Playoff Watch 2019: Analyzing postseason picture post-Pocono

From now until the Sept. 8 regular-season finale at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, NASCAR.com will analyze the playoff picture on Mondays. Here's how the postseason looks through 21 regular-season races (out of 26) after Denny Hamlin's win at Pocono Raceway. A few reminders:

-- All point totals are reset to 2,000 for the 16 eligible playoff drivers.

-- Drivers earn 5 playoff points for each of their regular-season wins.

-- Drivers earn 1 playoff point for each stage win.

-- The top 10 finishers in the regular-season standings earn playoff points on a sliding scale, starting with 15 points for the Regular Season Champion and ending with one point for the 10th-place finisher.

Missing the cut

The race for the final few playoff spots is one to watch for the remaining five races. Jimmie Johnson's Stage 2 win earned him crucial points, but he's still 12 points below the cutoff line. Daniel Suarez and Austin Dillon, who has qualified for the NASCAR Playoffs the last three seasons, also are out of the field right now.

16. Ryan Newman, 2,000 points

Qualified via: Points

Stage wins: 0

Note: Newman finished a respectable 14th at Pocono, one spot ahead of Johnson. But because Newman did not earn any stage points, Seven-Time actually cut into his lead.

15. Clint Bowyer, 2,000 points

Qualified via: Points

Stage wins: 0

Note: Bowyer can't feel comfortable just 12 points above the line, although he has ran well at Watkins Glen International -- the next track on the schedule -- with Stewart-Haas Racing.

14. Erik Jones, 2,000 points

Qualified via: Points

Stage wins: 0

Note: With three consecutive top-three finishes, Jones appears on the cusp of a breakthrough.

13. William Byron, 2,001 points

Qualified via: Points

Stage wins: 1

Note: Starting from the rear hampered Byron's ability to get stage points, but his fourth-place finish at Pocono was impressive.

12. Kyle Larson, 2,003 points

Qualified via: Points

Stage wins: 3

Note: Larson rallied in a backup car -- and after a brush with the wall -- to notch a much-needed top-five finish.

11. Ryan Blaney, 2,003 points

Qualified via: Points

Stage wins: 2

Note: Blaney snuck back into the top 10 in the regular-season standings, which is good for one playoff point.

10. Aric Almirola, 2,003 points

Qualified via: Points

Stage wins: 1

Note: Almirola had a chance to rack up some stage points after starting third but managed just three.

9. Alex Bowman, 2,005 points

Qualified via: 1 win (Chicagoland)

Stage wins: 0

Note: It really was a week to forget for Bowman, who needs to rally before the NASCAR Playoffs start.

8. Chase Elliott, 2,010 points

Qualified via: 1 win (Talladega)

Stage wins: 2

Note: Speaking of rough stretches, the No. 9 team hasn't looked right in at least a month. His last top-10 finish was the first Pocono race in June.

7. Kurt Busch, 2,010 points

Qualified via: 1 win (Kentucky)

Stage wins: 1

Note: A three-car wreck set up NASCAR Overtime, and Busch was one of those three cars.

6. Kevin Harvick, 2,017 points

Qualified via: 1 win (New Hampshire)

Stage wins: 4

Note: Sixth place probably has to sting. Harvick started from the Busch Pole and earned 48 points in the race, second to only Hamlin, but Harvick's car was an absolute bullet.

5. Brad Keselowski, 2,024 points

Qualified via: 3 wins (Atlanta, Martinsville, Kansas)

Stage wins: 4

Note: Keselowski rallied nicely from an early smack againsr the wall, but Hamlin's win causes the Team Penske driver to slip.

4. Denny Hamlin, 2,025 points

Qualified via: 3 wins (Daytona 500, Texas, Pocono-2)

Stage wins: 3

Note: Hamlin is the hottest driver of the summer. With five races to go, he has a chance to catch the three drivers in front of him.

3. Martin Truex Jr., 2,028 points

Qualified via: 4 wins (Richmond, Dover, Coca-Cola 600, Sonoma)

Stage wins: 2

Note: It seems like it has been a while since Truex won, but he gained ground on second-place Joey Logano by moving up a spot in the regular-season standings.

2. Joey Logano, 2,032 points

Qualified via: 2 wins (Las Vegas, Michigan)

Stage wins: 7

Note: Five races and six points is all that separates Logano from Kyle Busch in the race to be crowned the Regular Season Champion. Logano leads ... for now.

1. Kyle Busch, 2,038 points

Qualified via: 4 wins (Phoenix, Auto Club, Bristol-1, Pocono-1)

Stage wins: 8

Note: Busch added a playoff point with a stage win for the second consecutive week. If he passes Logano in the regular-season standings, he'd add five more bonus points.