NASCAR’s playoffs begin with no clear favorite, Larson as top seed, Reddick happy just to make field

Deeandra Michel, AP,

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β€” There is no clear favorite as NASCAR’s playoffs get ready to begin Sunday at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina. Kyle Larson is the top seed, but Ryan Blaney has the momentum following his victory in the regular-season finale at Daytona.

Blaney drives for Team Penske, which has three drivers in the 16-driver field and won the last three Cup Series titles. Shane van Gisbergen makes his playoff debut as a rookie with four wins so far this season.

His win total matches Denny Hamlin for most in the Cup Series this season. Hamlin is the third seed.

Nobody cheered Ryan Blaney louder toΒ win NASCAR’s regular-season finaleΒ than Alex Bowman, who vowed to buy Blaney 7 million beers for the Daytona victory that saved Bowman’s spot in the playoffs.

Bowman had wrecked out at Daytona very early Saturday night and had to watch on television asΒ Blaney won a four-wide race across the finish lineΒ to stop a gaggle of long shot drivers from snagging Bowman’s spot in the 16-driver field.

His relief was a contrast to the frustration shown by Tyler Reddick, last year’s regular-season champion, who limped into the playoffs this year. Like Bowman, he also wrecked early, but his points total was better, so once Bowman was out of the race, Reddick was locked in.

But his 23XI team heads into the playoffs in a slump, a year after making it all the way to NASCAR’s championship-deciding season finale, and Reddick hasn’t had the consistency it will take to race again for the Cup title. Who has?

Well, no single team has emerged as the favorite as NASCAR heads to Darlington Raceway for Sunday’s playoff opener. Kyle Larson is the top seed, just ahead of regular-season champion William Byron.

Lurking right behind the Hendrick Motorsports teammates isΒ Denny Hamlin, one of only two drivers with a Cup Series-high four winsΒ this season. There are two first-time playoff participants in the field, including rookieΒ Shane van Gisbergen, who dominated street and road courses to match Hamlin with four wins.