The Round of 8 in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs starts Sunday at Martinsville (3 p.m. ET, NBCSN, MRN, Sirius XM NASCAR Radio), and it’s the first chance a driver will have to win his way into the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
The field features four former champions in Jimmie Johnson, Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch. But for the long-term future of NASCAR, Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney offer a glimpse into the larger-than-life possibilities that could lie ahead.
The two young stars have turned heads all year and have the opportunity to do so again when they take their early-20s selves to the oldest track on the NASCAR circuit.
Which young driver is going to shake up the old guard, at the old track, and steal a spot in the season finale? George Winkler and Kelly Crandall have their picks and are ready to rough it up, short-track style.
Winkler: If “We’re going to Homestead!” is in play, it helps to have Jeff Gordon, who coined that phrase, in your corner. And that’s exactly what Chase Elliott has with the four-time champion giving him pointers at the recent Martinsville test. In addition to this, Elliott has enjoyed success at Texas Motor Speedway, the second stop in the Round of 8 where he grabbed his first career victory in the NASCAR XFINITY Series and has an average finish of sixth place in the Monster Energy Series. Three runner-up finishes in these playoffs have been frustrating for sure, but they also could be a sign that a big breakthrough win is just around the corner.
Crandall: Ryan Blaney is quietly getting the job done. Sure, Elliott has been the flashier of the two in the playoffs, but the No. 21 team has four top-11 finishes in six playoff races and 30 laps led in the last two weeks. More importantly, Blaney has the speed to run up front and has picked up stage points — and a stage win — in recent weeks. In other words, Blaney is coming on strong when it matters most, like when he rallied from the rear of the field at Kansas to finish third. Martinsville will likely be a battle for Blaney & Co., but they have momentum on their side.
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