While the missed races this season for Elliott and Bowman due to injury are obvious reasons for their lack of playoff qualification this year, it’s still got to be a tough pill to swallow for the biggest team in NASCAR.
To set up the field in total: Of the 16 playoff drivers, 3 are from Joe Gibbs Racing, 2 are Hendrick drivers, 2 are from 23XI, 2 are from RFK Racing, 2 are Team Penske, 1 is from Childress, 1 from Trackhouse, 1 from JTG Daugherty, 1 from Front Row Motorsports, and 1 is from Stewart-Haas Racing.
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PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS
Here’s how I see the playoffs going in 2023, including eliminations by round and winners of each race.
First round: (Darlington, Kansas, Bristol)
RACE WINNERS: Kyle Busch (Darlington), Bubba Wallace (Kansas), Martin Truex Jr. (Bristol)
Eliminated: Michael McDowell, Kevin Harvick, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Brad Keselowski
— A magical year for McDowell will fizzle in first round of playoffs, as the Front Row team won’t be able to pull off any more miracles.
— Harvick’s final year would be a great success story if he can advance far in the playoffs, but the way SHR is running this year I highly doubt we’ll see a Cinderella end to his career.
— Stenhouse was always going to exit early; there is just not enough consistency in the 47 team. But winning Daytona and making the playoffs is huge for that squad.
— Keselowski should be proud of RFK’s progress in 2023, but I don’t see him making the second round (his teammate is another story).
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Round of 12: (Texas, Talladega, Charlotte Roval)
RACE WINNERS: William Byron (Texas), Ross Chastain (Talladega), Tyler Reddick (Charlotte Roval)
Eliminated: Bubba Wallace, Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin
— This is quite a wild card round, with a road course and superspeedway included
— Road course struggles may lead to Wallace’s playoff exit at Roval
— Blaney’s been decent but not spectacular this year. Won’t make the Elite Eight without some good fortune
— Larson not in championship form this year
— Hamlin has contract negotiations in the background, could prove distracting
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Round of 8: (Las Vegas, Homestead, Martinsville)
RACE WINNERS: Kyle Busch (Las Vegas), Joey Logano (Homestead), Martin Truex Jr. (Martinsville)
Eliminated: Ross Chastain, Tyler Reddick, Chris Buescher, Christopher Bell
— Trackhouse can’t pull off another Hail Melon this year; Ross is out before Final Four
— Reddick’s exit will mean end of playoffs for 23XI Racing
— Buescher’s brilliant 2023 campaign will fall just short of the Final Four
— Bell will fall just short, leaving Truex as final Toyota title contender
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Final Four/Championship Race (Phoenix)
REMAINING CONTENDERS: William Byron, Joey Logano, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr.
Winner/champion: Joey Logano
— Logano has been somewhat under the radar this year, but will shine when it matters most and claim his second straight championship, and third overall title.
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