Reacting To My Pre-Season NASCAR Playoff Picks!

A brand new NASCAR season always brings surprises, and Eric decided to test himself with his way-too-early 2025 playoff predictions made back in January. Now that the regular season is over, it’s time to grade those picks. From obvious locks to bold calls, he goes driver by driver to see just how well his crystal ball held up. The results? Let’s just say there are some big wins and some painful misses.

• Which “easy locks” like Larson, Bell, Hamlin, and Elliott were no-brainers from the start?
• How did he swing and miss on Ty Gibbs despite all the preseason hype?
• Why did he feel so confident about Bowman and Briscoe months before they turned into real playoff threats?
• And was picking Shane van Gisbergen to sneak in through wins actually one of his smartest predictions ever?

Looking back, the mix of nailed-it calls and complete whiffs makes this one of Eric’s most entertaining self-reviews yet. Did he beat last year’s disappointing 12 out of 16 record, or did the unpredictability of 2025 catch up with him again? Check out the full breakdown and see which picks stand the test of time — and which ones aged like milk. Then let us know how many drivers you correctly predicted for this year’s playoff grid.

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