Playoff Watch: Post-Darlington

By Brad Norman | Published: September 4, 2017 18

Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

1 of 18

Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Following Denny Hamlin's Darlington win, 25 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series regular-season events are in the books. That leaves just one race until the postseason field is set. This is what the playoff standings would look like if the postseason started today.

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.

2 of 18

Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

Missing the cut

With 13 drivers earning wins that count for playoff eligibility, a handful of big names are currently out of the postseason picture. No driver currently below the cutoff line can advance into the postseason via points -- each must win his way in at Richmond. Joey Logano, Clint Bowyer and Erik Jones appear to be the best equipped to do just that.

3 of 18

Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images

16. Jamie McMurray, 2,002 points

Qualified via: Points
Stage wins: 0
Note: McMurray is just three points behind Chase Elliott and one point behind Matt Kenseth in the regular-season standings. It's a battle worth watching at Richmond as playoff points are on the line.

4 of 18

Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images

15. Kasey Kahne, 2,005 points

Qualified via: 1 win (Indianapolis)
Stage wins: 0
Note: Two winless drivers rank higher in the seeding projection than four drivers with one win, including Kasey Kahne.

5 of 18

Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images

14. Austin Dillon, 2,005 points

Qualified via: 1 win (Charlotte)
Stage wins: 0
Note: Two winless drivers rank higher in the seeding projection than four drivers with one win, including Austin Dillon.

6 of 18

Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

13. Ryan Newman, 2,005 points

Qualified via: 1 win (Phoenix)
Stage wins: 0
Note: Two winless drivers rank higher in the seeding projection than four drivers with one win, including Ryan Newman.

7 of 18

Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images

12. Kurt Busch, 2,005 points

Qualified via: 1 win (Daytona 500)
Stage wins: 0
Note: Two winless drivers rank higher in the seeding projection than four drivers with one win, including Kurt Busch.

8 of 18

Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images

11. Matt Kenseth, 2,006 points

Qualified via: Points
Stage wins: 3
Note: Still searching for that elusive first win of 2017, Kenseth has been one of the hottest drivers of the summer and has climbed from out of the playoff field to challenging for a spot in the top 10.

9 of 18

Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images

10. Chase Elliott, 2,006 points

Qualified via: Points
Stage wins: 2
Note: Elliott had a quiet 11th-place run at Darlington. Combined with bubble drivers Joey Logano, Clint Bowyer and Daniel Suarez struggling, he's in great shape.

10 of 18

Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

9. Ryan Blaney, 2,008 points

Qualified via: 1 win (Pocono)
Stage wins: 3
Note: An early Darlington stripe took Blaney out of contention early, with the driver later tweeting he was disappointed in himself 'beyond belief.'

11 of 18

Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images

8. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 2,010 points

Qualified via: 2 wins (Talladega, Daytona-2)
Stage wins: 0
Note: If the No. 17 team advances out of the first round of the playoffs, it would be considered a favorite to win at Talladega, a second-round track.

12 of 18

Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

7. Denny Hamlin, 2,013 points

Qualified via: 1 win (New Hampshire)
Stage wins: 2
Note: Here comes Denny Hamlin. His last eight races have yielded two victories and six top-five finishes, but his win Sunday at Darlington was ruled encumbered -- so he can't use those five playoff points.

13 of 18

Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images

6. Kevin Harvick, 2,015 points

Qualified via: 1 win (Sonoma)
Stage wins: 3
Note: Harvick has the feel of a playoff sleeper. He's sixth right now, and just four points behind fourth-seeded Brad Keselowski.

14 of 18

Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

5. Jimmie Johnson, 2,017 points

Qualified via: 3 wins (Texas, Bristol, Dover)
Stage wins: 1
Note: Johnson climbed to 10th in the regular-season standings, which is worth one playoff point. Keeping 10th should be the goal at Richmond.

15 of 18

Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images

4. Brad Keselowski, 2,019 points

Qualified via: 2 wins (Atlanta, Martinsville)
Stage wins: 4
Note: It appears Keselowski will carry the Team Penske torch alone in the postseason as teammate Joey Logano is on the precipice of elimination.

16 of 18

Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images

3. Kyle Larson, 2,026 points

Qualified via: 3 wins (Auto Club, Michigan-1, Michigan-2)
Stage wins: 3
Note: The Kyle Larson-Kyle Busch battle in the standings is almost as much fun to watch as their battles on the track.

17 of 18

Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

2. Kyle Busch, 2,030 points

Qualified via: 2 wins (Pocono-2, Bristol-2)
Stage wins: 10
Note: A runner-up finish at Darlington allowed Busch to pull nine points ahead of Kyle Larson in the regular-season standings.

18 of 18

Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images

1. Martin Truex Jr., 2,052 points

Qualified via: 4 wins (Las Vegas, Kansas, Kentucky, Watkins Glen)
Stage wins: 17
Note: Truex Jr. won two more stages at Darlington, and he officially is the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 2017 Regular Season Champion. If the playoffs started today, he'd have 52 points added to his reset total of 2,000 points.