With just one race left in the NASCAR playoffs’ Round of 8, Joey Logano is currently the only playoff driver locked into the final Championship 4. That’s in part because he’s the only remaining championship contender to win a race this round, which he did a couple weeks ago, taking the checkered flag at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
But he’s not quite the favorite to win it all come Phoenix Raceway during the first weekend in November. Chase Elliott still occupies that spot, according to Tipico Sportsbook as of Saturday.
Going into the penultimate race of the season — the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway (2 p.m. ET, NBC) is the last Round of 8 race and the final elimination event before championship weekend at Phoenix — Logano is at the top of the playoff standings.
He’s guaranteed a spot in the Championship 4, and he’s followed by Ross Chastain, Elliott and William Byron, respectively. If the Championship 4 were determined today, those four drivers would race for the title.
Denny Hamlin is the first driver below the current cutline, and he’s five points behind, followed by Ryan Blaney (-18 points), Christopher Bell (-33 points) and Chase Briscoe (-44 points). But as we’ve seen before, anything can happen in these races to shake up the standings and impact who transfers into the final playoff round.
So ahead of the last race before the final four are determined, here’s a look at the latest NASCAR Cup Series championship odds, per Tipico, and they’ve changed a bit since the beginning of this playoff round. We’ve also included how their odds have changed since Tuesday, a look at how each driver has handled the Round of 8 races so far and how they finished at Martinsville back in April.
NASCAR playoffs guide 2022: Everything you need to know about the postseason format
8
Chase Briscoe, No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford +10000
2022 Round of 12 performance so far
Las Vegas Motor Speedway: 4th
Homestead-Miami Speedway: 36th (DNF)
2022 performance on Round of 12 tracks
Martinsville Speedway (spring): 9th
Tuesday odds: +20000
7
Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota +7000
2022 Round of 12 performance so far
Las Vegas Motor Speedway: 34th DNF
Homestead-Miami Speedway: 11th
2022 performance on Round of 12 tracks
Martinsville Speedway (spring): 20th
Tuesday odds: +8000
6
Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford +3000
2022 Round of 12 performance so far
Las Vegas Motor Speedway: 28th
Homestead-Miami Speedway: 17th
2022 performance on Round of 12 tracks
Martinsville Speedway (spring): 4th
Blaney is the only driver without a win this season still competing for the championship. But to make the final four, he’ll either need to earn his first win at Martinsville or make up some ground in the standings to climb among the top-4 drivers.
Tuesday odds: +4000
5
William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet +700
2022 Round of 12 performance so far
Las Vegas Motor Speedway: 13th
Homestead-Miami Speedway: 12th
2022 performance on Round of 12 tracks
Martinsville Speedway (spring): 1st
Tuesday odds: +650
4
Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota +480
2022 Round of 12 performance so far
Las Vegas Motor Speedway: 5th
Homestead-Miami Speedway: 7th
2022 performance on Round of 12 tracks
Martinsville Speedway (spring): 28th
Tuesday odds: +450
3
Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet +425
2022 Round of 12 performance so far
Las Vegas Motor Speedway: 2nd
Homestead-Miami Speedway: 2nd
2022 performance on Round of 12 tracks
Martinsville Speedway (spring): 5th
Tuesday odds: +425
2
Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford +270
2022 Round of 12 performance so far
Las Vegas Motor Speedway: 1st
Homestead-Miami Speedway: 18th
2022 performance on Round of 12 tracks
Martinsville Speedway (spring): 2nd
Right now, Logano, the 2018 Cup Series champion, is the safest title bet because he’s the only driver with a guaranteed spot in the final four. But after Martinsville, three other drivers will join him and race for the crown at Phoenix.
Tuesday odds: +280
1
Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet +230
2022 Round of 12 performance so far
Las Vegas Motor Speedway: 21st
Homestead-Miami Speedway: 14th
2022 performance on Round of 12 tracks
Martinsville Speedway (spring): 10th
Elliott was the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion.
Tuesday odds: +220
