2020 NASCAR Standings Predictions (featuring Mike Turriziani)

With NASCAR's season coming up around the corner, many people are wondering who the 16 drivers will be that will make up the playoff field. It's a fair question, as there have been enough silly season switch-ups that some good drivers will not make the Round of 16. Can Bubba Wallace make it with 23XI Racing? How about Christopher Bell in his first year with JGR? What if a dark horse, such as Daniel Suarez, makes the playoffs for the first time in their career?

So me and my good friend Mike Turriziani decided to come up with who we think the playoff field would be. This was a lot tougher than it looked, especially considering where each driver would be seeded. Fair warning before the list gets underway, these are what we believe the standings will look like going into the playoffs, not factoring in who will be season champion. And what better way to start off our list with the defending Champion himself?

Chase Elliott

2020 Statistics: 5 Wins, 15 Top 5s, 22 Top 10s, 1st place points finish

Some might consider it a cop-out that we are putting the defending Cup Series Champion as the Regular Season Champion, but there’s a reason for it. Elliott is a road course master, and with more of those on the calendar this year than ever before, it would not surprise me if Chase got at least 10 wins this year. Plus, he’s solid on ovals too, and has a history of getting clutch wins there. Elliott is coming off of his best season yet statistically, as those wins, top 5s, and top 10s are all career highs from the Dawsonville native. With momentum on his side, coming off a monstrous playoff performance and back-to-back wins to close out the season, the 9 as Regular Season Champion would make complete sense. - EJ

Kevin Harvick

2020 Statistics: 9 wins, 20 Top 5s, 27 Top 10s, 5th place points finish

Despite missing out on the Championship 4 last year, Harvick statistically had a season for the ages. He went on a tear over the summer, and was unstoppable at doubleheaders. He is a threat every single week and I expect him to put up similar numbers in 2021. The question is will he be able to put it all together when it matters the most in November. I have a feeling that last year’s faltering down the stretch will motivate the 4 team and another season with a bunch of wins is on the horizon. -MT

Denny Hamlin

2020 Statistics: 7 Wins, 18 Top 5s, 21 Top 10s, 4th place points finish

Hamlin’s career up until 2019 has been full of the highest of highs and, at times, the lowest of lows. The only thing he is missing from his trophy cabinet is a Cup Series title. Like the aforementioned Harvick, Denny Hamlin was one of the stars of the 2020 season, especially after NASCAR shut down due to the pandemic. He started the season by winning his second straight Daytona 500, and picked up wins at places like Homestead-Miami, Kansas, Dover, and Talladega, among others. Even though he faltered in the playoffs, and barely made the Championship 4, Hamlin is a lock to make the field of 16, and you will almost certainly see him in Victory Lane a handful of times in 2021. - EJ

Joey Logano

2020 Statistics: 3 wins, 12 Top 5s, 21 Top 10s, 3rd place points finish

Joey Logano started last season with a bang, winning two of the first four races before the stoppage caused by the pandemic. After that, he didn’t win until Kansas in October, but he was remarkably consistent and was never out of the championship hunt. He now has a full season working with crew chief Paul Wolfe under his belt and the duo should continue to put up solid numbers this season. -MT

Kyle Busch

2020 Statistics: 1 win, 14 Top 5s, 20 Top 10s, 8th place points finish

2020 was Kyle Busch’s worst season in seven years, as he failed to make the Championship 4 for the first time since 2014. Furthermore, an 8th place points finish took many by surprise. Much of the talk around Rowdy last season was about whether or not his streak of 15 straight seasons with a win would come to an end. Fortunately for Kyle, he pulled off a rain-delayed Wednesday win at Texas during race 34 of 36. This is not the Kyle Busch that we are used to, and he is almost guaranteed to bounce back in some capacity. It’s also his first year with new crew chief Ben Beshore, after winning 2 championships with Adam Stevens. The 18 team may not be the team to beat this year, but Kyle Busch will definitely improve on his 2020 numbers and produce like he was in years prior. - EJ

Brad Keselowski

2020 Statistics: 4 wins, 13 Top 5s, 24 Top 10s, 2nd place points finish

It was an interesting season for Brad Keselowski last year. A lot of that had to do with rumors that he wasn’t going to be back at Penske and possibly going over to Hendrick. Ultimately, this never happened and Brad went on to sign a one year extension. On the track, he got pretty lucky with his wins at Charlotte and Bristol, but also scored dominant wins at New Hampshire (a race Erik and I attended) and Richmond. All of this was capped off with a runner up finish in the points standings. Brad goes into 2021 with a new sponsor in Keystone Light and a one year extension on his contract. He hasn’t scored less than 3 wins since 2015 and he’ll definitely be good for a few more this year. -MT

