NASCAR playoff watch: Erik Jones makes a move with a 3rd-place finish at New Hampshire
With just six races to go until NASCAR’s 10-race playoffs in the Cup Series begin, we figure it’s a good time to start keeping track of who is fighting to make the 16-driver field.
In with a win
Thanks to NASCAR’s win-and-in rules for the playoffs, these drivers are going to make the playoff field because of their victories
Kyle Busch (4 wins)
Martin Truex Jr. (4)
Brad Keselowski (3)
Joey Logano (2)
Denny Hamlin (2)
Kevin Harvick (1)
Kurt Busch (1)
Chase Elliott (1)
Alex Bowman (1)
Should make it without a win
Aric Almirola, 586 points
Ryan Blaney, 572
William Byron, 549
These three drivers shouldn’t have anything to worry about over the next six races barring a collapse. All three finished in the top 12 at New Hampshire.
In, for now
Kyle Larson, 519
Erik Jones, 516
Ryan Newman, 509
Clint Bowyer, 505
Larson crashed twice and finished 33rd. That opened the door for Jones to get within three points in 14th after finishing third. Jones was 16th entering Sunday’s race, so he gained two spots in the points standings.
Newman’s team’s engine-fixing could go down as one of the defining moments of the team’s season. Newman had an engine problem in the third stage but the team fixed it under caution and Newman was able to finish seventh and jump ahead of Bowyer, who finished 20th on Sunday.
Outside looking in
Jimmie Johnson, 488
Daniel Suarez, 488
Paul Menard, 445
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 428
Chris Buescher, 418
Johnson’s 30th-place finish dropped him from 15th to 17th in the standings. That’s huge. He’s now 17 points outside the playoffs and tied with Daniel Suarez, who spun when he collided with Daniel Hemric.
Suarez finished 19th on Sunday, behind both Menard (13th) and Buescher (15th). Stenhouse, meanwhile, hit the wall and finished 36th.
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Nick Bromberg is a writer for Yahoo Sports.
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