In the NASCAR Cup Series, worries have surfaced about a driver not typically in playoff contention securing a spot through an unexpected win. Austin Dillon, who was 32nd in the standings prior to the Richmond race, was able to enter the playoffs after his controversial victory. Before playoff selection, three races remain: Michigan, Daytona, and Darlington. The playoffs entail the regular season champion and the fifteen highest-ranking drivers based on wins, with point totals being the tiebreaker. Given that the leading seven drivers all have victories under their belts, it is anticipated that the regular season champion will also be a win holder.
Among the 13 drivers with wins already secured for the playoffs are Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, and others. However, with Dillon’s recent win things have significantly changed. Now, there will be at most three places open for drivers without wins, not four as previously predicted before the Richmond race. This shift has pushed Chris Buescher and Ross Chastain below the cutline, while Bubba Wallace now stands as one of the three winless drivers with the most points.
The fight for playoff positions is complex and bound to be tight. There are currently five winless drivers competing for the three spots open based purely on points. Martin Truex Jr. holds a 78-point advantage over the cutline, followed closely by Ty Gibbs and Bubba Wallace. Buescher and Chastain, currently tied in standings, trail Wallace by a mere three points. Places where Buescher and Wallace have traditionally performed well, such as Michigan and Daytona, will be key battlefields in the fight to the finish.
Chastain, who holds experience in handling playoff pressure, has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to rise through the ranks. Meanwhile, Gibbs is still looking to secure his first-ever Cup win. On the other hand, Chastain, who is three points behind Wallace, has consistently proven that he is capable of handling high-pressure situations such as those found in the playoffs.
Against this backdrop, 16 other playoff-eligible drivers are in a position where they absolutely must secure a win. These drivers, facing high-stakes circumstances, are Chase Briscoe, Kyle Busch, Todd Gilliland, Josh Berry, Michael McDowell, Carson Hocevar, among others. Their fight for a spot in the playoffs is sure to contribute to the competitive, high-stakes atmosphere that makes NASCAR racing so compelling.
Bob Pockrass, a well-respected NASCAR reporter for Fox Sports, provides coverage of the situation. Pockrass has decades of experience in covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500’s. He was once positioned with ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine, and The Daytona Beach News-Journal.
