Chase Elliott and William Byron have recently emerged as serious contenders for the NASCAR Cup Series championship, according to veteran NASCAR insider Jordan Bianchi. This comes despite Elliott’s relatively modest season, having only secured one victory. After the playoff elimination race at Bristol, Bianchi offered his detailed analysis of the drivers still in contention for the championship and their potential paths to success. In his discussion with fellow NASCAR analyst Jeff Gluck on The Teardown podcast, Bianchi dug deep into the remaining playoff field and assessed the chances of each driver advancing to the final stages.
It’s worth noting that, although Elliott has only one win to his name this season, he currently holds 7th place in the playoff standings. Meanwhile, his teammate William Byron sits in 4th place, bolstered by three wins over the course of the season. Despite these results, Bianchi believes both drivers still have legitimate chances to secure the championship.
Bianchi was quick to highlight that while Kyle Larson, another Hendrick Motorsports driver, is widely considered a frontrunner for the championship, Alex Bowman is notably absent from the list of potential champions. Bianchi explained that Bowman’s lackluster performance this season has made it difficult to place him in the same category as his teammates.
When discussing Chase Elliott’s season, Bianchi acknowledged that although Elliott has some work to do to catch up to the other top-tier drivers, he remains confident in his chances due to his association with Hendrick Motorsports. Bianchi remarked,
“He still needs a bit of work, but he’s in a good position with Hendrick Motorsports. They could easily find more speed, even as soon as tomorrow, and Elliott will be fine. So yes, he has the potential to win the championship.” [40:45]
This analysis underscores the advantage of being part of an elite organization like Hendrick Motorsports, which is known for its ability to make rapid improvements. With their resources and expertise, Elliott could regain his form just in time for a late-season surge.
Turning the focus to William Byron, Bianchi sees the young driver as another legitimate contender for the title. Byron’s three wins this season have placed him in an enviable position within the playoff standings. Bianchi pointed out that Byron has the ability to get hot at just the right moment, which could carry him through the final rounds.
“William Byron? Absolutely. If he gets hot and survives the next round, then look at round three—those are three tracks where he excels, especially Martinsville,” Bianchi noted [41:50].
Martinsville Speedway, in particular, is a track where Byron has consistently performed well, and that could be a key factor as the playoffs progress. If Byron can make it through the next round, he’ll have a strong shot at securing a place in the Championship 4.
However, co-host Jeff Gluck tempered some of the enthusiasm for Byron by highlighting the #24 team’s struggles in recent weeks. He shared a telling statistic that since Pocono, Byron has only managed a couple of top-10 finishes in eight races. This inconsistency could pose a challenge for Byron as he navigates the highly competitive playoff field. While Byron has shown flashes of brilliance this season, the key to his championship hopes may lie in finding a way to regain his early-season momentum.
Similarly, Chase Elliott has struggled to replicate the form that propelled him to early-season success. Between Richmond and Iowa, Elliott earned six top-5 finishes in just 11 races, including a win in Texas. However, since his third-place finish at Iowa, Elliott has managed only one top-5 finish—the elimination race at Bristol. This dip in performance has raised questions about whether Elliott can regain his stride in time to mount a serious championship challenge.
In addition to his insights on Elliott and Byron, Bianchi also addressed the championship prospects of other playoff drivers, including Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin. When it comes to Logano, Bianchi sees a clear path for the Team Penske driver to make it to the Championship 4 in Phoenix. Despite some ups and downs this season, Bianchi believes Logano has what it takes to perform when it matters most.
“I can see a clear path. I’m curious to see how their speed holds up on mile-and-a-half tracks, as that’s going to be a major factor, especially in round three. But if Logano can make it out of this round… looking at the last few years with Penske, they’ve progressively improved. I think either Logano or Blaney could make the Championship 4, and I’m leaning toward Logano,” Bianchi explained [43:24].
Logano’s ability to adapt and improve as the playoffs progress has been a hallmark of his career, and Bianchi’s comments suggest that this year could be no different. If Logano can navigate the next round successfully, he could very well find himself contending for his second Cup title.
As for Denny Hamlin, Bianchi was equally confident in the Joe Gibbs Racing driver’s championship potential. Hamlin has shown remarkable consistency throughout the season, and Bianchi believes he’s a threat to win at any of the tracks in the upcoming round—Kansas, Talladega, or the Charlotte ROVAL.
“Denny Hamlin can absolutely win the championship,” Bianchi stated confidently. “He’s capable of winning at any of the next three tracks, and if he keeps up this level of performance, he’ll be right in the mix for the title.”
Overall, Bianchi’s analysis offers a comprehensive look at the drivers still in the running for the championship. While Kyle Larson and Joey Logano are considered favorites, drivers like Chase Elliott, William Byron, and Denny Hamlin all have the potential to make deep playoff runs. As the playoffs progress, the ability to perform under pressure will be the defining factor for these drivers, and only time will tell who emerges as the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series champion.
