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Playoff Bubble Watch: Phoenix
By Kathy Sheldon | Published: November 7, 2017 6
Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images
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Five drivers compete for one remaining Championship 4 spot Sunday at Phoenix Raceway (2:30 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN, Sirius XM NASCAR Radio); four will advance to the next round. Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick are locked in for Miami. If either of those three or a non-playoff driver wins, Brad Keselowski has the best chance to advance, but the other four could get in with some help -- or a win. See how those on the bubble stack up at Phoenix.
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Brad Keselowski
Postseason standings: 4th
Points above cutoff line: +19
Wins at Phoenix: 0
Top fives at Phoenix: 5
Top 10s at Phoenix: 8
Career average finish at Phoenix: 14.0
Note: This would be a good time for Keselowski to check the win box at Phoenix, eliminating the drama. But he can get in with a 37-point day if a driver already locked in or a non-playoff driver wins the race. Count on him fighting hard for stage wins.
Postseason standings: 4th
Points above cutoff line: +19
Wins at Phoenix: 0
Top fives at Phoenix: 5
Top 10s at Phoenix: 8
Career average finish at Phoenix: 14.0
Note: This would be a good time for Keselowski to check the win box at Phoenix, eliminating the drama. But he can get in with a 37-point day if a driver already locked in or a non-playoff driver wins the race. Count on him fighting hard for stage wins.
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Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images
Denny Hamlin
Postseason standings: 5th
Points below cutoff line: -19
Wins at Phoenix: 1
Top fives at Phoenix: 10
Top 10s at Phoenix: 14
Career average finish at Phoenix: 10.8
Note: Hamlin has one track win and notched a top 10 here in the spring. But both Brad Keselowski and Jimmie Johnson finished better than Hamlin in March. Hamlin has top-10 finishes in the past five races -- top five in three of them. He'll need a win, though, unless the No. 2 has a bad day.
Postseason standings: 5th
Points below cutoff line: -19
Wins at Phoenix: 1
Top fives at Phoenix: 10
Top 10s at Phoenix: 14
Career average finish at Phoenix: 10.8
Note: Hamlin has one track win and notched a top 10 here in the spring. But both Brad Keselowski and Jimmie Johnson finished better than Hamlin in March. Hamlin has top-10 finishes in the past five races -- top five in three of them. He'll need a win, though, unless the No. 2 has a bad day.
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Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images
Ryan Blaney
Postseason standings: 6th
Points below cutoff line: -22
Wins at Phoenix: 0
Top fives at Phoenix: 0
Top 10s at Phoenix: 2
Career average finish at Phoenix: 13.7
Note: Ryan Blaney is capable of driving with passion and fire, but he'll need ice in those veins, as well, to advance. Hard driving will need to pair with smart driving, stage points and cunning pit strategy. He needs a win or a lot of help.
Postseason standings: 6th
Points below cutoff line: -22
Wins at Phoenix: 0
Top fives at Phoenix: 0
Top 10s at Phoenix: 2
Career average finish at Phoenix: 13.7
Note: Ryan Blaney is capable of driving with passion and fire, but he'll need ice in those veins, as well, to advance. Hard driving will need to pair with smart driving, stage points and cunning pit strategy. He needs a win or a lot of help.
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Chase Elliott
Postseason standings: 7th
Points below cutoff line: -49
Wins at Phoenix: 0
Top fives at Phoenix: 0
Top 10s at Phoenix: 2
Career average finish at Phoenix: 9.7
Note: Chase Elliott never has won a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race, and he all but must win to advance. It's a great time for the speedy No. 24 to break through after four second-place finishes this season.
Postseason standings: 7th
Points below cutoff line: -49
Wins at Phoenix: 0
Top fives at Phoenix: 0
Top 10s at Phoenix: 2
Career average finish at Phoenix: 9.7
Note: Chase Elliott never has won a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race, and he all but must win to advance. It's a great time for the speedy No. 24 to break through after four second-place finishes this season.
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Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway
Jimmie Johnson
Postseason standings: 8th
Points below cutoff line: -51
Wins at Phoenix: 4
Top fives at Phoenix: 15
Top 10s at Phoenix: 20
Career average finish at Phoenix: 9.0
Note: This has not been the No. 48's best postseason. Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus need to find that infamous golden horseshoe -- or at least a lot more speed. Johnson will need a win to go from eighth to Homestead-Miami.
Postseason standings: 8th
Points below cutoff line: -51
Wins at Phoenix: 4
Top fives at Phoenix: 15
Top 10s at Phoenix: 20
Career average finish at Phoenix: 9.0
Note: This has not been the No. 48's best postseason. Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus need to find that infamous golden horseshoe -- or at least a lot more speed. Johnson will need a win to go from eighth to Homestead-Miami.