Is Joe Gibbs Racing the team to beat on the road to the 2025 Cup Series title? The NASCAR playoffs are in full swing, and the pressure is on! Denny Hamlin secured his spot in the Championship 4, but with Talladega Superspeedway looming, the competition is fiercer than ever. Let's dive into the latest 'Bubble Watch' to see who's trending and who's facing elimination.
(Stats provided by Racing Insights)
Denny Hamlin (ADV): Safely above the elimination line.
Kyle Larson: With 35 points above the cutline and an 83.2% chance of advancing, Larson is definitely 'Hot'. His average finish of 9.6 on superspeedways leads all Cup drivers this season. And this is the part most people miss: He's getting comfortable with pack racing, achieving top-five finishes in his last two races at Talladega.
Christopher Bell: Holding 20 points above the cutline with a 72.8% chance of moving on, Bell's trending 'Hot'. But here's where it gets controversial: While he's consistently placed in the top 10 in the playoffs, a win in the next two races would solidify his place in the Championship 4. However, his Talladega track record is inconsistent, with only three top 10s in 11 starts.
Chase Briscoe: With 15 points above the cutline and a 54.2% chance of advancing, Briscoe is 'Warm'. But his Talladega outlook is 'Cold', with only two top 10s in nine starts.
William Byron: Now below the cutline by 15 points, with a 26.5% chance of advancing, Byron is 'Going Cold'. But don't count him out! Talladega has been kind to the No. 24 team in recent years, with finishes no worse than seventh since the spring of 2023.
Chase Elliott: Below the cutline by 23 points, with a 25.1% chance of advancing, Elliott is 'Cooling Off'. The two-time Talladega winner has had mixed results recently, with two top 10s in his last four races at the track.
Joey Logano: Facing a 24-point deficit, with only a 15.8% chance of advancing, Logano is 'Warming Up'. But his Talladega outlook is 'Ice Cold'. Despite leading 117 laps in the Gen 7 era at Talladega, his best finish was 19th in the spring of 2024.
Ryan Blaney: Trailing by 31 points, with a 22.4% chance of advancing, Blaney is 'Ice Cold'. There are concerning similarities between Blaney's recent races and his Talladega performance. Since his New Hampshire win, his best finish was 13th at the Charlotte Roval, and he's crashed out in the last two Talladega races.
So, what do you think? Will Joe Gibbs Racing dominate, or will we see some unexpected upsets? Share your predictions in the comments below!
