Dale Earnhardt Jr. sounds the alarm for Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano heading into Talladega

Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano are in a bad spot after underwhelming performances in this past Sunday’s Round of 8 opener at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Blaney, who blew a tire on Lap 73, is 31 points below the cutline. Logano, though he finished sixth, is 24 points off from the final transfer spot into the Championship 4.

Until now, the idea of Team Penske not having a representative in the Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway was hardly discussed. Now, it’s a real possibility. Both, but especially Blaney, are in must-win situations at Talladega Superspeedway and Martinsville Speedway, Dale Earnhardt Jr. said.

“He’s [Blaney] got to win Talladega, he’s got to win Martinsville, one of the two,” Earnhardt said on Tuesday’s Dale Jr. Download. “You’re not gonna point your way in against the guys you’re racing against. These are the best eight teams in the series. … He’s in a must-win. I just feel like he is. He’s 31 out, but I just think he’s gotta win. Look, he could go have a good Talladega and come into Martinsville in the teens, but I mean, odds are really against him pointing his way in. I don’t know of any people who would feel like that’s realistic.

“Either way, who cares. Win your way in, point your way in, whatever. Logano’s minus-24, Blaney’s minus-31, they’re both in a bad spot. They both may not get to Phoenix.”

Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano could both miss out on Championship 4

Penske has been the championship winner each year of the Next Gen era. They were thought to be the favorites again this season with the schedule setting up favorably in the postseason. That all changed after Las Vegas.

Fortunately for both Penske drivers, they are more than capable of picking up wins at Talladega and Martinsville. Blaney and Logano each have three wins at Talladega. Logano has one career win at Martinsville and 12 consecutive top 10 finishes. Blaney has won the fall Martinsville race in each of the past two seasons to clinch his spot in the Championship 4.

But what if both come up short of getting to Phoenix? Then, Earnhardt said, it just could be Denny Hamlin‘s year to win his first Cup Series championship.

“Everybody feels like that if a Penske goes to Phoenix, they are the favorite to win, and I would agree with that,” Earnhardt said. “If a Penske car doesn’t get to Phoenix, I mean, this is Denny’s year. Here it is. Denny was saying after New Hampshire, ‘Boy, we’re screwed. The Penske cars are so good. New Hampshire is very similar to Phoenix. That was the tell, tell of yep, they still got it. When we get to Phoenix, I expect them to be on top.’

“If there’s not a Penske car in the top, this thing is blown wide open. And how about this, Denny winning the trophy while he’s suing NASCAR? Oh my gosh.”