NASCAR predictions 2024: Who will make playoffs, win Cup Series title?

The NASCAR Cup Series season begins Sunday with the Daytona 500 from Daytona International Speedway.

Ryan Blaney begins his Cup Series championship defense in a style of racing that has been kind to him despite not yet winning the 500. He's one of a long list of accomplished drivers with a growing number on the right-hand side of the "0-for..." record in the sport's biggest race.

Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin ran The Clash two weekends ago to no issue following offseason shoulder surgeries. Elliott will certainly be pushing for a rebound season following the 2023 season marred by an off-track injury early and a missed postseason late in the schedule. Hendersonville's Josh Berry will begin his rookie season with Stewart-Haas Racing, filling the seat of retired legend Kevin Harvick.

As The Tennessean increases our NASCAR coverage this season, Mike Organ, Tom Kreager and Nick Gray preview the 2024 season and give their expert predictions for the Cup Series, including championship picks.

FULL WEEK SCHEDULE: NASCAR at Daytona: 2024 Speedweeks TV schedule for Daytona 500

A NASCAR Cup Series surprise this season will be....

Mike Organ: Legacy Motor Club will finally get it together with John Hunter Nemechek settling in as the team’s third full-time driver in three years. Nemechek, the son of longtime NASCAR Cup Series driver Joe Nemechek, is returning full-time to the Cup Series for the first time since finishing fourth in the 2020 Rookie of the Year standings and raring to go.

Tom Kreager: Ross Chastain will continue to be even better in 2024. Chastain won two races both in 2022 and 2023. He’ll double that with four this season as he continues to calm down on the track for Trackhouse Racing.

Nick Gray: Ty Gibbs will not only earn his first career Cup victory but will be a championship contender to the very end of the playoffs. Gibbs’ results were improving in the final couple months of 2023, and he has enough experience in the NextGen car to excel in his second full season in the Cup Series.

A NASCAR Cup Series disappointment this season will be....

Mike Organ: Justin Haley’s move to Rick Ware Racing surprised some and will not be a smooth transition. While Rick Ware Racing was trending up at The Clash, this is not a move that will help it get to the next level. Haley will struggle to finish in the top 10 throughout the season.

Tom Kreager: Kyle Busch will struggle in Year 2 with Richard Childress Racing. How big of a struggle? He won’t win a Cup race this season. Busch has never had a winless NASCAR Cup season since he started racing full-time in 2005. He had three wins in 2023, but none after at Gateway on June 4.

Nick Gray: Kaulig Racing was looking like an up-and-coming midpack team with Justin Haley and AJ Allmendinger over the last two seasons. Haley is now with Rick Ware Racing, and Allmendinger is back in the Xfinity Series. I’ve always liked Daniel Hemric as a driver, but this is a bad fit.

How will Hendersonville’s Josh Berry fare in his rookie season in the Cup Series?

Mike Organ: The 33-year-old Berry will make a splash by earning a NASCAR Cup Series win for Stewart-Haas Racing. Berry, who is replacing Kevin Harvick, will also remain in the playoff mix until late in the year. The 2024 season didn’t get underway the way Berry wanted when he was left on the outside looking in for The Clash at the Coliseum and he will use that as motivation as the season gets underway at Daytona.

Tom Kreager: This will be a disappointing season for not only Josh Berry, but Stewart-Haas Racing. Berry will go winless in 2024 with five top-10 finishes and a couple top-fives. He’ll finish in the mid-to-late 20s in the points standings. As a group, Gragson and Berry won’t have success. Stewart-Haas will go winless this season.

Nick Gray: Stewart-Haas Racing needs to step up after a very disappointing 2023 season, and how Berry and teammate Noah Gragson fit in replacing veterans Kevin Harvick and Aric Almirola will be one of the major yearlong storylines in the sport. I think Berry falls short of the playoffs but is competitive with crew chief Rodney Childers on the box. A finish at the bottom of the top 20 in the points standings, with a few top-5s and a handful of top-10s, will be a good start for the Hendersonville native.

2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoff picks

2024 NASCAR Cup Series championship picks

Mike Organ's pick: Kyle Larson

Kyle Larson, in the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, came close to winning the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series championship finishing closely behind Ryan Blaney and will carry that momentum into the 2024 season. Larson had plenty of highlights last season including four wins and led the series in laps led (1,127).

Tom Kreager's pick: Kyle Larson

Larson and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet will beat out teammate Chase Elliott to win his second NASCAR Cup Series championship. This won’t be as dominant of a season when he won 10 races for the 2021 title, but he will have one of the best cars on the track most races.

Nick Gray's pick: Chase Elliott

The No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet race team had the season from hell in 2023, with Chase Elliott’s early-season injury while skiing throwing the whole year out of whack. There should be no team and driver more motivated to produce in 2024. Elliott is too good to go winless throughout an entire season, and here’s guessing he will win five or more races this year.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NASCAR predictions 2024: Who will make Chase, win Cup Series title?