Chase Bubble: Analyzing the playoff picture post-Watkins Glen

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Here’s a breakdown of the Chase Grid and bubble picture following Sunday’s Cheez-It 355 at Watkins Glen International.

BUESCHER’S STANDING

Chris Buescher remains on the cusp of a spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup because of his win at Pocono Raceway, but the rookie’s involvement in a wreck with six laps remaining at the Cheez-It 355 hurt him greatly. Buescher still sits outside of the top 30 in points — a requirement to make the Chase — and is 31st, just three points behind 30th-place David Ragan. Ragan also was involved in the wreck on Lap 84, so Buescher stood to gain some ground if he could have found a way back into his car, but his No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford couldn’t be fixed in time to get back on the track. Buescher, the reigning XFINITY Series champion, has four races to get into the top 30 and lock in his playoff spot.

LOCKED IN

Drivers who have clinched a spot in the Chase are: Brad Keselowski, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin (all with multiple wins), along with one-win drivers Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Joey Logano and Martin Truex Jr.

WIN, BASICALLY IN

With one win and a place in the top 30, Tony Stewart has all but claimed one of the remaining six spots. That accounts for 11 drivers in the 16-driver postseason field, leaving five spots up for grabs via points, with Buescher still sitting outside the top 30 in the standings. Here’s how that picture looks post-Watkins Glen.

BUBBLE WATCH

Editor’s note: The standings below are the Chase Grid standings, not the Sprint Cup Series drivers standings.

CHASE BUBBLE WATCH