Kyle Larson May Probably Be Sufferer of the Upset of the Century if He Fails to Attain the Championship 4

Kyle Larson is the driving force to beat proper now within the NASCAR Cup Sequence playoffs. The Hendrick Motorsports driver has been the category of the sector with uncooked velocity on the #5 Chevy, alongside along with his racing prowess. Ideally, Larson is the most secure guess proper now for anybody who want to see him within the Championship 4 race.

Nevertheless, the 2024 season has been filled with surprises and large upsets. Bear in mind the likes of Ross Chastain, Kyle Busch, and Chris Buescher had been in a position to make it to the playoffs? Can one thing like this occur with Larson and the #5 workforce? It’s extremely unlikely, however on the similar time, it can’t be dominated out altogether.

Kyle Larson can not afford to slide up

Regardless of lacking the Coca-Cola 600 race earlier within the season, Larson has probably the most variety of lead laps (1614) to his identify. Denny Hamlin is his closest rival, with 918 laps led. Not solely that, the driving force of the #5 Chevy has emerged victorious six instances this season; the win at Roval was his most up-to-date one. Due to his sheer dominance all through the season, he sits on the high of the charts, with 33 factors performing as his cushion.

So if there’s a driver within the Spherical of 8 who can afford an off-race, it’s Kyle Larson. He appears to be in a unique league after we have a look at the tracks arising on this spherical of the playoffs. Las Vegas Motor Speedway is sort of a fortress for the #5 workforce, and they’re going to look to defend it for the third straight race. Eric Estepp didn’t have second ideas when he made his predictions for the Championship 4 drivers on his present, Out of the Groove.

Heaping praises of Larson’s performances on the venues lined up within the Spherical of 8, Estepp on his show said, “We head to Las Vegas this weekend; Larson is the two-time defending Las Vegas winner, then we’ll go to Homestead Miami, the place Larson has led 100 plus laps in like 4 of the final seven races, after which Martinsville, the place Larson has a 2.75 common end over the previous couple of years.”

For sure, if issues do go south on Kyle Larson and the #5 workforce, will probably be the most important upset in NASCAR’s latest historical past. Figuring out nicely in regards to the potential of an upset, the HMS driver highlighted the sector of drivers within the Spherical of 8. Hinting that issues might go down the wire until the final race of the spherical at Martinsville Speedway.

Larson isn’t taking anybody without any consideration within the semifinals of the playoffs

The sphere is certainly stacked with the drivers on this spherical; any of them on their good days might clinch the ultimate race at Phoenix. You may have Ryan Blaney, who’s trying to defend his title; in the meantime, his teammate Joey Logano would need to make Penske title wins three years in a row. From JGR, you have got veteran driver Denny Hamlin, who out of all drivers is probably probably the most determined however has saved a poker face. And, Christopher Bell is arguably the driving force who has been constant or near matching Larson’s stride.

To not neglect the opposite two HMS drivers, William Byron and Chase Elliott. The #24 workforce will likely be eyeing their first silverware. Whereas, Elliott and his #9 would need to script a repeat of 2020. Final, however not least, scripting an underdog story, you have got Tyler Reddick from the 23XI Racing camp, who piped Larson to win the common season championship. So, there’s not so much that separates the sector, and Larson is aware of the competitors he’s set to face within the coming weeks.

“I imply, there’s numerous wins and championships, and all that presently within the Spherical of 8. So yeah, I imply, it’s a troublesome group of groups and drivers. The cream has risen, and I feel it’s going to be an ultra-competitive spherical identical to each time, and it comes all the way down to the ultimate few laps at Martinsville.” The HMS star stated this forward of the Vegas race.

Who’re you rooting for within the Spherical of 8 race within the playoffs? Additionally, who would you wish to see race for the championship in Phoenix?