For the second year, we’ve asked people on Twitter to publicly predict which drivers they think will make up the 2019 Championship 4. Because, of course, opinionated internet strangers always know what’s right.
https://twitter.com/steveluvender/status/1096069271321526273
The idea here is simple: we want to avoid showboating later in the season: the “yeah, I knew it all along” and “it was obvious all year” claims that come from internet geniuses once the NASCAR Playoffs roll around. It’s just nice to have it in writing, you know?
When we called for predictions in 2018, not a single person on Twitter correctly guessed a Championship 4 of Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick, and Kyle Busch. Not one.
The 2019 season is a year of change in NASCAR, which might make predicting contenders before the season-opening Daytona 500 even more difficult than usual. Really, that’s more incentive to solicit guesses ahead of time. Accountability, baby.
KyBusch, Keselowski, Logano, Hamlin. https://t.co/2g4kkjiNIB
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) February 14, 2019
Whether it’s two sets of BFFs:
Jimmie Johnson, Paul menard, Kyle busch, Brad keselowski
— lacey (@laceyyyface) February 14, 2019
Or a repeat of 2018:
Since 11/13 is my birthday, we will celebrate. Logano, Harvick, Truex and KyBu. Sounds familiar. š¤
— Steph (@Steph_in_city) February 14, 2019
Or intentionally vague picks that help keep options open:
Elliott, Johnson, Truex, Busch
— big hoss (@knalllen) February 14, 2019
1. The best driver, 2. The second best driver, 3. The third best driver, 4. Harvick
— David Staines (@Sharky96) February 15, 2019
Or a driver who’s only scheduled to start one race (though, maybe Jamie McMurray will win the Daytona 500 and clinch a spot in the playoffs):
Chase Elliott, Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, and Jamie McMurray
— Colton Cranmore (@CranmoreColton) February 14, 2019
Or, everybody’s favorite — nonsensical picks (it’s OK, it’s hard to resist):
Ward Burton
Dave Blaney
Scott Wimmer
Hut Stricklin— dwest (@dwest___) February 14, 2019
Matt Tifft, Landon Cassil, Corey LaJoie, and Corey LaJoieās face
— Noah (@ncj_31) February 14, 2019
Derrick Cope
Danica Patrick
Cole Whitt
And the GOAT, Brian Scott— Heath š° (@Heathbar0428) February 14, 2019
Harvick, Logano, Kyle Busch, Steve Park
— ConPoop (@Connorstro32) February 14, 2019
https://twitter.com/TonyJWriter/status/1096088837996990464
https://twitter.com/jonesbrent570/status/1096088778450571264
Landon Cassill
Matt Dibenedetto
Corey Lajoie
Chris Buescherhate to spoil it so early but final lap at homestead is 4 wide and corey lajoie wins by a tongue coming out of his grill
— phrank š¤ (@dankfrank3) February 15, 2019
Twitter never disappoints. Anyway, we’ve got hundreds of picks documented, and we’ll gladly laud those who were correct and laugh at those who were wrong.
Of course, we’ll always welcome those hot and spicy takes, too, because they’re the most fun to dig up when they’re totally wrong. Send ’em our way.
Keselowski
Kyle Busch
Ryan Blaney
Chase ElliottBONUS HOT TAKE: Kyle Larson misses the Chase completely
— Josh O'Brien (@josh_obrien) February 14, 2019
I think Ford will struggle with the Mustang but one will make it in
– phil (@VeryFakePhil) February 14, 2019
Nevertheless, once the Championship 4 is determined in November, we’ll revisit these picks and see if anybody was right. Maybe Twitter will do a little better than last year’s goose egg.
If you, NASCAR oracle, think you can guess this year’s Championship 4 before the season begins, fire up the Twitter machine and reply to the prediction tweet with your picks. Or, if you’re up for a season-long challenge, check out @nascarcasm’s Fantasy Dumpster Fire for a chance to score some hot passes.