Ryan Blaney

2020 Statistics: 1 win, 11 Top 5s, 17 Top 10s, 7th place points finish

Ryan Blaney’s 2020 was not just a roller coaster, it was one of those roller coasters that takes you through tons of hills and might not necessarily be the smoothest ride in the park. In the first 3 races of the year, Blaney was the points leader. After the pandemic, it looked like his momentum would continue, and even through his win at Talladega, he looked to be a contender for the Cup Series title. However, after that, the 12 team has eight finishes later in the year of 20th or worse. In the playoffs, Blaney was eliminated in shocking fashion in the Round of 16. Following his elimination, he returned to his early season form, finishing in the top 10 in 6 of the final 7 races. Some may be wondering if Blaney has not lived up to his potential as a Team Penske driver. Sooner rather than later, he’s going to parlay those Top 10s into wins, and what better year to do it than 2021? - EJ

Alex Bowman

2020 Statistics: 1 win, 6 Top 5s, 15 Top 10s, 6th place points finish

Alex Bowman probably had the most underrated season out of any driver last year. He scored his second career win at Fontana early in the season before the pandemic. He won the iRacing event at Talladega as well. When the series returned in May, he was solid once again, scoring a runner up finish at Darlington, and leading a lot of laps in Charlotte. He faded somewhat over the summer months, but once the playoffs started, he finished no worse than 16th and rallied for a career high 6th place points finish, higher than anyone besides the Championship 4 and regular season champion Kevin Harvick. With Jimmie Johnson’s retirement, Bowman slides over from the 88 car to the famous 48 car. This could be the year he and crew chief Greg Ives can make some serious noise as contenders. -MT

Martin Truex Jr.

2020 Statistics: 1 win, 14 Top 5s, 23 Top 10s, 7th place points finish

Martin Truex Jr actually had a decent 2020, considering all of the hands that he was dealt. It was his first season without Cole Pearn as his crew chief since his breakout season of 2015, and even though his numbers dipped a bit, he was still competitive up until the final race in the Round of 8. MTJ might be most known in 2020 for finishing 3rd in 5 straight races, and some of those he had a shot at the win near the end. With eight road courses on the schedule this year, Mike and I believe that the 1 in the win column will increase. The only reason we have Truex dropping a little bit in the points is because of breakout candidates in Blaney and Bowman, but do not be surprised if the 19 goes on a deep run in the playoffs and makes the Championship 4. - EJ

William Byron

2020 Statistics: 1 win, 4 Top 5s, 14 Top 10s, 14th place points finish

Willy B and crew chief Chad Knaus didn’t exactly light the racing world on fire last year, however, in the back of my mind, I always knew Chad would help Byron pick up that elusive first win and that’s exactly what happened, with the pair scoring the win at Daytona towards the end of the summer. This win helped clinch Byron one of the final playoff spots. They had a decent season despite admittingly struggling with the Covid restrictions all teams had to deal with. Byron has been a tad inconsistent but now that he has that first win, they should come a bit easier. The 24 team will have yet another new crew chief for 2021, Byron’s 3rd in 4 years, however he and Rudy Fugle are no strangers to success with each other, with the pair working together back in Byron’s KBM Truck series days. This combo should easily power the 24 team to a couple wins and a playoff spot. -MT

Christopher Bell

2020 Statistics: 0 wins, 2 Top 5s, 7 Top 10s, 20th place points finish

I get what some may be thinking: Why would we have Christopher Bell, a man who did not get double digit Top 10s last year, ranked 11th in points? There’s a couple of reasons we have the 20 team finishing as high as we do. First, Bell is getting a massive upgrade in equipment. The jump from Leavine Family Racing to Joe Gibbs Racing is going to do wonders for the Oklahoma native. Last year in said 95 car, Bell produced decent numbers, but he had his miscues. He impressed many with a 3rd place run at Texas in the fall, and at times it looked like he would take LFR to Victory Lane. The big reason we have Bell making the playoffs? He is one of the heavy favorites for the Bristol dirt race in March. If he wins that race, he’s almost a shoe-in to make the field of 16. Where he will be seeded is anyone’s guess, but considering it’s his first year in JGR equipment with a Cup Series winning crew chief in Adam Stevens, we think 11th is fair. - EJ

Kurt Busch

2020 Statistics: 1 win, 7 Top 5s, 19 Top 10s, 10th place points finish

The elder Busch brother’s career has aged like fine wine. While he isn’t totally dominant these days like fellow 2001 rookie and former teammate Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch has proven to be a savvy veteran who can still get the job done. The 2004 Cup champ has shrugged off retirement rumors and still gathered top 10s in bunches. He locked himself into the playoffs on points last year, and once the round of 12 started, he got that special hometown win at Las Vegas. I wouldn’t go as far as saying Kurt was the biggest surprise last year, but he was definitely a pleasant surprise based on the aforementioned stats he put up. With a new teammate in Ross Chastain and the new Chevy engine package, I expect Kurt to get a win somewhere this year. -MT

