Only four races remain until the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, beginning with the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Eleven drivers have captured berths by winning a race and they will likely be joined by Pocono victor Chris Buescher, who sits just three points outside of the 30th position he needs to seize to make NASCAR’s playoffs.
Here’s how the Chase Grid looks today: #2-Brad Keselowski (4 wins), #18-Kyle Busch (4), #19-Carl Edwards (2), #11-Denny Hamlin (2), #20-Matt Kenseth (2), #48-Jimmie Johnson (2), #4-Kevin Harvick (1), #41-Kurt Busch (1), #22-Joey Logano (1), #78-Martin Truex Jr (1), #14-Tony Stewart (1), #31-Ryan Newman (50 points ahead of Trevor Bayne on the cutoff line), #24-Chase Elliott (+49), #3-Austin Dillon (+47), #1-Jamie McMurray (+38), #42-Kyle Larson (+8).
The first four out are #6-Bayne (-8), #5-Kasey Kahne (-11), #21-Ryan Blaney (-18) and #47-AJ Allmendinger (-34).
Buescher entering the top 30 would hurt the non-winners on the Chase Grid’s chances at making the playoffs, specifically Kyle Larson. In that scenario, four drivers would get in on points as of now: Newman (42 points ahead of Larson), Elliott (+41), Austin Dillon (+39) and McMurray (+30).
The first four out would be Larson (-30), Bayne (-38), Kahne (-41) and Blaney (-48).
Remember, a win automatically gets a driver into the Chase as long as he/she has attempted to start every event and is in the top 30 in points following Richmond.
The winless drivers with previous victories at the remaining tracks:
Bristol: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kasey Kahne
Michigan: Greg Biffle, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Ryan Newman, Kasey Kahne
Darlington: Greg Biffle, Regan Smith
Richmond: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Clint Bowyer, Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman
(NASCAR)
