So you’re saying there’s a chance: Playoff hopefuls that could still win

Track: Sonoma Raceway

Driver: Alex Bowman

Best track finish: 9th (2018)

Average track finish: 23.0 (three starts)

Outlook: Bowman could really put a bow on his breakout season with a win this weekend. The Hendrick Motorsports driver notched a top 10 at Sonoma last year and followed it up with a top-15 run at Watkins Glen and fourth-place result at the Roval. He's established himself as a road course threat and the way he's been running lately has to put him in consideration for the win on Sunday.

Track: Chicagoland Speedway

Driver: Kyle Larson

Best track finish: 2nd (2018)

Average track finish: 7.9 (five starts)

Outlook: Larson has had some pretty mixed results on intermediate tracks this year, but those pains should all be soothed at Chicagoland, his best track in terms of average finish. With four top-seven finishes in five starts there and a near-win last season, Chicago offers the best shot at a playoff clincher for a driver in the midst of an underwhelming season.

Track: Daytona International Speedway

Driver: Austin Dillon

Best track finish: 1st (2018)

Average track finish: 13.6

Outlook: Dillon is a driver that lives for big moments -- and big tracks. The 2018 Daytona 500 winner lists Daytona as second on his best tracks in terms of average finish and he seems to always find a way to be in contention at some point in every superspeedway race.

Track: Kentucky Speedway

Driver: Erik Jones

Best track finish: 6th (2017)

Average track finish: 6.5

Outlook: Jones has had an up-and-down, unlucky season to date and needs to get it going at some point. Kentucky offers a great shot for him, with a pair of top-seven finishes and a front row starting spot in his two starts there. The track typically fares very well for Joe Gibbs Racing and he should contend for the win.

Track: New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Driver: Ryan Newman

Best track finish: 1st (2002, '05, '11)

Average track finish: 13.7

Outlook: Newman has been racing -- and winning -- at Loudon for a long, long time. His three wins there are tied with Dover for most at any track in his career and his 722 laps led are second (to Dover). Must be something about 1-mile tracks for "Rocket Man."

Track: Pocono Raceway

Driver: William Byron

Best track finish: 6th (2018)

Average track finish: 11.0

Outlook: Pocono ranks second on Byron's list in terms of average finish at tracks with more than one start and 17 percent of his career laps led have come at the "Tricky Triangle." He won the pole there earlier this season, too.

Track: Watkins Glen International

Driver: Daniel Suarez

Best track finish: 3rd (2017)

Average track finish: 3.5 (two starts)

Outlook: While Suarez's Sonoma finishes have been fine, though not outstanding (16th, 15th), he's really taken to Watkins Glen immediately. The Stewart-Haas Racing driver notched a pair of top-four finishes in his only two starts, even leading 14 laps in his first attempt.

Track: Michigan International Speedway

Driver: Daniel Hemric

Best track finish: 12th (2019)

Average track finish: 12.0 (one start)

Outlook: Hemric just placed 12th at Michigan -- which is good, not great -- but has improved greatly over his last five races (18.8 average finish; 26.33 over first 10). If he continues to hit his stride, he could find a way to win in the Irish Hills, where he had success at lower levels (6.0 average finish in four starts).

Track: Bristol Motor Speedway

Driver: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Best track finish: 2nd (2014, '16)

Average track finish: 13.0 (13 starts)

Outlook: Though he's finished 24th and 33rd in the last two Bristol races, the short track will be a site for sore eyes for the Roush Fenway Racing driver. He's never led a lap but it's always felt like his best shot to win on a non-superspeedway, with a pair of runner-ups and several other bright spots (five top-six finishes)

Track: Darlington Raceway

Driver: Chris Buescher

Best track finish: 13th (2018)

Average track finish: 15.7 (three starts)

Outlook: A bold choice, sure, particularly for a race typically won by NASCAR's heavyweights. But we've seen a dark horse win the Southern 500 just this decade (Regan Smith, 2011). Buescher and Co. have been steadily improving and could be a real threat to make the playoffs come crunch time. Darlington also happens to be his best track in terms of average finish, even finishing 13th last year.

Track: Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Driver: Jimmie Johnson

Best track finish: 1st (2006, '08, '09, '12)

Average track finish: 15.4 (17 starts)

Outlook: What a story this would be. Johnson is just barely hanging onto a provisional postseason spot, and there's no telling where he'll be come September. Imagine a scenario in which the Hendrick Motorsports driver needs to win his fifth Brickyard 400 to race for his eighth title. I don't know about you, but I don't make a habit of counting out seven-time champions.