Austin Dillon

2020 Statistics: 1 win, 4 Top 5s, 9 Top 10s, 11th place points finish

It was a tough 2019 for Austin Dillon. He missed the playoffs for the first time since 2015, and he tied his worst position in the standings with a 21st place points finish. To say he rebounded in 2020 would be an understatement. He got his first win for the first time in 2 and a half years after surviving several restarts at Texas. In the first round of the playoffs, he continued to impress, scoring back to back top 5s at Darlington and Richmond along with a 12th place finish at Bristol. He bowed out in the round of 12, but his 11th place points finish was tied for the best of his career. With new engines for both Hendrick Motorsports and Richard Childress Racing, we expect both RCR guys to take a leap forward. This is especially true for Dillon, who was so exciting to watch for that first playoff run. He’s gone from making the playoffs as an underdog to becoming a favorite for the Round of 16. Let’s see if Ace’s Dad can live up to the pressure. Mike and I both hope he can. - EJ

Kyle Larson

2020 Statistics: 0 wins, 1 Top 5, 3 Top 10s, 34th place points finish

If I learned anything in 2020, it’s that just when you think you’ve seen it all, something happens that makes you think “did that just really happen?” and Kyle Larson getting fired during an iRacing event was definitely one of those moments for me. All jokes aside, the fact that this happened to Larson, a former member of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program was pretty crazy. Now what Larson did was very wrong and spending time away from the sport was good for all parties. I also believe in second chances so I’m happy to see Kyle return to the sport. He’s a great talent and I know he’s learned his lesson. He now joins a talented lineup of drivers at Hendrick Motorsports as the 5 car returns for the first time since 2017. He should be a favorite at the Bristol dirt race this spring for sure. -MT

Tyler Reddick

2020 Statistics: 0 wins, 3 Top 5s, 9 Top 10s, 19th place points finish

Apart from Cole Custer’s win that got him into the playoffs (and spoiler alert, we’re getting to him next), Tyler Reddick was actually the rookie that impressed the most in 2020. He might’ve had a chance to win the final race of the regular season at Daytona if it wasn’t for a late wreck. At other points in the season, he was running really well, but incidents as the race was winding down cost him points. The reason we have Reddick making the playoffs is the same reason that we have Austin Dillon in 13th. Those RCR engines will help a ton for the sophomore, and if he can finish the races he started well in, he’ll be a playoff driver for sure. - EJ

Cole Custer

2020 Statistics: 1 win, 2 Top 5s, 7 Top 10s, 16th place points finish

As a rookie last year, Cole Custer didn’t have too many big moments, but the one big moment he did have sure was one of the best highlights of the season. His four wide pass for the win at Kentucky was one of the best finishes of the season and it made Cole the first rookie to win a complete race since Juan Pablo Montoya in 2007 (Joey Logano and Chris Buescher won weather shortened races as rookies). Cole’s win punched him a playoff spot and the Rookie of the Year award. Even though Tyler Reddick was a bit better statistically, Cole’s win put him over the top. Cole now enters his second season at Stewart-Haas with his first win already secure and some new expectations that I believe he should be able to fulfill. -MT

So there you have it, our 16 drivers that we have making the playoffs. I want to thank Mike Turriziani for collaborating with me on this, we had a blast doing it. We hope to combine for more articles like these in the future as well. Who do you think is making the Field of 16? Let us know in the comments down below. Wave that green flag in the air, boys! It’s time to go racing!

Photo Credit:

Chase Elliott: Getty Images: https://beyondtheflag.com/2020/11/14/nascar-cup-series-way-too-early-2021-power-rankings/

Kevin Harvick: Patrick Smith, Getty Images: https://tobychristie.com/2020/06/27/inspection-complete-kevin-harvick-officially-wins-saturdays-cup-race-at-pocono/

Denny Hamlin: Daytona International Speedway: https://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/Articles/2020/2-February/Denny-Hamlin-Defends-DAYTONA-500-Championship-in-NASCAR-Double-Overtime-Finish.aspx

Joey Logano: Randy Lanning, Frontstretch: https://www.frontstretch.com/2020/03/08/joey-logano-emerges-victorious-in-phoenix/

Kyle Busch: Chris Graythen. Getty Images: https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Kyle-Busch-2020-Autotrader-EchoPark-500-Texas-Victory-Lane-NCS.jpg

Brad Keselowski: Mike Turriziani, personal collection

Ryan Blaney: Alejandro Alvarez, NASCAR Digital Media: https://m.nascar.com/news-media/2020/03/01/ryan-blaney-todd-gordon-early-season-points-lead/

Alex Bowman: Lesley Ann Miller, Motorsports Images:

https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/alex-bowman-fontana-cup-win/4707989/

Martin Truex Jr.: Chris Graythen/Getty Images: https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2020/02/martin-truex-jr.jpg

William Byron: Daytona International Speedway https://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/Articles/2020/8-August/WILLIAM-BYRON-SECURES-FIRST-CAREER-WIN-IN-COKE-ZERO-SUGAR-400.aspx