Who Will Be Eliminated in the Round of 16?

Who won’t advance to the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 12?

Luken Glover: I’m fully prepared to come back to this and see how poorly my picks aged, but that’s part of the fun. Harrison Burton shouldn’t be completely ruled out given that the playoffs start on a drafting track, but if he doesn’t cash in, he is very likely on his way to a quick exit. And while Austin Cindric has a little more stability by running more consistently as of late, the pace just isn’t there for him to be a sleeper. This pick should not be as surprising given his recent results, but Martin Truex Jr.‘s momentum is completely flat. We saw when that happened in last year’s playoffs, and this round doesn’t suit up well for him aside from Watkins Glen International. Lastly, my somewhat bold prediction is Alex Bowman. Bowman enters the playoffs with no top 10s since a third at Pocono Raceway, and the Round of 16 tracks have produced a mixed bag of results for him. Hendrick Motorsports is no stranger to flexing in the playoffs after a summer slump, but this one feels off.

Andrew Stoddard: Well, let’s start with the obvious. Unless lightning strikes twice at Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend, Burton’s first stay in the Cup playoffs will be short. Burton’s victory at Daytona International Speedway was a feel-good story for his family and Wood Brothers Racing, but this is a waste of a playoff spot. Cindric also won’t advance to the Round of 12. The driver of the No. 2 only had one top 10 prior to World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway and just one since. That’s not a recipe for success. Daniel Suarez and Trackhouse Racing will bow out in the opening round as well. Hendrick will not advance all four drivers as Bowman will fail to make the Round of 12. Bowman’s win at the Chicago street course came under dubious circumstances, with the weather as well as race favorites Kyle Larson and Shane van Gisbergen crashing out. But hey, at least he has job security.

Kevin Nix: Despite the high number of underdog winners, there are few clear-cut first-round exits. Burton is the most likely, as his best shot of advancing is to win this weekend at Atlanta. It’s a nice story to have Burton in, but unless the team finds speed from somewhere it hasn’t yet, he has no chance. Truex has had a disappointing last couple of months and the No. 19 team is not clicking the way it should be. That inconsistency will cost him. Beyond Burton and Truex, Cindric and Bowman…