RELATED: Bubble standings | Full Kansas schedule
Talladega no longer is an elimination race, but the fallout from last weekend will be felt Sunday at Kansas Speedway, when the Monster Energy Series will weed out four more drivers in the NASCAR Playoffs to get to the Round of 8.
There are a combined nine premier-series championships for the drivers nearest to the cutoff line with Jimmie Johnson in eighth place followed by Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth.
Only seven points separate Johnson and Busch, and Kenseth is only eight points back. All three drivers have wins to their credit at the 1.5-mile track located just west of downtown Kansas City and well within the heart of barbecue country.
However, the sauce for the burnt ends won’t be the only thing adding to the spice this weekend. NASCAR.com’s Kenny Bruce, Zack Albert and George Winkler debate which former champ is in the most bubble trouble heading into Kansas.
Bruce: Being just good enough has carried Matt Kenseth and the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing team into the Round of 12, but only teams that win and contend for wins need worry about what lies beyond Kansas. Unfortunately for Kenseth and his crew, they haven’t won this year or managed much in the way of contending. Eight points below the cutoff line, the 2003 champ needs a nearly flawless run this weekend to overtake teammate Kyle Busch and seven-time series champ Jimmie Johnson and break into the top eight. That’s a tall, tall order for any team.
Winkler: It’s hard to believe Kyle Busch is in danger of being eliminated considering all four of his victories have come in the second half of the season. But after rolling off consecutive wins at Loudon and Dover, Busch finished 29th and 27th at Charlotte and Talladega, respectively, to end up in this predicament. Busch’s overall history at Kansas isn’t as good as Johnson’s or Kenseth’s. Both have more wins than Busch as well as more laps led and a better average finish. So, if history repeats itself on Sunday, Busch, one of the most dominant drivers this season, is in real trouble.
Albert: The No. 48 bunch limped into the playoffs with zero top-five finishes since winning Dover in early June. While Johnson & Co. traditionally find their way in the 10-race postseason, their modest recent turnaround may not be able to keep pace with the front of the pack. Johnson’s three career wins at Kansas offer hope, but his margin in the standings is too thin to withstand any unforced errors. Johnson has led just five laps in the 14 races since Daytona in July.