was held up racing Joey Logano.

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3. Martin Truex Jr.; Points: 5,000

Homestead history: One win, four top fives, eight top 10s, 11.5 average finish in 13 starts.

Championship 4 history: 2015 (4th) and 2017 (1st).

Notable: Of the Championship 4 drivers, Truex is the only driver to not yet win in the 2018 postseason. Of his four wins this season, one has come on a 1.5-mile track, which is the configuration at Miami.

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4. Kevin Harvick; Points: 5,000

Homestead history: One win, nine top fives, 15 top 10s, 6.8 average finish in 17 starts.

Championship 4 history: 2014 (1st), 2015 (2nd) and 2017 (3rd).

Notable: Harvick has the best stats of the Championship 4 field at Homestead-Miami Speedway, plus eight wins this season. He appears to be the favorite, but will be without crew chief Rodney Childers and car chief Robert Smith, both of whom were suspended for the race following an L1-level penalty to the No. 4 team.

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