Predicting every 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs race winner

Before the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, NASCAR.com's Zack Albert and Pat DeCola revisited their race-winner picks from pre-season. See all the predictions — some modified, some kept — before things kick off Sunday at Darlington Raceway (6 p.m. ET, NBCSN/NBC Sports App, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, MRN)

Southern 500

Pat's original pick: Kyle Busch
Pat's updated pick: Kyle Busch

Why: Busch's Darlington stats speak for themselves — he's had just one "bad" race there over the last decade — and it seems unlikely he'll go his entire career without a Southern 500 crown. Given a down 2020 season, this pick was a bit of a shot in the dark for a preseason selection, but feels much safer now after a strong 2021 so far.

Richmond

Zack's original pick: Martin Truex Jr.
Zack's updated pick: Martin Truex Jr.

Why: MTJ pushed his streak of Richmond top-five finishes to five straight in the spring, and he's led 100-plus laps in seven of the last nine at the Virginia track. It's been since May that Truex last won, but the timing seems right to stick with the No. 19.

Bristol Night Race

Pat's original pick: Kyle Larson
Pat's updated pick: Kyle Larson

Why: Nobody knew what Larson had in store for 2021 when this pick was made, but boy does it feel like even more of a lock now. Bristol — without dirt, ironically — was among his best tracks in his Chip Ganassi Racing days. Now in superior Hendrick Motorsports equipment, this should be his race to lose.

Las Vegas

Zack's pick: Joey Logano
Zack's updated pick: Joey Logano

Why: Logano has won at LVMS in each of the last two years. If he's able to shake off some of his regular-season unsteadiness in the 10-race closing stretch, Vegas would be the prime place.

Talladega

Pat's original pick: Alex Bowman
Pat's updated pick: Brad Keselowski

Why: Bowman could certainly still win this race — I expect he'll have a productive playoffs — but this feels like the right spot for one last hurrah for Keselowski and Team Penske, who will part ways at season's end. He holds a ridiculous six victories there, including the spring race. (Note: Ryan Blaney was strongly considered here as well. Half-credit if he wins.)

Charlotte Roval

Zack's pick: Chase Elliott
Zack's updated pick: Chase Elliott

Why: Went with the road-course chalk entering the season, and Elliott's performance on the twisty layouts this year hasn't been a deterrent. He's going for three consecutive Roval wins, a destiny that would spring him into the Round of 8.

Texas

Pat's original pick: Ryan Blaney
Pat's updated pick: Ryan Blaney

Why: Blaney has always been sneaky good in his Penske days at Texas, and has been inching closer to a victory the past few races there. He's finished in the top eight in six of the last seven, led a race-high 150 laps in this race last year and was fourth at the Fort Worth track in the spring.

Kansas

Zack's pick: Kevin Harvick
Zack's updated pick: Kyle Larson

Why: Interestingly enough, Harvick finished second at Kansas earlier this year, but that opportunistic jump in a late restart isn't quite enough to offset what's been a sometime struggle for the No. 4 team. Next in line is No. 5, which led half the Kansas race with Larson, a constant threat on the 1.5-mile tracks this year.

Martinsville

Pat's original pick: Brad Keselowski
Pat's updated pick: Martin Truex Jr.

Why: This could also be a spot for Keselowski's last-hurrah, but if it is I suspect he'll be out of the playoffs by now and not a Championship 4-clincher. Feels much more likely that Truex, who has won three of the last four at his namesake track, collects yet another grandfather clock amidst a run to Phoenix.

Phoenix

Zack's pick: Denny Hamlin
Zack's updated pick: Denny Hamlin

Why: Steady as it goes. Hamlin's No. 11 team was among the fastest at Phoenix in March. If there was ever a driver due for their first championship, it's Hamlin. Ending a dry spell in the desert? Why not.