Kevin Harvick predicts winner at Las Vegas in NASCAR Playoffs Round of 8 opener

Kevin Harvick is locking in his prediction for this weekend’s South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which will kickoff the Round of 8 for the NASCAR Cup Series.

While Harvick isn’t necessarily going out on a limb, as he’s rocking with Hendrick Motorsports star Kyle Larson, it’s borderline impossible to pick against the No. 5 Chevrolet at the moment. Las Vegas has been one of Larson’s best tracks in the Cup Series, as he’s won the past two races in Sin City, and a third victory in a row would lock him in the Championship 4.

“It’s hard to go against Kyle Larson,” Harvick explained, via Harvick’s Happy Hour. “He won the first race there, dominated this last week, so I’m going to stick with that Kyle Larson, Cliff Daniels train as they head back to Las Vegas.”

There’s no argument from Harvick’s co-host Kaitlyn Vincie on the pick, as she’s also riding with Larson to lock himself into a chance for his second Cup Series title at Phoenix later this season.

“I have that written down too,” Vincie revealed. “Don’t be mad, I know you hate when I pick who you pick, but sometimes great minds think alike. I mean, it’s not like we’re going on a limb, but I do have to go back-to-back Kyle Larson Las Vegas victories.”

As for Mamba Smith, he tried to be a little different at least, choosing Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing to upend Larson and slay the beat in Las Vegas.

“I’m going to go with C-Bell,” Smith added. “I’m going with Christopher Bell. I think he has like two poles, or three poles here. It seems like every time we go to Vegas he’s either — he’s starting on the front row. So, C-Bell in Victory Lane.”

Over the course of his Cup Series tenure, Bell has amassed some uneven performances at the track. He finished P33 earlier this spring, but came close to victory last fall, as the runner-up to Larson. He’ll be looking to break through with a win at the track on Sunday, as Smith predicted.

Time will tell who gets the win in Sin City, but the South Point 400 should bring a ton of drama regardless, as the best in the NASCAR Cup Series face off. Kyle Larson is the prohibitive favorite, and Kevin Harvick’s pick. He’ll be tough to beat, that’s for sure.