Who will win the NASCAR Season Finale 500 and the Cup? The Eckel 4 make picks — there may be a wild twist!
It’s come down to this.
Four drivers battling head-to-head for the 2020 NASCAR Cup Championship, and if it goes the way 2020 has it will have a wild twist.
And that’s what two of “The Eckel 4’’ think will happen. We’ll explain later.
The four drivers still alive for the championship are Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski and Chase Elliott.
The veteran Hamlin, looking for his first Cup Championship, and the 24-year-old Elliott, in his first Final 4, are co-favorites to win the Cup at 5-2. Logano, the 2014 champ and Keselowski, the 2012 winner, are both 3-1.
And none of the four are favored to actually win the race. Kevin Harvick, who won nine times this season and appeared to be a lock to make The Final 4 but didn’t, is the race favorite at 7-2. Hamlin, Elliott and Keselowski are all 5-1 and Logano is 6-1.
It would be fitting for this crazy year to end with Harvick on Victory Lane celebrating the win, while one of the other four (who ever finishes the best among them) celebrates winning The Cup.
Here’s what The Eckel 4, which as always includes Scott “Tobacco Road’’ Baker, Mike “Left Turn’’ Sweeney and Barry “Dr. NASCAR’’ Davis think will happen Sunday.
Mark Eckel: I’m going with Joey Logano and his crew chief Paul Wolfe to find a way to win. This is Logano’s fourth trip to the Final 4, so he’s not a newcomer. He also won in Phoenix earlier this season, so he knows the track. Also remember before the COVID-19 break, Logano was the hottest driver with two wins in the first four races.
Scott “Tobacco Road’’ Baker: He likes Kevin Harvick to win the race, because that would just be so Harvick and Denny Hamlin to finish the best among the four to win the Cup. Those results wouldn’t be a shock.
Mike “Left Turn’’ Sweeney: “Left Turn’’ also thinks Harvick wins to prove he really is the best driver this year. He has Logano finishing he best among the Final 4 drivers to win his second Cup.
Barry “Dr. NASCAR’’ Davis: The Dr. likes Hamlin to win the race and the Cup. This is Hamlin’s third trip to Final 4, and he’s the only one back from last year’s Final 4. This would be his first Cup Championship and it would be well deserved.